Introduction
England and Slovakia will meet at the Gelsenkirchen stadium to battle for a spot in the last eight of Euro 2024. England progressed as group C leader with 5 points, while Slovakia qualified as the third-best-ranked team from Group E. Who will book a slot in the quarter-finals? Let’s preview this contest.
About the game
England’s Performance
England has qualified unbeaten for the 4th consecutive time from the group stage of the Euro since 2012. They might be unbeaten in this edition, but their performance has been underwhelming after winning just once in the group. Southgate’s team won 1-0 against Serbia in their group opener before frustrating draws against Denmark and Slovenia. The star-studded Three Lions will need a better performance in the knockouts to meet their dream of European glory.
Slovakia’s Performance
Slovakia shouldn’t be underestimated after their surprise win over Belgium in the group opener. They earned one point in their next two matches, losing to Ukraine and drawing 1-1 with Romania. Slovakia advanced by finishing third in Group E, where all teams had four points. A win here would set a new record for Slovenskí Sokoli, marking their second victory at a European Championship.
Head-to-Head History
England boasts an impressive record against Slovakia, having secured five victories in six matches. Yet, their single unsuccessful attempt to conquer the Slovakian team occurred during Euro 2016, when they played a goalless draw in Saint-Étienne. Interestingly, during this match, the Three Lions fired a record 29 shots—the most they’ve ever taken in a European Championship match since records began in 1980.
Key Players to Watch
England captain Harry Kane aims to improve after a slow summer start, scoring one goal so far in Germany. He has scored six goals in his last six knockout matches, the highest of any English player. For England to succeed, stars like Saka and Bellingham must perform at their best.
Martin Dúbravka is well-known to England fans from his 23 games for Newcastle United last season, where he scored 1.83 goals per game. Milan Skriniar and Stanislav Lobotka anchor Slovakia’s defense and midfield. Ivan Schranz has been vital in the attack, scoring the winner against Belgium and the opener against Ukraine.
Possible Team Lineups and Changes
Luke Shaw is available for this clash after a hamstring issue kept him out. Despite minor injuries from a bike fall, Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon is fit to play. Phil Foden also returns after his child’s birth. Gordon or Cole Palmer will likely replace him if he is not ready to play.
Slovakia’s lineup under Francesco Calzona is mostly stable. Stanislav Lobotka and Milan Skriniar will anchor the team’s defense. David Strelec or Robert Bozenik will join Lukas Haraslin and Ivan Schranz up front. Tomas Suslov, effective as a substitute, likely won’t replace Haraslin.
England vs. Slovakia Betting Odds and Predictions
Gareth Southgate’s team has been heavily criticized from the start of this competition. This might be weighing down the players but this is now the business end of thing, and we hope they will step up their game. Slovakia can hold their heads up already can’t see them beating England and the score line will be very low. They both have lowest Total shots from the group phase.
The Best Betting Odds
| Markets | Odds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England win |
1.46 
|
1.45 
|
1.48 
|
1.44 
|
1.45 
|
|
| Draw |
4.40
|
4.15
|
4.20
|
4.16
|
4.10
|
|
| Slovakia win |
9.10
|
9.25
|
9.15
|
9.30
|
9.34
|
|
| Under 2.5 |
1.70
|
1.70
|
1.75
|
1.80
|
1.81
|
|
| Under 2.5 |
1.70
|
1.70
|
1.75
|
1.80
|
1.81
|
|
| Under 2.5 |
1.70
|
1.70
|
1.75
|
1.80
|
1.81
|
|
Conclusion
Slovakia is ranked 40 positions below England in the current FIFA ranking, making them the underdogs in this encounter. However, the Three Lions must improve their group stage performance to reach the quarters. The victorious team in this match will meet Switzerland in the last eight. Given the quality of teams in other fixtures, this seems to be the easiest path to the final. The winner of this clash will avoid giants like Germany, France, Belgium, Spain or Portugal.
Samuel Okunsolawo is an iGaming expert with over six years of experience in content writing. His passion for simplifying complex concepts makes his articles accessible and useful for beginners and experts alike. With a focus on sports betting trends and reliable betting sites, Samuel’s articles are an excellent resource for those seeking guidance and staying up to date in the world of iGaming.