Euro 2024: Serbia vs England tips and predictions - Three Lions attack too strong for leaky Serbs

Euro 2024 favourites England open their campaign against Serbia at Arena AufSchalke on Sunday evening with the bookmakers pricing the Three Lions as a likely winner.

The nation isn’t overflowing with positivity on the back of one win in five and a below-par showing in a 1-0 defeat to Iceland at Wembley last week.

Serbia’s preparations finished on a more positive note as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Tadic found the net in a 3-0 win over Sweden.

Dragan Stojkovic’s side saw off Bulgaria, Lithuania and Montenegro in qualifying despite finishing with four wins from eight matches in a weak group.

They’ll need to step up if they want to take points off of Gareth Southgate’s side this weekend, particularly as their defensive record has been poor.

Nine goals conceded in eight qualifiers doesn’t make for terrible reading, but we have to consider the level of opposition. On top of that, they were woefully open at the World Cup.

 

Planet Sport Bet Special: Bet £10 and if both teams score in the first half, get a £5 free bet!

 

Brazil, Cameroon and Switzerland combined to score eight goals with Austria, Bulgaria, Jordan and Russia finding the net at least twice in games since.

On the other hand, Southgate could have his own defensive issues to worry about. Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are notable absences, yet John Stones missing out would be a bigger blow.

There’s still an argument to be made that England should walk the group in any case as the teams in Group C will struggle to contain Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane.

The amount of quality on the pitch should be able to expose Serbia’s soft underbelly, even if there is a chance of hairy moments at the other end.

 

Team news

Mitrovic had 43 goal involvements in 38 matches in Saudi Arabia this season to go with six in seven during Serbia’s qualifying campaign.

Creative midfielder Dusan Tadic produced 19 assists from club and country last season, while Milinkovic-Savic had a hand in 26 goals in the Saudi Pro League.

Marc Guehi will partner John Stones in the heart of defence but the Man City man’s potential absence would give Southgate a headache.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to partner Declan Rice in England’s midfield.

Kane enjoyed a record-breaking year with 68 goal involvements for club and country.

 

Key stats

-  There have been over 2.5 goals in eight of Serbia’s last 10 matches
-  Serbia have conceded two or more goals in their last five tournament matches
-  England have lost one of their last 18 European Championship matches
-  England have conceded in four of their last five matches
-  Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole scored in a 2-1 win for England when the sides met in a friendly in 2003

 

Suggested bets

England to win and over 2.5 goals

Harry Kane to score

Both teams to score