UEFA EURO 2024 Group Stage
20 June, 2024 - Indian Date
Allianz Arena
MATCH TIMES
India
06:30 PM
UAE
05:00 PM
Saudi Arabia
04:00 PM
MATCH LIVE INFO
Serbia possible starting lineup: V. Milinkovic-Savic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, S. Milinkovic-Savic, Gudelj, Mladenovic; Tadic; Vlahovic, Mitrovic
Slovenia possible starting lineup: Oblak; Karnicnik, Blazic, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic, Gnezda Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko
Match Preview
In a crucial Euro 2024 Group C matchup, Slovenia and Serbia will clash at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Thursday afternoon, each aiming for a vital win to boost their chances of advancing to the last 16. Both teams are eager to secure their first victory in the tournament after disappointing results in their opening matches.
Slovenia’s Journey and Squad:
Slovenia, competing in their first European Championship since 2000 and their first major tournament since the 2010 World Cup, started their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Denmark. Christian Eriksen put Denmark ahead before Slovenia's Erik Janza equalized with a deflected shot. Coach Matjaz Kek was content with the draw, describing the match as a game of two contrasting halves.
Ranked 57th in the world by FIFA, Slovenia are seeking their first-ever win at the European Championship as an independent nation. They have maintained an unbeaten run in their last seven international matches but have only managed one win in their last four encounters with Serbia. Their last meeting resulted in a 2-2 draw in the UEFA Nations League in June 2022, a week after a 4-1 defeat to Serbia.
For this crucial game, Kek is expected to field an unchanged lineup. Key players include Jan Oblak in goal, a defense featuring Erik Janza, Jaka Bijol, Vanja Drkusic, and Zan Karnicnik, and a midfield likely led by Adam Gnezda Cerin and Timi Max Elsnik. Up front, the attacking duo of Benjamin Sesko and Andraz Sporar will be pivotal.
Serbia’s Campaign and Lineup Adjustments:
Serbia, participating in their first European Championship as an independent nation, suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to England in their opening match. Jude Bellingham's early goal proved decisive despite Serbia's commendable performance, particularly in the second half. Coach Dragan Stojkovic praised his team's bravery and felt they were unlucky not to secure at least a point.
Serbia's European Championship history is marked by struggle, having won just one of their last 12 fixtures in the tournament's history. To keep their knockout stage hopes alive, Serbia needs a victory against Slovenia before facing Denmark in their final group match.
In response to Filip Kostic's injury, Filip Mladenovic is expected to replace him at left wing-back. The midfield may see Sasa Lukic and Nemanja Gudelj retaining their spots unless Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is moved to a deeper role, potentially allowing Dusan Tadic to start as a playmaker behind strikers Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic.
Conclusion:
Both Slovenia and Serbia understand the high stakes of this encounter, with a victory significantly enhancing their chances of progressing to the knockout rounds. Slovenia will rely on their solid recent form and the attacking prowess of Sesko and Sporar, while Serbia will hope their tactical adjustments and key players like Mitrovic and Tadic can make the difference. This matchup promises to be a tightly contested battle as both teams vie for a crucial three points.