England aims to silence Euro 2024 critics against Serbia, with Mitrovic poised for an upset.
England is looking to dispel lingering doubts as they kick off Euro 2024 against England, with Aleksandar Mitrovic ready to spring a surprise. Despite being favorites to end their title drought since 1966, concerns remain for the Three Lions ahead of Sunday’s opener.
Gareth Southgate‘s squad has secured only one win in their last five matches, including a 1-1 draw with North Macedonia and a shocking 1-0 home defeat to Iceland in their final warm-up before heading to Germany. Even though England is expected to easily advance from a group that includes Denmark and Slovenia, a dominant performance against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen is essential to calm nerves and meet high expectations.
**Defensive Concerns**
England’s biggest challenge in their bid for the European Championship lies in defense, with injuries disrupting Southgate’s previously stable backline. Harry Maguire is out with a calf injury, and Luke Shaw is the only natural left-back despite not playing since February. John Stones, crucial for his experience, has also struggled with fitness issues this season. Consequently, Kieran Trippier, typically a right-back, is set to start at left-back, while Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace is likely to partner Stones in central defense. England’s defensive frailties have already been exposed by Brazil, Belgium, and Iceland in 2024, and Serbia’s formidable strike duo of Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic poses a significant threat.
Despite defensive issues, England’s attacking options are among the best globally. Former captain Alan Shearer praised England’s front six as potentially the best in world football. Remarkably, Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish, and James Maddison didn’t make the 26-man squad. The lineup of Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane is the envy of Europe. However, Southgate is still working to find the right balance to replicate their club performances on the international stage; this quartet scored a combined 114 goals in the 2023/24 season. Foden, awarded Premier League player of the year for his central role, has been shifted to the left to accommodate Bellingham as a number 10. Southgate has been hesitant to play both centrally alongside Arsenal’s Declan Rice, instead opting for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher or Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, who usually plays right-back, in central midfield.
**’Last Chance’ for Southgate**
Under Southgate, England has re-emerged as contenders for major titles, reaching a final, a semifinal, and a quarterfinal in their last three tournaments. Nonetheless, doubts persist about his ability to secure victory in crucial moments. England lost early leads in both the Euro 2020 final against Italy and the 2018 World Cup semifinal against Croatia. “If we don’t win, I probably won’t be here anymore. It might be the last chance,” Southgate told German publication Bild, aware that his contract ends this year. With such a talented squad, expectations are high, and there will be little tolerance for failure to win the trophy this time.