Slovenia and Serbia will aim to get their first win in UEFA Euro 2024 when they lock horns at the Allianz Arena on Thursday.
Matchday 2 of the UEFA Euro 2024 kicked off on Tuesday, with the next batch of games in the latest round of fixtures coming our way on Thursday. The action on the day will kick off at the Allianz Arena, where Slovenia and Serbia will lock horns, searching for their first win of their campaigns.
Slovenia might be delighted with the opening weekend result, as they came from a goal down to hold Denmark to a 1-1 draw. The South Central European nation’s performances this year have been impressive, with Matjaz Kek’s charges last losing a game in November 2023. With Group C wide open, a win on Thursday can take them closer to a spot in the round of 16.
As for Serbia, they took the game to England but succumbed to a 13th-minute goal by Jude Bellingham. The result has left the Eagles at the bottom of the Group C standings, continuing their inconsistent run of results. Dragan Stojkovic’s men have won only two of their last seven games across all competitions.
The most recent match-up featuring Slovenia and Serbia was in June 2022, with the teams playing a 2-2 draw in the UEFA Nations League. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Slovenia
Matjaz Kek does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Serbia on Thursday, Slovenia’s head coach will have a full-strength squad.
Jab Oblak is the automatic pick between the sticks, with Slovenia lining up in a 4-4-2 formation in front of him against Serbia. The backline should feature Zan Karnicinik, Vanja Drkusic, Jaka Bijol, and Erik Janza. The latter will be heavily involved in the final third, having scored the equaliser against Denmark.
As for the midfield unit, Adam Gnezda Cerin and Timi Max Elsnik will aim to keep things tight in the middle of the park. Petar Stojanovic and Jan Mlakar should be the two wide midfielders, with the duo contributing in both phases of the game. Finally, Andraz Sporar and Benjamin Sesko should complete the numbers in the attack, hoping to get on the score sheet on Thursday.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Oblak; Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic, Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; Sesko, Sporar
Serbia
Unlike his counterpart in the Slovenian dugout, Dragan Stojkovic has a new fitness issue to deal with ahead of the trip to the Allianz Arena. Serbia’s head coach might be without one player in the midweek fixture in Munich.
Stojkovic is sweating over the fitness of Filip Kostic, who picked up a knock against England. However, the veteran wing-back should be fit enough to take the field for Serbia against Slovenia on Thursday.
Serbia will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation against Slovenia, with Predrag Rajkovic taking his spot between the sticks. The central defensive unit should feature Milos Veljkovic, Nikola Milenkovic, and Strahinja Pavlovic. The trio will look to remain compact to close down the half spaces in the defensive third.
Andrija Zivkovic and Kostic should be the two wing-backs, with the duo providing the width in the final third. The duo will flank Sasa Lukic and Milan Gudelj, who will aim to shore up the things in the middle of the park. The only change should have Dusan Tadic returning to the attack, accompanying Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Aleksandar Mitrovic in the offensive trifecta.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Rajkovic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, Lukic, Gudelj, Kostic; Milinkovic-Savic, Tadic; Mitrovic
Key Stats
- Six of the previous eight matches between Slovenia and Serbia in all competitions have ended in a draw, with each side winning once apiece in the others.
- Slovenia have played more matches at the UEFA European Championship without ever winning than any other nation, drawing three and losing one of their four matches in the competition.
- Including games as Yugoslavia, Serbia won two of their first three matches at the UEFA European Championship (L1), reaching the final in 1960 and 1968. However, since then, they have won one of their 12 matches in the competition (D2 L9).
- In all competitions, Slovenia have lost just two of their last 22 matches (W13 D7), going down 2-0 against Finland and 2-1 against Denmark in UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers.
- Erik Janza scored Slovenia’s goal in their 1-1 draw with Denmark in the opening match. No player was involved in more of Slovenia’s attempts than Janza (5 – three shots, two chances created).
Prediction
Dusan Vlahovic
Serbia’s inability to get past Jordan Pickford meant they suffered a 1-0 defeat to England on Matchday 1. So, the onus on Thursday will be on Aleksandar Mitrovic, with Dragan Stojkovic looking towards his star striker to deliver the goods in the final third.
If the Eagles turn up with a goal or two on Thursday, they will be in good stead to get on the board in UEFA Euro 2024. So, Mitrovic, who plundered 40 goals in 45 appearances for Al-Hilal in the 2023/24 season, must make his mark and earn his team a point or three this midweek.
Mitrovic has scored a goal in his two previous matches against Slovenia. Only against Lithuania (2018-2019), Luxembourg (2019-2021) and Portugal (2019-2021) has he ever scored in three consecutive international appearances. Expect the experienced striker to deliver the goods in the final third.
Prediction
Slovenia 2-2 Serbia
Slovenia would have hoped for a better result to bank on their incredible form in the last two years. However, it was not to be, as they battled hard to share the spoils with Denmark. But Matjaz Kek’s men will fancy their prospects on Thursday against an inconsistent Serbia.
The Eagles have blown hot and cold for a long time. However, Dusan Tadic’s return to the starting eleven should galvanise the team’s attack, bringing the best out of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. So, while Slovenia should dominate the proceedings, Serbia will find the goals to hold the team to a 2-2 draw at the Allianz Arena on Thursday.
