On Sunday, June 30th, 2024, England and Slovakia will face off in the round of 16 of the Euro 2024 tournament at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
England, the group winners of Group C, will be looking to secure a spot in the quarterfinals, while Slovakia, one of the best third-placed teams, will be aiming to cause an upset and continue their journey in the competition.
Match Preview
England topped their group with 5 points, despite some underwhelming performances in the group stage.
The Three Lions will be hoping to find their form and deliver a more comprehensive display against Slovakia.
Key players for England include Jude Bellingham, who has scored one goal in the tournament so far, and captain Harry Kane, who will be looking to add to his tally.
Slovakia, on the other hand, qualified for the round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams, finishing third in Group E behind Romania and Belgium.
The Slovaks have a solid defensive record, having conceded just three goals in the group stage. Their attack is led by Ivan Schranz, who has scored two goals in the competition.
England’s group stage performances have been a mixed bag, with a narrow 1-0 win over Serbia, followed by two draws against Slovenia and Denmark.
The team has struggled to find their attacking rhythm, scoring just two goals in the three matches.
Slovakia, meanwhile, had a decent group stage campaign, winning one, drawing one, and losing one of their three matches.
Their 1-1 draw against Romania and 1-0 win over Belgium were highlights, while their 2-1 loss to Ukraine was a setback.
Head-to-Head
The two teams have met 6 times in their history, with England winning 5 and Slovakia winning non, with one draw.
The most recent encounter was a world cup qualifier in 2017, which England won 2-1.
Injury and Suspension Updates
England have no major injury concerns, with Luke Shaw fit again after missing the group stage. Slovakia also have a fully fit squad and no suspension issues.
Prediction
This match is expected to be a tight affair, with both teams looking to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
England’s superior quality and experience may give them the edge, but Slovakia’s solid defensive organization could make it a challenging encounter. Our prediction is a 2-1 win for England.
Betting Tips
Match Result: England to win (Odds: 1.42)
Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Under 2.5 goals (Odds: 1.70)
Both Teams to Score: No (Odds: 1.80)
Handicap: England -1 (Odds: 2.10)
The low-scoring nature of both teams’ recent matches suggests that under 2.5 goals and a England win without both teams scoring could be the best betting options for this encounter.
