Euro 2024: Slovenia and Serbia Face Off in a Group C Cracker

Slovenia vs Serbia

With the European Championships well and truly underway some fascinating tussles have arisen and none more so that in Group C, where all four teams have reason to be optimistic.

Gareth Southgate’s England are the hot favourites to win the group but they struggled to beat a dangerous Serbia side on Sunday while Slovenia picked up an impressive draw against Denmark. So any thoughts that the English and the Danes would coast through to the knockout phase have already been banished, and Euro 2024: Slovenia vs Serbia is a battle between two teams with serious ambitions.

The Slovenia vs Serbia betting odds predict a tight game on Thursday with the Serbs the more likely winners, so let’s take a closer look at the two sides.

 

Talking Points

Slovenia show their mettle

Currently standing among the well-established elite of European football Slovenia are not yet regulars at major tournaments but in their opening clash against Denmark, Matjaz Kek’s team looked comfortable in the face of a Danish team with plenty of stars. Talisman Christian Eriksen scored Denmark’s opener against Slovenia but they failed to push on, and while England got away with it against Serbia; Slovenia made the Danes pay.

Atletico Madrid keeper Jan Oblak was typically excellent and he denied Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund with a close range stop and soon enough, with a healthy dose of luck, Slovenia levelled with just 13 minutes left on the clock. Left back Eric Janza tried his luck with a first time effort on the edge of the penalty area and his shot took a wicked deflection to fly beyond Kasper Schmeichel and into the roof of the net.         

They put in a superb rearguard action to preserve a point and, while the Slovenia vs Serbia highlights may well see Kek’s team on the back foot for much of the game, they do have a punch up front.

20-year-old Benjamin Sesko gives the Slovenian attack star quality. He had a breakout season in the Bundesliga with Red Bull Leipzig, scoring in each of heir last seven games of the campaign and, with Premier League clubs circling he has just signed a new contract to stay with Die Roten Bullen. And alongside Andraz Spora in attack Sesko will stretch he Serbian backline.  

 

There’s more to come from Serbia

To draw England as an opener, one of the favourites to win the tournament, was a tough task for the Serbs but Dragan Sojkovic’s side put up a good show, matching the Three Lions in the second half and they can feel themselves unlucky to finish the game empty handed, restricting the Three Lions to a meagre five shots while giving Southgate a nervy last 20 minutes or so.  

With Aleksandar Mitrovic and Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic up front Serbia have a serious attacking threat. Vlahovic scored 16 Serie A goals last season to come second in the race for the 2024 Capocannoniere, behind Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez, and the Juve man came close to scoring against England with a rasping shot which Jordan Pickford tipped over the bar. Mitrovic, now at Al Hilal, has scored 58 goals in 92 appearances and, at 29 years of age is a real handful and in his prime.

Vlahovic’s Juve colleague Filip Kostic was impressive against England as was midfield general Sergej-Milinkovic Savic, also at Al- Hilal but having lost none of his authority and bite.    

With Sevilla centre back Nemanja Gudelj leading the defence this is a team with real quality and they will back themselves to pick up points in their next two games, starting with Slovenia on Thursday.  

 

History

As an independent nation since 2006, this is Serbia’s first appearance at a European Championships while Slovenia are at their second Euros, first taking part in 2000 when they went out at the group stage. 

These two sides have met five times before and won once each, with three draws in the mix, the last encounter a 2-2 stalemate in 2022.

In terms of recent form Slovenia have won three and drawn three of the last six games, while Serbia have won two, drawn one and lost three over that period.    

 

Betting Tip

Serbia are the favourites to win this game at SBOTOP odds of 1.82 while Slovenia can be backed at 4.02 and the draw is priced at 3.32. At a world ranking of 33 the Serbs are 24 places ahead of Slovenia and have a greater depth of talent and experience in their squad.

But Slovenia have already shown, against Denmark, that they can fight it out and I expect another tough battle at the Alliaz Arena on Thursday.   

   

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