Group C 3rd Matchday – Denmark vs Serbia & England vs Slovenia

Our spotlight is back on EURO 2024, and this time around, we’ll discuss the third matchday of the somewhat unbalanced Group C. 

Football fans across the globe can’t wait for the championship to start, and Denmark vs Serbia and England vs Slovenia matchups promise intense thrills, to say the least. 

With introductions out of the way, we can examine the EURO 2024 Group C teams in more detail and discuss their recent performances and overall tournament prospects.

An Introduction to EURO 2024 Group C

The Danish team is looking formidable, with loads of first-class talent. Top players include Manchester United forward Rasmus Højlund, Leipzig’s Yussuf Poulsen, Barcelona’s Andreas Christensen, and Tottenham Hotspur’s midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojberg.

These guys will give the Serbian squad a real test of their skills, but despite being a clear underdog, Serbia also has a few tricks up their sleeves. 

With Dušan Vlahović and Filip Kostić from Juventus leading the charge, Serbia also features supreme talents in Dušan Tadić, Al Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrović, and PAOK’s Andrija Zivković.

On the other hand, the England vs Slovenia match appears to be a one-sided affair. With their impressive qualification form and talented squad, the Three Lions are strong contenders for the trophy in Berlin.

The Slovenian squad will have to give everything to avoid a blowout. Still, as we all know, anything can happen in this beautiful football game. 

Denmark vs Serbia: A Crucial Match for Both 

The anticipation is reaching a peak as we prepare for the game between Denmark and Serbia, and this matchup will be crucial for both squads. 

The Danish team is looking a lot better since star player Rasmus Højlund joined the fray. He seems to have breathed new life into the team, which is especially important as they struggled to regain their confidence after their devastating early exit from World Cup 2022. 

Denmark entered the competition with a spare game for the EURO qualification, mainly because of the stellar performances of Andreas Christensen and Yussuf Poulsen. Even though we saw some mediocre play from the Danish team, they found the much-needed rhythm. 

As for the formation, the Danish manager Kaspar Hjulmand prefers a 4-3-3 formation and doesn’t shy away from switching to five in the back when the situation calls for it. 

Meanwhile, the Serbian team had a rough qualification run. Still, the squad ended up in solid second place in Group G. Resilient to the core and eager to prove themselves, the Eagles are led by Dušan Tadić, Dušan Vlahović, and Filip Kostić.

The former legendary player and current Serbia manager, Dragan Stojković “Piksi,” usually opts for a 3-4-2-1 setup, prioritizing the team’s best players.

Despite the Danish team’s objective advantage over Serbia, we will undoubtedly see some premium football action on the field. Denmark will give it all to avoid another early exit. At the same time, the Serbian team will do their best to prove they have what it takes to advance further in the competition. 

England vs Slovenia: Possible Trouble Ahead

The second game in EURO 2024 Group C will be the England vs Slovenia clash, where many expect the Three Lions will not have a problem overcoming their opponents. 

England, a strong team in qualifications, is one of the top contenders to win. Their success is a testament to the brilliance of players like Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, and Phil Foden. 

A potential weakness of Gareth Southgate’s team is playing well against other A-list lineups, so it will be interesting to see how they approach a match against a team of moderate quality, such as Slovenia. 

England mainly resorts to a 4-3-3 formation (having utilized it in most of their qualifiers). Still, their specialty is seamlessly converting to 4-3-2-1, leaving their opponents to adapt on the spot. 

Slovenia is still a young team in terms of major international tournaments. This is just their second EURO Cup appearance, and England will look to exploit their lack of experience.

With a burning desire to make history by advancing to the Top 16 for the first time, Matjaz Kok’s team is set to take on the almost impossible challenge. 

They certainly have a solid roster of players, with Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak, Erik Janza, Jan Mlakar, and Petar Stojanovic leading the charge. But will this be enough against an opponent as formidable as England? Only time will tell. 

Let’s Take a Look at the Underdogs

The third matchday of EURO 2024 Group C features two quite uneven matchups. In both games, the top contenders will face off against the underdogs. 

Between Denmark and Serbia, the Danish team is seen as a solid favorite. This is evident for several reasons: a star-studded squad (including AC Milan’s Simon Kjaer, Mathias Jensen from Brentford, and many more), excellent recent performances, and, most importantly, they were among the top four teams in EURO 2020. 

Conversely, Serbia enters the championship with an underwhelming streak despite having plenty of individual talent. This is also their first EURO appearance since the country was renamed in 2006, and a lot will have to go in their favor if they want to overcome an opponent as good as Denmark. 

Meanwhile, Slovenia will need a miracle to save face against the English team. England almost snatched the trophy in the last EURO; this time, their team and desire are stronger than ever.

The Slovenian squad will give it all to at least get a draw in this matchup and, further down the line, enter the Top 16 for the first time in their history. But, with England and Denmark standing in the way, this will be very difficult to accomplish. 

Key Players to Keep an Eye On

The Danes lead the charge with Christian Eriksen, Kasper Schmeichel, and Jannik Vestergaard. We also can’t forget about Hotspur’s star midfielder, Pierre-Emile Hojberg, and Milan’s top center-back, Simon Kjaer. 

Among Serbia’s “top dogs” are Luka Jovic, Dorde Petrovic and Strahinja Pavlovic. Legendary striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is also on the team, while the wing is Andrija Zivkovic’s territory.

England’s star-studded line-up has Man City’s right-back powerhouse Kyle Walker, Arsenal’s top winger Bukayo Saka, and Jordan Henderson from Ajax. 

Finally, Slovenia’s leading players are Jan Mlakar, Tomi Horvat, Erik Janza, and Adam Cerin.

Football Greatness is Just Around the Corner

EURO 2024 Group C isn’t the most balanced, but this is a good thing, as it gives the underdogs a chance to shine and forces the favorites to prove their worth. 

The upcoming games will determine who will face the winners and runner-ups from other groups. As we already mentioned, England is the favorite of Group C, while Denmark will most likely advance as the second pick. 

Serbia and Slovenia have a rough road ahead, but these dark horses may have what it takes to upset the balance and surprise football fans worldwide. We hope you enjoyed this review of Matchday 3, and stay tuned for more EURO 2024 coverage—it’s on its way!