Euro 2024 2024: Serbia vs England Prediction, Odds & Best Bets

England will kick off their campaign to exorcise the ghosts of Euro 2020 at the Veltins-Arena on Sunday night, starting their quest for Euro 2024 glory against Group C rivals Serbia. Since the tournament's beginning, neither country has finished a Euros tournament on top. England is currently favored to win it all this year, but with Denmark and Slovenia rounding out the group, advancing to the knockout stage won't be easy. Find out how our US Legal Sports Betting soccer experts are breaking down this game, including best bets and predictions. We also provided a one-stop page highlighting the top sportsbook bonuses and promotions for the tournament. Make sure to find the best deals available at the books in your area.

Odds have been provided by BetMGM. Read our BetMGM review.

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Serbia

Serbia managed to achieve victories over Lithuania and Montenegro, drew twice against Bulgaria, and suffered defeat in both matches with Hungary. Qualifying for this year's tournament erased a 24-year absence at the Euros, and the first since Yugoslavia's quarterfinal run in 2000.

Led by head coach Dragan Stojkovic, one of Serbia's greatest footballers, the Eagles had a varied qualifying campaign with four wins out of eight matches. Their 14 points was enough, however, to secure second place behind Hungary.

Stojkovic's side boasts a strong attacking lineup with recognizable names like Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, Ajax star Dusan Tadic, and Aleksandar Mitrovic. Despite mixed recent form with just four wins in their last 11 matches, they have shown promise with victories over Cyprus (1-0) and Sweden (3-0) in recent friendlies, alongside a close loss to Austria.

Team news: Serbia managed to make it through qualifying stages without injury to its key players.

Predicted Lineup: V. Milinkovic-Savic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, Maksimovic, Lukic, Kostic; S. Milinkovic-Savic, Tadic; Mitrovic

England

England enters the tournament as narrow favorites in betting circles, slightly ahead of France. They are expected to navigate their way out of Gropu C, despite upcoming challenges from Denmark and Slovenia. The Three Lions faces the tricky proposition of entering the tournament with high expectations—anything less than reaching the final would be deemed a disappointment.

Key players like Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane form a potent attacking force for England. Their versatility allows them to excel in different roles on the field, making England's offense dynamic and hard to predict. While their goal-scoring potential is evident, there remain lingering concerns about their defense as the tournament approaches.

Team news: England will be at near full strength in its opening match of the tourney. Only Luke Shaw is expected to miss this affair with Serbia, meaning we'll likely see Kieran Trippier running up the left side.

Predicted Lineup: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Alexander-Arnold, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane

• H2H – England is 4-5-6 against Serbia in the two teams' all-time matchups.
• Serbia – 2-1-3 in its last six matches.
• England – 2-2-2 in its last 6 matches
• Player To Watch – Jude Bellingham should be featured early and often. Keep an eye on the dangerous Madrid midfielder.

All eyes will be on the Veltins-Arena as England, the favorites for the tournament, begin their Euro 2024 journey against Serbia, ranked 33rd by FIFA. Initially, many predicted an easy win for the Three Lions to kick off their Group C campaign. However, while they are still expected to secure three points in Gelsenkirchen, victory is no longer a certainty.

Gareth Southgate faces selection dilemmas, particularly in midfield alongside Declan Rice. With Harry Maguire injured and Luke Shaw recovering, Southgate may turn to Lewis Dunk or Ezri Konsa to step up in defense for the starting lineup.

Serbia is making their debut at the Euros as an independent nation, under the leadership of Yugoslav legend Dragan Stojković. Despite winning only four of their last 11 matches, there is hope they can spring a surprise. Spearheaded by Aleksandar Mitrović and Dušan Vlahović in attack, Serbia is expected to score at least once on Sunday. However, their defense will likely struggle against England's array of world-class attacking players.
 
 
 
 
 

Over 2.5 Goals (-125) | BetMGM

Despite some uncertainties surrounding England's selection and how Gareth Southgate will manage his forward options, I expect them to begin with a victory. The variation in predictions among media pundits regarding the Three Lions' starting lineup suggests that Serbia will face uncertainty as well. Regardless, England boasts one of the tournament's strongest attacking lineups, making it difficult for Serbia to contain them defensively. With the bulk of England's question marks as a side residing with the defense, I'm projecting both teams to score. Still, let's safely bank on more than two total goals in this one, as England could score three times on its own.