Euro 2024 Group C predictions: England to make another strong start
- England have won their group at the last two international tournaments
- Serbia haven’t progressed past the group stage at a tournament
- Recommended bet: Group C forecast - England 1st, Denmark 2nd
England look to have landed a comfortable start to Euro 2024 as they are heavy favourites to win Group C.
The Three Lions’ biggest rivals are Denmark, who they beat in the semi-finals of the last tournament. They are also joined by Serbia and Slovenia, who are likely to be battling for third and a potential last 16 spot.
England: Three Lions the group frontrunners at 2/5
England are the current favourites to win the Euros, so it is little surprise they are odds-on to win Group C. While a reunion with a semi-finalist at Euro 2020 seems tricky, the two sides have gone in very different directions since that clash.
The Three Lions have one of the most impressive squads at the tournament, with Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka offering some incredible supporting options behind Harry Kane.
Since England successfully swerved top spot at the 2018 World Cup and a tougher route to the semis, they have topped their group at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.
With Gareth Southgate gaining experience and the squad gaining even more world-class talent, the Three Lions should top this group too.
Denmark (4/11 to qualify): Danes to bounce back from Qatar slump
After their last 16 appearance in 2018 and their run at Euro 2020, Denmark looked primed for a strong turn at the 2022 World Cup. However, the Danes took a single point as they exited at the group stage.
They shook off that setback to top their group in qualifying and they are expected to perform better in Germany. Crucially, the Danes have promising young talent stepping up as their old guard clears out.
Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund leads the way, having scored seven goals in 12 appearances. He is joined by 22-year-old Reims forward Mohamed Daramy and 23-year-old Matt O’Riley, who was just named as Celtic’s player of the season.
They add attacking talent to a side which tends to have a solid foundation, so they should have a strong tournament.
Slovenia (7/5 to qualify): Can Slovenia trouble Denmark again?
There is a drop between the top two sides in the group, although Slovenia did finish level on points with Denmark in qualifying.
Slovenia play at their first tournament since the 2010 World Cup, having last made the Euros 24 years ago. They won five of their final six games to qualify for the Euros, while their 2-0 win over Portugal in March cannot be ignored.
Slovenia have a top goalkeeper in Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak and RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko is set to be one of the summer’s big transfer targets. With two talented players in key areas, they could cause a surprise this summer.
Serbia (7/4 to finish bottom): Serbs to struggle on big stage again
Serbia have plenty of household names and they are seen as a side capable of a run at the Euros, but their tournament record is a concern.
They have never previously made the Euros as an independent nation and while they have made three of the last four World Cups, they exited at the group stage in each.
This group consistently finds a way to underachieve and that was on show in Qatar, where they collected a single point as they finished bottom of their group.
Serbia won just four of their eight games in qualifying and while that was enough to get them here, this could be another underwhelming tournament for this talented group who cannot seem to click.
Verdict
Slovenia have the quality to trouble Serbia, with this group lacking a lot of jeopardy outside of the fight for third. A talented England side can pip Denmark to top spot, with those two sides clearly the strongest pair in the group.
Serbia’s record of falling short at major tournaments suggests its worth backing them for last place.
Slovenia put up a real fight in qualifying and they look capable of winning the crucial second game between themselves and Serbia which will likely decide third.
While Slovenia are a tempting chance to make the last 16, that also depends on results in the other groups, so Serbia to finish fourth at a bigger price holds more appeal.
