England’s H2H record vs Euro 2024 group stage opponents

Gianluigi Buffon’s booming voice revealed that England had been drawn alongside Denmark, Serbia and Slovenia in Group C for this summer’s Euro 2024 in Germany.

Gareth Southgate’s side came within a penalty shootout of winning the previous European Championships. In England’s first major men’s tournament final since the 1966 World Cup, Luke Shaw gave the Three Lions a second-minute lead against Italy at Wembley Stadium. Leonardo Bonucci equalised in the second half before Buffon’s heir in goal, Gianluigi Donnarumma, consigned England to more shootout heartache.

Denmark were on the wrong end of penalty misfortune against England in the semi-finals of Euro 2020. Serbia and Slovenia were not involved in the competition and are preparing for just their second appearance at the European Championships this century.

Here’s how England have fared against these foes in the past.

Denmark

As Michael Jackson stood in front of Exeter City’s stadium on a bizarre fundraising trip, flanked by magician David Blaine and cutlery curler Uri Geller, he was asked for a prediction ahead of England’s 2002 World Cup knockout tie against Denmark. “3-0,” the King of Pop whispered. Jackson’s only public score prediction was bang on as Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side comfortably strolled into the quarter-finals.

England had previously faced Denmark at Euro 1992. Perhaps if Jackson had been asked, he would have been able to anticipate the drab goalless, thereby sparing those who suffered through the spectacle.

Denmark – who were only admitted into the competition by Yugoslavia’s expulsion – infamously won the tournament while England limped out in the group stage without a single victory.

Between 1948 and 2003, it was Denmark that could only muster one win from 15 meetings with England. That solitary triumph was secured in 1983 by the golden generation of Danish football, with Ballon d’Or winner Allan Simonsen scoring from the spot.

Before their semi-final bout at Euro 2020, England and Denmark were drawn in the same group for the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League. The Danes earned four points from the two fixtures without conceding a goal.

Slovenia

England are unbeaten in their six encounters with Slovenia, winning five and recording one draw. The Three Lions have only trailed Slovenia for a total of 22 minutes, with the majority of that deficit coming in a Euro 2016 qualifier.

A side under the stewardship of Roy Hodgson fell behind to Milivoje Novakovic’s 37th-minute opener in Ljubljana. Jack Wilshere scored a sumptuous brace to put the visitors in front before Nejc Pecnik pegged them back. Wayne Rooney swiftly responded with an 86th-minute opener to seal an entertaining 3-2 victory.

Southgate’s second match as England’s (then interim) manager was away to Slovenia. Joe Hart’s heroics in goal were desperately required to preserve an underwhelming 0-0 in 2016 as England registered just three shots on target. Southgate admitted that he had “taken over a mess”.

Serbia

England have not played Serbia since the nation’s split with Montenegro. The Three Lions only faced that country once, earning a 2-1 friendly win during Eriksson’s reign in 2003.

Serbia’s current manager Dragan Stojkovic was part of the last Yugoslavia side that faced Bobby Robson’s England in a 1989 friendly. Stojkovic, who was nicknamed “Piksi” (Pixie) is arguably the greatest player his nation ever produced. “Piksi is on par with [Johan] Cruyff, [Diego] Maradona, and Pele,” the Argentina legend Gabriel Batistuta gushed last year. Luckily for Southgate and co., Stojkovic will be watching on from the dugout rather than the centre circle.

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