Day 6 of UEFA Euro 2024 will see three fixtures take place: the first between Scotland and Switzerland at the RheinEnergieStadion, the second encounter between Slovenia and Serbia at the Allianz Arena, and the third between England and Denmark at the Deutsche Bank Park.
Scotland will certainly enter this fixture as second favourites as they come up against a Switzerland team with a decent pedigree when it comes to international tournaments. However, they do possess a good crop of experienced players at the Premier League level like Kieran Tierney, Andrew Robertson, John McGinn, and Scott McTominay. Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie will add some much-needed creativity to the side while going forward.
On the other side, we have a fairly experienced Switzerland team led by Granit Xhaka, who enjoyed a brilliant undefeated Bundesliga-winning season with Bayer Leverkusen. He will be supported by Man City centre-back Manuel Akanji and former Liverpool star Xherdan Shaqiri. Kwadwo Duah will be expected to lead the line for the Swiss over Zeki Amdouni after starting his team’s opener against Hungary.
Robertson’s availability came into question before the start of the tournament, but the defender was cleared by Scotland assistant coach John Carver and started his team’s first game against Germany. Similarly, Stuart Armstrong is also expected to be available after overcoming a muscle issue.
The main cause for concern in the Switzerland camp is around the fitness of forward Breel Embolo. The Monaco attacker may start this game after he came on for the final 15 minutes or so against Hungary and also found the net late on in that fixture.
Scotland
Form (all competitions, most recent first): L-D-W-L-L
Most recent result: Germany 5-1 Scotland, Euro 2024
European Qualifying: Finished 2nd in Group A, with 17 points.
Switzerland
Form (all competitions, most recent first): W-D-W-W-D
Most recent result: Switzerland 3-1 Hungary, Euro 2024
European Qualifying: Finished 2nd in Group I with 17 points
Switzerland are certainly looking like the stronger team heading into this second-round fixture against Scotland. With the experienced midfielders they possess, along with their exciting attacking talent, the Swiss should win this one fairly comfortably.
Scotland 0-2 Switzerland
Goalkeeper: Angus Gunn
Defenders: Manuel Akanji, Fabian Schär, Andrew Robertson, Ricardo Rodriguez
Midfielders: Granit Xhaka, Scott McTominay, Remo Freuler
Forwards: Breel Embolo, Che Adams, Kwadwo Duah
Captain: Kwadwo Duah
Vice-captain: Breel Embolo
Also Watch: Will Germany win Euro 2024? Breaking down Germany’s opener v Scotland
Slovenia are probably the least likely to get out of this group and will be expected not to have much of the ball in this game. However, they do have talented players that can make things happen, such as young striker Benjamin Šeško, who has caught the attention of big clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea with his performances for RB Leipzig this season, having scored 18 goals in 42 matches across all competitions. Slovenia are led by the experienced Jan Oblak, who will once again be between the sticks for them.
Serbia, on the other hand, will certainly come into this match as the favourites and have a fair share of the possession. They’ve got experience and assured goal-scorers on the top of the field with the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dušan Vlahovic, the former having scored an incredible 40 goals this season across all competitions in Saudi Arabia. With another older head in Sergej Milinkovic-Savic controlling the midfield, Serbia surely look like an assured side going into this second-round tie.
Slovenia have some injury concerns heading into this match. Midfielders Benjamin Verbic and Sandi Lovric’s availability remains uncertain, while two other defenders from the squad, Peta Stojanovic and Miha Blazic, may also be missing.
A major blow for Serbia is surrounding Filip Kostic, who sustained a knee injury in his team’s opener against England. He is likely to miss the Slovenia game.
Slovenia
Form (all competitions, most recent first): D-D-W-W-D
Most recent result: Slovenia 1-1 Denmark, Euro 2024
European Qualifying: Finished 2nd in Group H with 22 points
Serbia
Form (all competitions, most recent first): L-W-L-W-L
Most recent result: England 1-0 Serbia, Euro 2024
European Qualifying: Finished 2nd in Group G with 14 points
Although Serbia possess the better talent and are slight favourites here, this game could see a small upset. Slovenia, after all, did manage to pull out a draw against Denmark and could end up frustrating the Serbians as well.
Slovenia 1-1 Serbia
Goalkeeper: Jan Oblak
Defenders: Nikola Milenkovic, Strahinja Pavlovic, Jaka Bijol
Midfielders: Filip Mladenovic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Dušan Tadic, Saša Lukic
Forwards: Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dušan Vlahovic, Benjamin Šeško
Captain: Aleksandar Mitrovic
Vice-captain: Dušan Vlahovic
England not only head into this match as favourites but are also considered among the top picks to win Euro 2024. Several stars from this squad have been in incredible form heading into the competition, including their captain Harry Kane, who scored 36 times in the German Bundesliga this season. Joining Kane in the frontline will be Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden, who have both enjoyed brilliant seasons in the Premier League with their respective sides. With England setting up in a 4-3-3 system, expect them to dominate the possession in this game.
Denmark, on the other hand, will have to undertake a more passive approach in terms of ball possession. However, they certainly have the players who can cause the Three Lions issues while going forward. Christian Eriksen is excellent in dead-ball situations, meaning the English will have to concede as few corners and free kicks around the penalty area as possible. Although Rasmus Højlund hasn’t quite lit up the Premier League with Man United yet, he is more than capable of finding the net.
For England, the biggest blow may be the absence of Gareth Southgate’s most trusted defender, Harry Maguire. The Man United centre-back failed to recover from injury and has thus been left out of the squad.
John Stones, who was deemed uncertain before England’s opener against Serbia, made it fit for that game and even started it. Therefore, he will be expected to partner Marc Guéhi in central defence.
At the moment, Denmark head into the game against England with no injured players, which is a huge boost for the team’s head coach, Kasper Hjulmand.
England
Form (all competitions, most recent first): W-L-W-D-L
Most recent result: England 1-0 Serbia, Euro 2024
European Qualifying: Finished 1st in Group C with 20 points
Denmark
Form (all competitions, most recent first): D-W-W-W-D
Most recent result: Denmark 1-1 Slovenia, Euro 2024
European Qualifying: Finished top of Group H with 22 points
With the amount of attacking on display in this match, be sure to see a fair few goals. However, expect England to come out on top comfortably despite an average start for the likes of Harry Kane and Phil Foden in their first match.
England 3-1 Denmark
Goalkeeper: Kasper Schmeichel
Defenders: Andreas Christensen, John Stones, Kyle Walker
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Christian Eriksen, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Forwards: Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden
Captain: Harry Kane
Vice-captain: Bukayo Saka
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