Euro 2024: Group C Preview

Such is our exposure to the pre-tournament chatter around our neighbours that the fortunes of England will likely intrigue Irish football fans the most over the next few weeks.

Gareth Southgate has a really excellent squad, and they’ve been knocking on the door for a few years now. Beaten by Croatia in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, they went all the way to the final of the last Euros in 2021, only to suffer penalty shooutout heartache against Italy. In Qatar during the winter of 2022, England fell to France at the quarter-final stage.

Is this their year?

They had a miserable send-off game against Iceland at Wembley, where Southgate’s men slumped to a 1-0 loss, but they remain one of the teams fancied to lift the trophy in Berlin on 14 July.

They should emerge from this group but it may not be a total cakewalk; not least because there’s been such a short turnaround from the end of the domestic season to the start of this tournament. England will want to hit the ground running, but it may take them a while to hit top gear.

Denmark look the team most likely to put it up to the Three Lions. The Danes made it to the semi-finals of the last Euros, where they were beaten 2-1 by the English. Revenge would be sweet.

Serbia have enough quality to at least make things awkward for the top two seeds, while Slovenia will be hoping their much coveted attacker Benjamin Sesko can help them pull off a shock or two.

ENGLAND

Manager: Gareth Southgate

Captain: Harry Kane

Player to watch: Eberechi Eze

Best Euros performance: Runners-up (2020)

Fixtures

Sunday, 16 June: Serbia, (Gelsenkirchen), 8pm

Thursday, 20 June: Denmark, (Frankfurt), 5pm

Tuesday, 25 June: Slovenia, (Cologne), 8pm

It’s now or never for Gareth Southgate. The 53-year-old has said himself that this Euros will likely be his last major tournament at the helm unless he wins it, so the stakes could not be higher.

For some pundits and a portion of the fans, the biggest question mark around this side sits in the dugout: has Southgate got the chops to get them over the line?

He has faced criticism for adopting overly conservative tactics and failing to adapt in-game when the momentum turns against him.

The only way for the former Middlesbrough boss to quieten the doubters is for England to beat one of the big guns in the knockout stages. They should have no major issues in reaching the quarters; it’s possible they could meet Italy in the last eight if England win their group and the Italians are runners-up in a Group B that includes Spain and Croatia.

Southgate has made a few big calls squad wise. Jack Grealish, Harry Maguire and James Maddison miss out, while the wonderfully exciting Eberechi Eze was rewarded for his great form with Crystal Palace with a seat on the plane. A wild card that might just have a big moment or two in him.

DENMARK

Manager: Kasper Hjulmand

Captain: Simon Kjaer

Player to watch: Rasmus Hojlund

Best Euros performance: Winners (1992)

Fixtures

Sunday, 16 June: Slovenia, (Stuttgart), 5pm

Thursday, 20 June: England, (Frankfurt), 5pm

Tuesday, 25 June: Serbia, (Munich), 8pm

The Republic of Ireland’s old friends had a tough time at the World Cup two years ago, finishing bottom of their group behind France, Australia and Tunisia.

Back at another major tournament, they’ll hope to show a better version of themselves having won their qualification group, which also included Slovenia.

However the Danes will really need to click here if they’re to make a genuine impact. Although they got through qualifying, Kasper Hjulmand’s team produced some underwhelming performances. They only beat San Marino 2-1 and were fortunate to get past Northern Ireland 1-0 in Copenhagen, where Callum Marshall scored a last-gasp leveller that was chalked off by a VAR-assisted offside call.

Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund scored seven times in qualifying and will be their focal point up top. Wolfsburg attacker Jonas Wind is a capable ally, while the veteran Christian Eriksen still has the class to feed that front line some quality ball.

SERBIA

Manager: Dragan Stojkovic

Captain: Dusan Tadic

Player to watch: Aleksandar Mitrovic

Best Euros performance: Runners-up (as Yugoslavia, 1960 and 1968)

Fixtures

Sunday, 16 June: England, (Gelsenkirchen), 8pm

Thursday, 20 June: Slovenia, (Munich), 2pm

Tuesday, 25 June: Denmark, (Munich), 8pm

A side that has some form of upsetting things. Serbia topped Group A ahead of Portugal and the Republic of Ireland for the 2022 World Cup, but failed to take off in Qatar, finishing bottom of Group G behind Brazil, Switzerland and Cameroon.

They’re not without their flaws. Hungary beat them twice in qualification, Bulgaria held them to two draws, and there’s a defensive leakiness that should have England licking their lips.

However, Serbia do have a vital quality that might just get them a puncher’s chance: they score goals.

Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic, and Dusan Tadic offer power and intelligence; indeed, the Serbians have only failed to find the net twice in their last 25 games.

Ex-Newcastle United and Fulham forward Mitrovic (now in the Saudi Pro League with Al Hilal) is not the most elegant player around, but he’s effective. Expect Serbia to get plenty of crosses into the box for the big striker to attack and add to his tally of 58 goals in 91 internationals.

SLOVENIA

Manager: Matjaz Kek

Captain: Jan Oblak

Player to watch: Benjamin Sesko

Best Euros performance: Group stage (2000)

Fixtures

Sunday, 16 June: Denmark, (Stuttgart), 5pm

Thursday, 20 June: Serbia, (Munich), 2pm

Tuesday, 25 June: England, (Cologne), 8pm

There’s always a breakout star at major tournaments, although it’s much rarer these days with every half decent youngster hyped up to high heaven on social media and carefully edited YouTube packages.

Benjamin Sesko is hardly an unknown – he’s been linked with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United – among others – thanks to his exploits with RB Leipzig.

But the 21-year-old’s profile would go to another level if he turns up on the big stage to give the group’s outsiders some hope.

Tall, quick, direct and with two good feet, Sesko is a serious asset. The question is whether Slovenia have sufficient quality elsewhere to help him out.

This is their fourth appearance at a major tournament after featuring at Euro 2000 and the World Cups in 2002 and 2010. They’ve never made it to the knockout stages, and it will take something special for that to change this summer.

An honest, committed bunch, they can take solace in the presence of the excellent Jan Oblak between the sticks. The Atletico Madrid goalkeeper can expect to have a busy few weeks in Germany.