Denmark vs Serbia Preview & Prediction | UEFA EURO 2024 | Group Stage
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Denmark head into the final set of Group C fixtures knowing a win will send them through and potentially as group winners, whilst Serbia will also be aware that a win sends them into the Round of 16, too.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Tuesday 25th June, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US EST – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – ITV / US – FOX
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – ITVX / US – VIX
DENMARK PREVIEW: STUBBORN AND RESOLUTE
UEFA EURO 2020 semi-finalists Denmark began their campaign with an early opening goal against Slovenia last week via Christian Eriksen before succumbing to a late Erik Janza equaliser and being forced to settle for a 1-1 draw. The Danes followed that up with another 1-1 draw in Frankfurt last week against pre-tournament favourites.
Denmark were the better side in that game, especially after going a goal down to a Harry Kane strike early on, but Morten Hjulmand’s effort from around 30 yards saw them earn a point. They have lacked a spark and a bit of incision in the final third but do appear generally very difficult to break down.
SERBIA PREVIEW: THE UNDERWHELMING SERBS
Dragan Stojkovic was under pressure before the tournament, none more so than by former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic who is vying to become the new president of the Serbian FA, and Serbia’s performances have not released any of that pressure but they do head into the final game knowing a win sees them through to the Round of 16.
Serbia started their tournament with a 1-0 defeat to England in a game in which they will feel that a bit more proactivity in the final third may well have seen them take something before needing a 96th minute equaliser from Luka Jovic to rescue a point against Slovenia and keep their hopes well and truly alive.
DENMARK TEAM NEWS: DENMARK KNACKERED
There was a belief that Yussuf Poulsen may come in for Jonas Wind in Frankfurt against England but the Wolfsburg striker kept his place in the eleven and there is no indication that will change this time around. Both Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Morten Hjulmand have put in performances to quieten the calls for Christian Norgaard to come into midfield.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Schmeichel; Andersen, Christensen, Vestergaard; Maehle, Hjulmand, Hojbjerg, Kristiansen; Eriksen; Wind, Hojlund
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
SERBIA TEAM NEWS: KOSTIC A DOUBT, SMS TO RETURN
Serbia’s best players of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Filip Kostic, Dusan Tadic, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic have still not started from the off in this tournament with Tadic on the bench against England and then Milinkovic-Savic and Kostic missing out. With qualification on the line, it is now or never for Stojkovic to select what is, on paper, Serbia’s best eleven.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Rajkovic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, S. Milinkovic-Savic, Lukic, Kostic; Tadic; Mitrovic, Vlahovic
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Kostic (Injured)
KEY STATS
- The head-to-head record between these two teams is level with five wins each. However, Denmark have won the last four encounters which includes a 5-0 victory against Yugoslavia in the group stage at EURO 1984.
- Denmark have qualified for the knockout rounds in four of their previous eight EURO group stage appearances, most recently at EURO 2020. They have never qualified from their group in successive editions before.
- The only time Denmark have won two matches in a EURO group stage campaign was at EURO 1984.
- Denmark have finished as runners-up in their EURO group four times but have never won their group.
- Denmark are aiming to complete a EURO group stage without losing a match for only the second time. They previously did so in 2004 when they finished with one win and two draws.
- Denmark have lost only one of their last six EURO matches (W3 D2).
- Only two of Denmark’s 35 EURO matches have finished without a goal being scored (vs Italy 2004 GS and vs England 1992 GS).
- Denmark have lost only one of their last 14 international matches (W9 D4).
- Denmark had only drawn four of their 24 EURO group matches prior to this tournament. They have opened their campaign with two draws.
- Denmark have been losing at half-time in only two of their last 27 EURO matches.
- Denmark have scored a goal in the first half in each of their last seven EURO matches.
- Against England, Christian Eriksen made his 132nd appearance for Denmark, equalling Simon Kjaer’s record for the national team.
- This is Kasper Hjulmand’s ninth EURO match as Denmark’s coach, moving him one clear of the previous record-holder Richard Møller-Nielsen who oversaw eight matches across EURO 1992 and EURO 1996.
- Serbia are aiming to qualify from their EURO group for a second time having done so on their last appearance at the finals in 2000.
- Serbia have won only one of their last 13 EURO matches (D3 L9).
- Serbia have kept only two clean sheets in their previous 16 EURO matches.
- None of Serbia’s 16 EURO matches have finished without a goal being scored.
- There has been a total of 64 goals scored in Serbia’s previous 16 EURO matches - an average of four goals per game.
- Serbia have kept only two clean sheets in their previous 16 EURO matches.
DENMARK VS SERBIA PREDICTION
With so much riding on this game we could well be in for a fairly tense and nervy encounter. Denmark will know a draw sends them through in either second or third place in Group C but a victory could see them top the group if England slip up against Slovenia in Cologne. Serbia will not want to lose the game before being able to nick it late on like they stole a point against the Slovenians so a game full of drama may be in store but perhaps not many goals with it on a knife edge.
DENMARK VS SERBIA TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
