Henry Hardwicke’s tips for the Three Lions’ opening game of the tournament include plenty of goals, with an Arsenal star finding the net.
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England get their Euro 2024 campaign underway with a clash with Serbia in Gelsenkirchen and we could be set for an entertaining tie.
The Three Lions have been considered tournament favourites in the build-up to the competition and it will be interesting to see if Gareth Southgate’s men can match those expectations.
Serbia will have hopes of their own and qualification to the knockout stages in Germany will be the target for the Eagles.
England are 19/40 to start Euro 2024 with a victory, Serbia are 11/2 to upset the Three Lions and the draw is available at 10/3.
Selections
Over 2.5 goals
17/20
Declan Rice to score at anytime
8/1
Attacking approach can see goals flow
The betting markets may have vastly different outlooks on England and Serbia’s Euro 2024 credentials but there are similarities between the two sides.
England have a wealth of attacking talent at their disposal with Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon, Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka battling for a spot in the Three Lions attack.
Southgate has enough forward-thinking talent to be considered a major force at Euro 2024, and while there are useful defenders on the England roster, there is no doubt that the depth of talent lies in the attacking positions.
Serbia are a side with a similar squad balance, even if their overall level is someway off that of the Three Lions.
The Eagles can call on Dusan Vlahovic, Dusan Tadic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Luka Jovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic in attack, but there are gaps in quality at the back.
Serbian manager Dragan Stojkovic is well aware of the strengths of his side and any thought of two banks of five and an all-out defensive display from the Eagles look misplaced.
Serbia have the attacking ability to get on the scoresheet against England, but they are going to be vulnerable to a roaring Three Lions front line. Taking over 2.5 goals looks the best way to play Sunday’s contest.
Rice a nice goalscorer bet
There is plenty of speculation surrounding how England will line up on Sunday, but it seems likely, given Southgate’s history as the Three Lions boss, that either Trent Alexander-Arnold or Conor Gallagher will be paired with Declan Rice in midfield.
The selection of either Gallagher or Alexander-Arnold would see one of that duo share some of the midfield defensive duties with Rice and that may allow the Arsenal man to play a more prominent attacking role.
That aside, Rice scored seven Premier League goals for the Gunners this season, the 25-year-old will pose a threat from set-pieces and, at 8/1, he looks a nice price to find the net in what should be a high-scoring contest.
