EURO 2024: England vs Slovenia preview, H2H, team news, line-ups and prediction

England will hope to wrap up their group stage campaign with a win to seal qualification to the knockout stages of Euro 2024 when they face an unbeaten Slovenia side on Tuesday, 25 June at Cologne Stadium.

The Three Lions have all but secured a place in the next round of the tournament but a win against a spirited Slovenian side will show more intent and ambition to clinch the title.

While they’ve been able to grind out four points to stay unbeaten in Group C, England have been far from vintage in their performances, a far cry from what you’d expect from a team that possesses some of the best players in the top European leagues.

Against Denmark, Gareth Southgate in his 97th game in charge of the Three Lions ignored clamouring calls to tweak the squad, to start with the same starting eleven. This decision looked to pay off as England started on the front foot, exerting dominance by keeping possession, pressing high and winning second balls.

They carved two chances in the early stages and found an opener from one of those chances as Harry Kane latched home what proved to be England’s only goal in this clash.

The goal meant that Kane was just the third player to score in four separate major tournaments for the Three Lions after Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney.

Predictably, England were pegged back into their shelves in what has become a common theme whenever they take the lead.

They got punished for it when Morten Hjulmand fizzed a rocket of a strike that found the net to draw Denmark level. Hjulmand’s equaliser meant 13 goals have been scored so far at Euro 2024 from outside the box.

Denmark were the better team in the second half but the game ended 1-1. Southgate will now rally his troupes to face a determined Slovenian side who will be eager to earn a knockout spot with a win against England.

The Dragons faced Serbia in their second group game with both teams looking for a win to stake a claim in the round-of-16. In what looks to be a similar theme in Group C, the game lacked much urgency and wasn’t quite entertaining.

Although Slovenia came closest to finding the opener through Timi Max Elsnik and Benjamin Sesko, the post was as far as they could go as the match became just the second fixture in this tournament to end in a goalless first half after Portugal vs Czechia.

The opener eventually came through right-back, Zan Karnicnik and Matjaz Kek’s side looked to be on course for victory until a 96th-minute header from Luka Jovic tied the game level.

Kek will hope to guide his team to their first-ever victory over England having lost five of the previous six encounters.

Slovenia now need nothing short of victory when they face the Three Lions and it promises to be a fiery encounter at the Cologne Stadium on Tuesday.

England VS Slovenia match details

• Date: Tuesday, 24 June, 2024
• Location: Cologne, Germany
• Venue: Cologne Stadium
• Kick-off time: 08: PM BST, 07:00 PM UTC, 03:00 PM ET, 09:00 PM CEST
• Tickets: Fans can buy England vs Slovenia tickets through UEFA or via trusted resellers such as Seatsnet.com.

Match stats and head-to-head

• Harry Kane’s opener against Denmark was his fifth goal in the European Championship. He became the first England player to score at least five goals in the tournament and the eighth player in history to net at least five goals in the World Cup and European Championship.

• The 30-year-old became just the third player to score in four separate major tournaments for the Three Lions after Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney.

• Morten Hjulmand’s equaliser was the eighth goal the Three Lions have conceded from outside the box in the European Championship. No side in history has conceded more goals outside the 18-yard area than England since 1980 where Portugal held the record with eight goals.

• These two sides have clashed six times with England remaining unbeaten in all six clashes against the Dragons. England have won five of these fixtures while Slovenia have only managed a draw.

• Luka Jovic’s 95th-minute equaliser for Serbia against Slovenia was the latest result-altering goal in European Championship history.

• The Dragons are winless in their last five matches at the European Championship and Zan Karnicnik’s opener was the first time Slovenia have gone ahead in this tournament since leading 3-0 against Yugoslavia in 2000.

• Jovic’s equaliser against Slovenia was also the sixth equalising goal in the 90th minute at Euro 2024.

Team news

They were rallying cries from supporters on pundits about the noninvolvement of Cole Palmer in either of England’s opening two matches. The Chelsea forward had more goal contributions than any other English player and it was surprising the youngster wasn’t involved.

With qualification assured, Southgate is tipped to ring the chances which could see the likes of Palmer, Mainoo or Gordon get more minutes.

Talking points were also on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s underwhelming midfield role but it is unlikely Southgate will ditch his best creative outlet.

Slovenia on the other hand have no injury concerns and Matjaz Kek is tipped to start his strongest eleven with Janza, Jaka Bijol, Vanja Drkusic and Zan Karnicnik tipped to shield Jan Oblak at the back four.

This match will no doubt need experience and Kel could call 92-cap Jasmin Kurtic to slot into midfield but it remains to be seen who will make way between Timi Max Elsnik and Adam Gnezda Cerin.

Prolific forward, Benjamin Sesko will lead the line and will savour the chance of netting his 12th international goal on his 31st appearance for Slovenia

Slovenia’s third-highest goal scorer, and former Atalanta talisman, Josip Ilicic will be hoping to feature in some capacity against England after sitting on the bench in the draw against Serbia.

Predicted starting lineup

England predicted starting lineup:

Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Alexander-Arnold, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Palmer; Kane.

Slovenia predicted starting lineup

Oblak; Karnicnik, Blazic, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic, Gnezda Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko.

Prediction

While England’s performance has been unconvincing, they’re able to grind out results.

It looks like Southgate is more particularly about getting results and points for his team, and is unconcerned about how fanciful the England fans want that to happen.

This will no doubt be a huge test for the Three Lions and a change in formation or personnel is expected in this match.

The likes of Foden, and Alexander-Arnold could potentially make way for Palmer, Gordon or Mainoo.

Slovenia on the other hand will be playing no games and will field their strongest eleven to secure all three points.

A cagey affair is expected in this fixture but England’s youngsters will be hoping to grasp the chance to impress if given the opportunity.

We’re predicting a 2:1 win for England.