Euro 2024: Already qualified, England looks to rebound after a disappointing start
by Azadeh Ghavidel | by Azadeh Ghavidel
Following Albania’s 1-0 loss against Spain, tournament favorites England have already qualified for the Euro 2024 round of 16 with a match to spare. The victory for Luis de La Fuente’s team means that France and the Netherlands will also progress from Group D to the knockout stage.
Gareth Southgate’s men will conclude their Group C campaign against Slovenia in Cologne on Tuesday, although they have already qualified for the next stage. We predict that the Three Lions will be the favorite for this match, but their lackluster performance against Denmark and Serbia has fans worried. However, England seems to be rebounding and they seem ready to win Group C by beating Slovenia.
While winning over Slovenia will be an impressive way to end their Euro 2024 Group Stage campaign, a draw might also suffice, depending on Denmark’s performance against Serbia. Denmark is currently sitting second behind England in Group C and they stand to take the lead if England loses to Slovenia and they manage to outrank Serbia. That means England can’t finish lower than third place in the group stage, but Southgate is looking at Tuesday’s game as a chance to bounce back.
On the other hand, Slovenia is motivated to win this game against the Euro 2024 favorite after drawing in their first two matches in Germany. A win against England Matjaz Kek's men will see them proceed to the knockout stages. That means England must be at their best to avoid what would be the most surprising upset in the history of the Euro 2024 tournament.
According to England’s star Declan Rice, Slovenia played well in their first two games, although they haven’t secured a win. The Slovenians have fast and strong players, with Benjamin Sesko being the main man upfront. Benjamin is a talented forward and has been a huge target for teams in Europe. That shows the matchup between England and Slovenia will be quite challenging for both sides.
Why England needs to rebound against Slovenia
While England has already qualified for the last 16, they desperately need a win over Slovenia to avoid a knockout tie against the tournament hosts, Germany. A convincing performance is also crucial to alleviate the growing doubts about their status as tournament favorites after a lackluster performance to beat Serbia 1-0 and a no-show against Denmark.
Heading into their game against Slovenia, England’s camp seems calm and ready to make a comeback after their draw against the Danes. Manager Southgate and his staff have had five days to transform the team and justify their pre-Euro 2024 favorite rating, so the Three Lions can’t afford to slip up over Slovenia.
Southgate is expected to feature Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher to replace Alexander-Arnold Trent, ending his brief flirtation with Liverpool’s star in the midfield. That might be Southgate's only change despite calls for a shape-up in England’s squad after their performance over Denmark. However, Gallagher is grateful for the chance and seems ready to make an impact in the game.
