England vs Slovenia Euro 2024 Group C Preview

Get ready, football fans! England take on Slovenia in their final Euro 2024 Group C match in Cologne on Tuesday, 25th June at 20:00 BST. This clash promises to be a fantastic encounter with much at stake as both teams aim to secure their places in the knockout stages. 

This will be only the second time that England and Slovenia face each other at a major tournament. The last time they met was at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where England emerged victorious with a narrow 1-0 win. Historically, Slovenia have struggled against the Three Lions, failing to win any of their six encounters (D1 L5). Their last meeting saw Harry Kane snatch a last-minute victory in a World Cup qualifier in 2017, sealing a 1-0 win at Wembley.

Gareth Southgate’s men come into this match with mixed form. On one hand, they’ve managed to stay unbeaten in their group, a trend they have maintained in the last three European Championships. On the other, they have found it tough to dominate in terms of shots and goal-scoring opportunities. Remarkably, England have faced more shots than they've attempted in this tournament (22 faced, 17 attempted), signalling potential vulnerability in their defence.

Yet, the Three Lions are known for their resilience. They’ve managed to avoid defeat in the last 34 games where they’ve scored first (D3), a statistic that should give fans some comfort. Harry Kane, leading England’s attack, has been pivotal with five goals in his last six Euro appearances. However, he has only had two touches in the opposition's box at Euro 2024, a worrying sign that needs addressing if England are to progress further.

Slovenia have been on a solid run themselves, unbeaten in their last eight games (W4 D4). This is just short of their longest unbeaten streak of nine games, a record set between September 2020 and March 2021. Petar Stojanovic’s stellar performance in their last outing, where he won possession 11 times against Serbia, underlines Slovenia’s combative midfield.

However, Slovenia's record in the European Championship is less than flattering. They've never won a game in the tournament (D4 L1), and this drought extends to their outings against European giants in World Cup fixtures too.

- England’s European Group Stage Record: Aiming for a fourth consecutive unbeaten group stage.

- Slovenia's EURO Record: No wins in five matches at the Euros.

- Head-to-Head: England dominant with five wins and one draw in six matches.

- Recent Form: Slovenia unbeaten in their last eight, England struggling with fewer shots than opponents.

Keep an eye on Harry Kane. Despite his limited touches in the opposition box, his ability to find the back of the net in crucial games could be the difference. For Slovenia, Petar Stojanovic’s ability to break down play and win possession could be vital in stifling England’s attack.

England 2 - 0 Slovenia, is our prediction. We can't see England losing this, but it's surprising Euros so far!

As England and Slovenia prepare for their final group stage clash, the stakes couldn't be higher. While England will be looking to assert their dominance and secure an unbeaten group stage run, Slovenia will be fighting desperately to break their European Championship curse. 

The atmosphere in Cologne will be electric, and fans can expect a high-octane game filled with tension and excitement. Make sure to tune in on Tuesday, 25th June at 20:00 BST to catch all the action live. Will England maintain their group stage invincibility, or will Slovenia rise to the occasion and pull off an upset? Only time will tell.

Stay tuned, football fans, because this one’s going to be a cracker!