Euro 2024: Everything you need to know about England vs Slovakia match

6 days ago

0 87 2 minutes read

By Seyi Babalola, Lagos

England and Slovakia will face off in the UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16 on Sunday, June 30 by 5 pm.

Despite not playing at their peak, England easily won Group C, going undefeated against Serbia, Denmark, and Slovenia.

Coach Gareth Southgate appears to be working out how to best mix the extremely gifted players at his disposal, However, he is facing a selection problem after a disappointing performance against Slovenia.

He is under pressure to make changes after Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer excelled off the bench on Tuesday. Both are expected to get the nod in the next game, adding much-needed enthusiasm.

Slovakia stands in England’s way, having already stunned a major country with a 1-0 triumph against Belgium in Group E. A close draw against Romania on Matchday 3 confirmed their passage, and Francesco Calzona’s team now hopes to reach the final eight of a major event for the first time since the country gained independence in 1993.

Slovakia’s draw with Romania earned them a spot in the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams, but this side defeated Belgium earlier in the tournament and will not be taken lightly.

Speaking ahead of the match, Gareth Southgate, England coach said: “[Slovakia] press high, they’re aggressive in their defending, and you’ve got to find a way of breaking through that press, so it’s going to be the toughest possible test.

“This is the truly exciting part [of the tournament]; it’s the bit that nobody can predict, and we need to find our next level, which we believe we can. We’ve not come here just to get out of the group. We’ve come here to try and win the tournament, and we need to play at the level that is high enough to beat a very, very strong opponent.”

Also, Francesco Calzona, Slovakia coach said: “This team has always dictated the pace of the game since my arrival. We have never let our opponents have the initiative. When they did, it was for short periods of time. It’s hard to say where we can get to and where our limits are.

“Of course, England are one of the favourites for the tournament. It won’t be easy, but we will do our best to do well and wish to make the fans happy again.”

The winner between England and Slovakia will face Switzerland in the quarterfinal stage.

The match will be broadcast on GOtv and DStv. On GOtv channel 61, and DStv channels 222 and 225, respectively.

Possible line-ups

England:

Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guéhi, Trippier; Mainoo, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane

Suspended: none

Misses next match if booked: Foden, Gallagher, Guéhi, Trippier

Slovakia:

Dúbravka; Pekarík, Vavro, Škriniar, Hancko; Kucka, Lobotka, Duda; Schranz, Boženík, Haraslín

Suspended: none

Misses next match if booked: Duda, Schranz