UEFA EURO 2024 is upon us, and Group C is shaping up to be a fascinating contest. Featuring Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, and England, this group offers a blend of experienced contenders and ambitious underdogs. Let’s dive into a comprehensive preview of Group C, examining the fixtures, team histories, and what to expect.
Group C Fixtures
Here’s the full schedule for Group C matches in EURO 2024:
June 16: Slovenia vs Denmark (Stuttgart, 18:00 CET)
June 16: Serbia vs England (Gelsenkirchen, 21:00 CET)
June 20: Slovenia vs Serbia (Munich, 15:00 CET)
June 20: Denmark vs England (Frankfurt, 18:00 CET)
June 25: England vs Slovenia (Cologne, 21:00 CET)
June 25: Denmark vs Serbia (Munich, 21:00 CET)
These fixtures promise excitement and potentially crucial clashes that will determine who advances to the knockout stages of EURO 2024.
Team Overviews: EURO 2024 Group C
Let’s take a closer look at each team in Group C, assessing their EURO pedigree, qualifying campaigns, and historical matchups against their group opponents.
Slovenia
EURO Pedigree:
Slovenia has limited history in the EUROs, with only one previous appearance in 2000 where they were eliminated in the group stage. This EURO 2024 campaign marks only their second participation in the tournament, highlighting their underdog status in Group C. Their best EURO performance remains the group stage exit in 2000, and they did not qualify for EURO 2020.
Qualifying Campaign:
Slovenia’s qualification for EURO 2024 was impressive. Finishing as runners-up in Group H, they secured 7 wins, 1 draw, and only 2 losses in their 10 qualifying matches. Notably, they clinched qualification with a crucial 2-1 victory against Kazakhstan, marking their return to a major international tournament for the first time since the 2010 World Cup. Under the guidance of Matjaž Kek, Slovenia proved their resilience and competitiveness throughout the qualifiers.
Previous Meetings:
- vs Denmark: Slovenia has struggled historically against Denmark, with 0 wins, 1 draw, and 5 losses. In their most recent encounter during EURO 2024 qualifying, they lost 1-2 on November 17, 2023.
- vs England: The record against England is also challenging, with 0 wins, 1 draw, and 5 losses. Their last match was a 0-1 defeat in a World Cup qualifier on October 5, 2017.
- vs Serbia: Their head-to-head record against Serbia is more balanced, with 1 win, 6 draws, and 1 loss. They drew 2-2 in their most recent game in the UEFA Nations League on June 22, 2022.
Slovenia enters EURO 2024 as the lowest-ranked team in Group C, but their solid qualifying campaign suggests they could be a difficult opponent to underestimate.
Denmark
EURO Pedigree:
Denmark boasts a rich EURO history, participating in 9 previous tournaments, most recently EURO 2020 where they reached the semi-finals. Their crowning achievement was winning EURO 1992, a historic moment in Danish football. EURO 2020 saw them make a remarkable run to the semi-finals, showcasing their potential on the European stage.
Qualifying Campaign:
Denmark topped Group H in EURO 2024 qualifying, securing their place in the finals with 7 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses in 10 matches. Despite an early setback against Kazakhstan, Kasper Hjulmand’s experienced squad recovered strongly to qualify comfortably. This marks their first time qualifying for consecutive EURO finals since 2004, demonstrating consistent performance.
Previous Meetings:
- vs England: Denmark has a challenging record against England, with 4 wins, 5 draws, and 13 losses. They lost 1-2 in the EURO 2020 semi-final on July 7, 2021.
- vs Serbia: Their record against Serbia is evenly split with 5 wins and 5 losses, and no draws. Denmark won their last friendly match 3-0 on March 29, 2022.
- vs Slovenia: Denmark holds a dominant record over Slovenia, with 5 wins, 1 draw, and 0 losses. They won their most recent EURO 2024 qualifier 2-1 on November 17, 2023.
Denmark, with their blend of experience and quality, will be aiming to replicate or surpass their EURO 2020 semi-final run and are considered strong contenders to advance from Group C.
Serbia
EURO Pedigree:
Serbia returns to the EURO finals after a long absence. While this is their first EURO appearance as Serbia, they have a notable history as Yugoslavia, reaching the final twice (runners-up in 1960 and 1968) in 5 previous EURO appearances. Their last EURO participation was in 2000 as Yugoslavia. They did not qualify for EURO 2020.
Qualifying Campaign:
Serbia secured their EURO 2024 spot by finishing as runners-up in Group G. They achieved qualification with a 2-2 draw against Bulgaria on Matchday 10, ending their EURO finals drought. Their qualifying record includes 4 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses in 8 matches. With a squad boasting talents like Dušan Vlahović, Dušan Tadić, and Luka Jović, Serbia has high expectations for this tournament.
Previous Meetings:
- vs Denmark: Serbia’s head-to-head record against Denmark is balanced with 5 wins and 5 losses. They lost their last friendly match 0-3 on March 29, 2022.
- vs England: The record against England is somewhat unfavorable, with 4 wins, 5 draws, and 6 losses. Their last match was a 1-2 friendly defeat on June 3, 2003.
- vs Slovenia: Against Slovenia, Serbia has a slightly positive record with 1 win, 6 draws, and 1 loss. They drew 2-2 in the UEFA Nations League on June 22, 2022.
Serbia’s return to the EUROs is highly anticipated, and their talented squad aims to make a significant impact in Group C and beyond.
England
EURO Pedigree:
England is a EURO regular, with 10 previous appearances, including EURO 2020 where they finished as runners-up. Their best EURO performance was reaching the final in EURO 2020, losing to Italy on penalties at Wembley. They have consistently been contenders in recent EURO tournaments.
Qualifying Campaign:
England dominated Group C qualifying, winning the group with an impressive record of 6 wins and 2 draws in 8 matches, remaining undefeated. They secured qualification early with a 3-1 victory over Italy at Wembley on Matchday 8. Gareth Southgate’s team looks strong and determined to improve upon their EURO 2020 final result.
Previous Meetings:
- vs Denmark: England holds a strong advantage over Denmark with 13 wins, 5 draws, and only 4 losses. They won 2-1 against Denmark in the EURO 2020 semi-final on July 7, 2021.
- vs Serbia: Their record against Serbia is also positive, with 6 wins, 5 draws, and 4 losses. England won their last friendly match 2-1 on June 3, 2003.
- vs Slovenia: England has a dominant record against Slovenia, with 5 wins, 1 draw, and 0 losses. They won their last World Cup qualifier 1-0 on October 5, 2017.
England enters EURO 2024 as the favorite to win Group C and are considered one of the top contenders for the entire tournament. Their strong qualifying campaign and recent EURO final appearance bolster their credentials.
Group C: Predictions and Expectations
Group C of EURO 2024 presents a compelling mix of teams. England, as the clear favorite, will be expected to top the group and advance deep into the tournament. Denmark, with their recent EURO semi-final experience and consistent performance, are strong contenders for the second spot. The battle for third place, and potentially a spot in the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams, will likely be between Serbia and Slovenia. Serbia’s talented squad could pose a threat, while Slovenia will aim to capitalize on their underdog status and competitive spirit.
Overall, Group C is poised for drama and exciting football, with each match holding significant implications for progression in EURO 2024. Football fans should mark these fixtures on their calendars for what promises to be a captivating group stage.
