- Date and Time: June 30, 17:00 GMT+1
- Venue: VELTINS-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
| Odds via 22bet | |
| England vs Slovakia | June 30, 17:00 GMT+1 |
| England odds | 1.41 |
| Slovakia odds | 8.9 |
| Draw | 4.32 |
| Over\Under | Total 2,5: 2.11/1.73 |
England vs Slovakia Preview
England
Our website already has several articles about the issues with the England national team, and I won’t repeat all the well-deserved criticism of Gareth Southgate.
It’s worth noting that according to many bookmakers, including 22Bet, England is still considered the main favorite for the tournament. This is mainly because England has landed in the easier part of the tournament bracket, where there are no top contenders to win Euro 2024.
Here’s how the last 16 of #EURO2024 looks 👇 pic.twitter.com/FwhFRFhOPm
— England (@England) June 27, 2024
Despite their problems, Southgate’s team finished in first place in Group C and have only conceded one goal so far. However, it’s unclear how England will respond if they concede first.
In a friendly against Iceland before the tournament, England suffered a 0-1 defeat due to their inability to react powerfully to an early goal from their opponents. The issues with positional attacks may be most apparent in a situation where England needs to score.
If England can score a quick goal against Slovakia, they have everything they need to hold on to a minimal lead. Southgate’s team has many press-resistant players who can calmly control the ball and stifle their opponents. We saw this clearly in the group stage.
The #ThreeLions head into the #EURO2024 knockout stage as group winners 💪 pic.twitter.com/S8oMxjfuA7
— England (@England) June 25, 2024
In team news, Luke Shaw has returned to training with the general group of players. However, it’s still unclear how much Shaw is ready to help his team, as he hasn’t had game practice since mid-February.
| Recent Form | WLWLD |
| Key Players to Watch | Bukayo Saka |
| Team Strengths | One of the best teams in terms of roster quality |
| Team Weaknesses | Problems with the organisation of positional defence and attack. |
Slovakia
The Slovak national team qualified for the Euro 2024 play-offs with a bit of luck on their side. Despite losing all three group stage matches in terms of creating dangerous chances, Francesco Calzona’s team managed to pick up four points.
The Slovaks scored early goals in these matches and focused on defending their lead. They allowed numerous dangerous chances in the game against Belgium, but Romelu Lukaku, Jérémy Doku, and Kevin De Bruyne failed to convert their opportunities.
“This can be our opportunity to beat them…”
Milan Škriniar says that it will be one of the best moments in history if Slovakia beat England in the Euro 2024 knockout stages 💪 pic.twitter.com/DlOpUtOgCS
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) June 28, 2024
In the match against Ukraine, after scoring an early goal, Calzona’s team lost the initiative by the end of the first half and struggled to repel the opponent’s attacks. In the second half, the Ukrainians created several excellent chances and managed to score two goals.
Faced with Romania, the Slovakian players once again took the lead but quickly conceded an equalizer. After that, they had dangerous exchanges of shots with their opponents and held on for a draw.
| Recent Form | WLWWD |
| Key Players to Watch | Ivan Schranz |
| Team Strengths | Occasional powerful pressing and great combinations on the right flank |
| Team Weaknesses | Weak defence line |
England vs Slovakia Head-to-Head Statistics
England and Slovakia were in the same qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup, with England winning both matches then.
In the first match in Trnava, England secured a 0-1 victory with a goal scored by Adam Lallana in the 95th minute.
In the second game, Stanislav Lobotka scored for Slovakia in the third minute, but England came back to 2-1 win with goals from Eric Dier in the 37th minute and Marcus Rashford in the 59th minute.
During Euro 2016, they locked horns in the third round of the group stage. The match ended in a 0-0 draw, a favorable result for both teams.
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England vs Slovakia Player Focus
Slovakia is facing significant defensive issues at Euro 2024, mainly due to their struggle to keep a high defensive line.
Coach Francesco Calzona advocates for a defensive strategy involving a medium defensive block with occasional aggressive pressing.
Their high defensive line, along with midfielders compactly positioned in the center, effectively blocked opponents from making short passes through the middle.
Team Stats from Group Stages 📊#EURO2024
⚽️ ATTACK ⚽️
Highest xG:
🟢 France 🇫🇷 (5.9)
🟢 Portugal 🇵🇹 (5.8)
🟢 Spain 🇪🇸 (5.5)
🟢 Turkey 🇹🇷 (5.2)Lowest xG:
🔴 England 🏴 (2.2)
🔴 Slovakia 🇸🇰 (2.3)
🔴 Slovenia 🇸🇮 (2.6)
🔴 Italy 🇮🇹 (2.6)🛡️ DEFENCE 🛡️
Lowest xGC:
🟢 England 🏴… pic.twitter.com/VSuGqEvq27— FPL Olympian (@FPLOlympian) June 27, 2024
However, Ukraine and Belgium were able to counter this by utilizing simple long passes behind the Slovakian defenders. Center-backs Milan Škriniar and Denis Vavro appeared unsure and made some basic mistakes.
England will likely also attempt to exploit Slovakia’s defense with long passes. In this scenario, Bukayo Saka could be a pivotal player for the English team thanks to his excellent timing in running behind the opposition’s defenders. Meanwhile, Harry Kane can draw the attention of Slovakia’s center-backs and create space for Saka.
If Jude Bellingham plays in a more advanced position, he may also contribute by making quality runs into the penalty area.
England vs Slovakia Preview, Tactical Analysis
Tactically, England must avoid falling into Slovakia’s defensive trap. If the English team focuses on short passing and attempts to move the ball through the center of the pitch, they may encounter a well-organized defensive strategy from their opponents.
Slovakia’s mid block is nice and compact with clear zonal concept. The 8s pressing forwards while the wingers tuck inside to close the middle. Also, the back line can shuffle across as a line constantly instead of sticking with the opp attackers to manage the space. #euro2024 pic.twitter.com/umBsavqqmX
— Football Bunseki (@Footballbunseki) June 17, 2024
This was evident in the group round matches when England had an overload of players in the central areas and lacked width on the flanks. Even Bukayo Saka, who excels as a winger, often found himself in the center, making England’s attacks overly narrow.
As for Slovakia, the trio of Peter Pekarík, Juraj Kucka, and Ivan Schranz will be pivotal in their attacking strategy. These players have worked together effectively in the previous three matches of the tournament, creating almost all of Slovakia’s attacking opportunities.
England vs Slovakia Prediction
- Football Pick: England to win
- Odds: 1.41 (22Bet)
- Score prediction: England 1-0 Slovakia
Slovakia has scored quick goals in all three previous matches in this tournament. If they manage to pull that off again, England could be in major trouble.
At the same time, Slovakia appears to be more vulnerable in defense compared to Serbia, Denmark, and Slovenia.
That is why I still believe that England will win in regular time.
England vs Slovakia Prediction, Betting Tip
- Football Pick: 1X And TU 2.5
- Odds: 1.89 (22Bet)
If Slovakia manages to score a goal, we should consider the possibility of a draw during regular time in this match. My EURO 2024 prediction would be that England will not lose, and there will be fewer than three goals in the game.
Disclaimer: The content provided on this page, including all UEFA EURO 2024 predictions, odds, and related information, is for entertainment and informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure accuracy and timeliness, we do not guarantee the correctness or reliability of any predictions, data, or information presented here.
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