Sloveniavs.Serbia

Both nations, who failed to win their opening group matches, are separated by just one point in the current standings and know that victory here would significantly boost their chances of reaching the knockout rounds.

Match preview

Competing at their first European Championship since 2000 and first major tournament since the 2010 World Cup, Slovenia kick-started their Euro 2024 Group C campaign with a 1-1 draw with Denmark in Stuttgart last Sunday.

The Danes were leading at the break courtesy of a well-worked goal, finished by Christian Eriksen who scored exactly 1,110 days after suffering a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. However, Slovenia valiantly fought back and restored parity 13 minutes from time when Erik Janza's deflected strike flew past Kasper Schmeichel.

Both nations were forced to share the spoils and Slovenia head coach Matjaz Kek felt that it was a "fair" result following a game of two "very different" halves, with his side ending the contest strongly.

Ranked 57th in the world by FIFA, Slovenia are still awaiting their first-ever victory at the European Championship as an independent nation after failing to come out on top in any of their previous three matches at Euro 2000, although one of two draws during that tournament was against Serbia (then playing as Yugoslavia).

Slovenia are unbeaten in their last seven international matches in all competitions, but they have only won one of their last four meetings with Serbia, most recently playing out a 2-2 draw in the UEFA Nations League in June 2022, just seven days after suffering a 4-1 defeat against the same opponent.

Serbia are competing at the European Championship for the first time as an independent nation this summer, but they were unable to claim any points from their opening Group C fixture as they were beaten 1-0 by tournament favourites England last Sunday.

The Three Lions were deservedly in front in the 13th minute when Jude Bellingham headed home the opening goal, but Serbia gradually grew into the contest and particularly improved in the second half, forcing the Three Lions to soak up pressure for extended periods.

Although Serbia ultimately lacked a cutting edge in the final third, registering just one of their six shots on target, manager Dragan Stojkovic was keen to praise the "bravery" of his players and felt that his side "did not deserve to lose" against a nation ranked 29 places above them in the FIFA standings.

Including matches as Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro, Serbia have now won just one of their last 12 European Championship fixtures (D2 L9) and defeat on matchday one leaves them rooted to the foot of Group C, needing at least one victory from their final two group games to realistically give themselves any hope of reaching the knockout rounds.

Serbia's four points accumulated from two Nations League encounters with Slovenia in 2022 should provide Stojkovic's men with an element of confidence heading into Thursday's contest, and they are sure to view this fixture as a must-win match before facing Denmark in their final Group C game on June 25.

Slovenia European Championship form:

D

Slovenia form (all competitions):

W

D

W

W

D

D

Serbia European Championship form:

L

Serbia form (all competitions):

D

L

W

L

W

L

Team News

Slovenia boss Kek could name an unchanged starting lineup for Thursday's match, with last weekend's goalscorer Janza set to continue at left-back and join Jaka Bijol, Vanja Drkusic and Zan Karnicnik in the back four, protecting Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Adam Gnezda Cerin and Timi Max Elsnik are set to links area once again in centre-midfield, although 92-cap Jasmin Kurtic will be pushing for a recall, while Petar Stojanovic and Jan Mlakar are expected to continue on the flanks.

Star striker Benjamin Sesko, who has scored 11 goals in 30 international caps for Slovenia, is set to be joined up front by Andraz Sporar, with Zan Celar and Jan Mlakar providing cover on the substitutes' bench.

As for Serbia, Filip Kostic has been ruled out of the rest of Euro 2024 after sustaining a knee injury against England, so Filip Mladenovic is set to take his place at left wing-back.

Fulham's Sasa Lukic and Sevilla's Nemanja Gudelj could continue in centre-midfield, unless Stojkovic decides to move Sergej Milinkovic-Savic into a deeper role after starting as a number 10 last time out.

Should Milinkovic-Savic play deeper, that would open the door for playmaker Dusan Tadic, who surprisingly began as a substitute against England, to return to the starting lineup and play in behind strikers Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic.

Slovenia possible starting lineup:

Oblak; Karnicnik, Blazic, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic, Gnezda Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko

Serbia possible starting lineup:

V. Milinkovic-Savic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, S. Milinkovic-Savic, Gudelj, Mladenovic; Tadic; Vlahovic, Mitrovic

We say: Slovenia 1-1 Serbia

Six of the last eight meetings between these two nations have ended as draw, and although both teams will be pushing for a victory on Thursday, a closely-fought contest could be on the cards in Munich.

Both nations possess star strikers that have the capabilities to cause problems on their day, but whether their threat is enough to power their side to three crucial points remains to be seen.

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