England and Serbia announced that they will play in Euro 2024 in Group C.
Serbia have included most of their dangerous names in the world’s best teams in the starting XI, including Dusan Vlahovic, Alexsandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
The Fiorentina defender, Nikola Milenkovic, will control things at the back and the Mallorca goalkeeper, Predrag Rajkovic, will fix things in the goals.
Dragan Stojkovic will be working with his usual 3-4-1-2 formation which includes wing players, Filip Kostic in particular to watch.
England went with the expected line-up as Harry Kane led the way and Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka closed behind him.
England are looking to start their campaign with a win against Serbia.
👥 Here’s how both sides plan:
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A midfield pivot made up of Declan Rice and Trent Alexander-Arnold will hope to provide balance while ensuring the Three Lions are on the front foot, although there are plenty of options on the bench if Gareth Southgate needs to shake things up.
In defence, Kieran Trippier replaces Luke Shaw, who is still not fully recovered, while Marc Guehi, John Stones and Kyle Walker come into the rest of the back line.
Jordan Pickford is in the headlines for Euro 2020.
The match at Schalke starts in less than an hour at 8pm BST.
‘It’s hard to stay calm’
Ahead of the match, Rice could not hide his joy at England finally getting a chance to overturn their defeat in the final three years ago.
Speaking to UEFA, he said: “It’s a real pleasure. You see us entering and the atmosphere inside the stadium is difficult to stay calm and express your feelings because it is a big game.
“The preparation has been amazing and there is only one thing in mind tonight and that is to win.”
“I always wanted to be a leader when I was young. I deserve to be captain at West Ham and to be in this leading club is amazing.”
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‘There will be pressure’
Milinkovic-Savic admitted that it will be difficult when they face England, but insists that his teammates must calm down before the game.
He said: “We have to go into it completely relaxed.
“No one in the team at the moment has played in the EURO, so we have to go in feeling cool.
“Yes, there will be pressure, but we need to go there and enjoy it. For now, let’s focus on getting ahead of the team.
“If that happens, let’s take each game as it comes.”
