EURO 2024 Round of 16: England vs. Slovakia

England vs Slovakia: Euro 2024 Round of 16 Preview

England, the Group C winners, will face Slovakia in a highly anticipated Round of 16 clash at Euro 2024. The Three Lions, despite topping their group, have faced criticism for their underwhelming performances, scoring only two goals in three matches. However, manager Gareth Southgate will be hoping his team can find their rhythm and secure a spot in the quarterfinals.

Slovakia, on the other hand, finished third in Group E with four points and a goal difference of zero. The Slovaks caused an early upset by defeating Belgium in their opening match and will be looking to continue their impressive run. Striker Ivan Schranz and midfielder Ondrej Duda have been key contributors to Slovakia's goal-scoring efforts, netting three times in the group stage.

Key Players to Watch

• Harry Kane (England): The prolific striker will be crucial to England's offensive efforts, with his impressive dribbling skills and goal-scoring ability.
• Cole Palmer (England): The young midfielder could make a difference off the bench, having impressed in limited minutes during the group stage.
• Milan Skriniar (Slovakia): The experienced defender, who plays his club football for Paris Saint-Germain, will be a key figure in Slovakia's backline.

Prediction

England, despite their recent struggles, are heavily favored to win the match, with odds of -230. However, Slovakia's resilience and ability to score goals make them a dangerous opponent. The match is expected to be a tight affair, with both teams likely to find the back of the net. A 1-1 draw after 90 minutes could be a possible outcome, setting the stage for an exciting extra time and penalty shootout scenario.

The winner of this match will face either Switzerland in the quarterfinals. England will be hoping to break their round of 16 curse and progress to the next stage, while Slovakia aims to cause another upset and continue their historic run at Euro 2024.

The Bad Tackle

England was rubbish in the group stage. Luck played them a hand to finish at the top and avoid the big teams. They probably have the easiest route going to the finals.

If they don;t make the correct adjustments, all that could be derailed by a determined Slovakia team. They might just have enough to send the Three Lions packing early for home.