England know a win, but more importantly, a performance is needed when they face Slovenia in Cologne on Tuesday. (More Football News)
The Three Lions squandered the opportunity to secure qualification to the knockout stages of Euro 2024 after a lacklustre display ꦅagainst Denmark last time out.
Harry Kane's 18th-minute 𒅌opener had given Gareth Southgate's side an early advantage but, much like in their opening 😼1-0 win against Serbia, England then failed to capitalise on an early lead.
This time they were punish൲ed on Thursday when Morten Hjulmand's effort from distance levelled proceedings, with Denmark perhaps unfortunate to not claim all three points.
Many involved with England have already acknowledged they must improve and alterations are&🐽nbsp;expected in an attempt to build momentum heading🧔 into the last 16, should they get there.
Here, we use Opta data to preview the Three Lions' fi꧑nal Group C clash.
What's expected?
England are expected to win and top Group C, with the Opta supercomputer handing them a dominant 75.5% chance of getting 🍰the🏅 job done in Cologne.
Slovenia are predicted a meagre 10.4% likelihood of claiming a maiden triumph against their opponents in th😼e same data-led simulations, with a draw forecast slightly higher at 14.1%.
This will be only England and Slovenia’s second encounter at a major tournament, with the Three Lions winn🥃ing 1-0 in the group stag✅es of the 2010 World Cup, but Southgate's men have a fine record in this meeting.
Slovenia have failed to win any of their six matches against England across all competitions (D1 L5). Greece and fellow Group C side Denmark are the only opponents they have ♓faced on more occasions (seven) without ever winning a single match.
Yet Matjaz Kek may fancy an upset here as the normally resolute England defence has come under fire at Euro 2024. 👍The Three Lions have faced five more shots than they have🍷 attempted in Germany (17 shots, 22 faced).
They have failed to have more attempts than ꦫtheir opponents in five o🤡f their last seven Euros group stages (1992, 2000, 2004, 2012, 2020), something that hasn't happened in any of their last seven World Cup group stage appearances between 1998 and 2022.
England are also averaging just 8.9 shots per game at the Euros under Southgate (80 in nine games). Going into Matchday 3, that is the lowest shots per game any nation has had under a manager to take charge of them in more than five matc😼hes at the European Championship on record (since 1980).
Southgate will be desperate for his side t🐼o rediscover the creativ🐲e spark that some of their star players have found so easy to muster with their clubs.
Changes expected for England, but who will Southgate turn to?
With a ple🌳thora of attacking talent, the right blend of experience and youth, along with players picked to travel to Germany based on current form, England arrived at Euro 2024 among the favourites to win the tournament.
However, any form of cohesion and fluidity is yet to transpire for Southgate's side as jeers e𝔍choed around the Frankfurt Arena from the travelling contingent after their underwhelming display against Denmark.
Kane, who scored 44 goals in all competitions in 🎶his debut 2023-24 season for Bayern Munich, had the least touches (22) of any England player who started the game on Thursday, while also managing just one touch in the Danes' penalty area.
England's attacking quartet of Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Jud✃e Bellingham and Kane managed 114 goals between them in all competitions last season, yet Southgate's men managed just two shots on target, forcing the Three Lions boss into a triple change with 20 minutes to go.
Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, and Ollie Watkins were introduce♕d but created just one opportunity of note. Meanwhile, Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer are still yet to make an appearance in the tournament, despite combining for 33 Premier League goals for New🎃castle United and Chelsea respectively last term.
Despite creating more chances (three) and playing more line-breaking passes in the final third (five) against Denmark, it looks likely that Trent Alexander-Arnold's time in midfield could be up, but it remains to be seen wh𓆏o will replace him.
Chelsea's Conor Gallagher has replaced him in England's last two games, but only completed 82.4% of🐲 his 17 passes against Denmark, also collecting a yellow card for his troubles.
Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton are possible replacements and have shown in the Premier League they are more than capable of stꦑepping up, yet an appearance alongside Declan Rice in midfield would mark both's first feature at a major tournament.
All or nothing for Slovenia
Slovenia know they must achieve the unlikely to keep their Euro 2024 journey alive, wi🦹th their confidence🌜 taking a hit after coming inches away from securing a maiden success at the European Championships.
Luka Jovic's leveller in Thursday's 1-ꦇ1 draw with S𓂃erbia marked the latest result-altering goal in a Euros match of all-time (excluding extra-time), with his equaliser timed at exactly 95 minutes.
That late heartbreak leaves Slovenia winless across five matches at UEFA's flagshipꦿ international tou🐻rnament (D4 L1).
It had started well for Kek's side when Zan Karnicnik neꦜtted his second international go🌠al, but Slovenia succumbed to a familiar fate.
Their opener was only the second time they'd gone a🦩head in a game at the finals, with the other instance coming against Yugoslavia at Euro 2000 when Slovenia led 3-0 before co⭕llapsing to a 3-3 draw.
Benjamin Sesko showed the great꧑est pr🍌omise for Slovenia, having the joint-most shots (two) and shots on target (one) for his side, but was loose in possession, ending the game with a pass accuracy of 55.8% – the second-lowest in the team.
Yet there is still hope for Kek as Slovenia are unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions (W4 D4), only enjoying a longer suc♔h run once in history (nine games between September 2020 and March 2021).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
England – Harry Kane
While much was made of Kane's performance against Denmark, there is no denying the qualiꦚty he offers the Three Lions in and around the𝔍 penalty area.
The Bayern Munich striker has only managed two touches in the opposition box at Euro 2024 so far, the sam🤡e total as both Kyle Walker and Alexander-Arnold.
Yet Kane still scored his fifth goaꦏl in his last six appearances at the tournament, with only Wayne Rooney (six) and Alan Shearer (seven) managing more Euros goals for🀅 England.
Slovenia – Petar Stojanovic
With England expected to dꩲominate possession on Tuesday, Slovenia𝓀's defence will have to be at their best to give them any chance of getting something from the game.
Right-back Peta꧑r Stojanovic won possession 11 times against Serbia, with only Ales Ceh at Euro 2000 against Spain (14) managing to win the ball back more often for Slovenia in a major tournament game.
