Gareth Southgate’s England team has faced a turbulent start to Euro 2024. Despite arriving in Germany as tournament favorites, they have struggled to find their rhythm, drawing all three group matches. This uncertainty has led to a lack of clarity over the best lineup, with Southgate admitting that his ‘experiments’ in the early games have failed.
Meanwhile, Slovakia, ranked significantly lower than England, has emerged as a Cinderella story of the tournament. Their campaign began with a shock 1-0 victory over Belgium, a team ranked 42 places above them. This upset showcased Slovakia’s ability to upset higher-ranked opponents.
England’s hesitant performances have fueled doubts about their ability to compete at the highest level. Slovakia, on the other hand, carries the momentum of their upset victory over Belgium and a strong showing from Georgia, who stunned Portugal 2-0. These results underline the unpredictable nature of the tournament, where underdogs can rise to the occasion.
While England fans may be relieved to see their team on the easier side of the draw, the reality is that their upcoming clash against Slovakia is anything but a guaranteed victory. Slovakia’s ability to disrupt higher-ranked teams and England’s struggles to find their rhythm create a fascinating dynamic for this last-16 match.
Here are the predicted lineups and formations for the game:
England:
Pickford (GK); Walker, Guehi, Stones, Trippier; Rice, Mainoo; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane
Slovakia:
Dubravka (GK); Pekarik, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko; Kucka, Lobotka, Duda; Schranz, Bozenik, Haraslin
This match promises to be a crucial test for England. Can they finally rise to the occasion and demonstrate the talent that they possess? Or will Slovakia capitalize on their momentum and pull off another major upset?
