Last Updated on July 3, 2024
Amid Matchday 2, this Euro 2024 clash features two of Europe’s most successful teams. Spain and Italy have won three of the last four European Championships. However, both teams have been playing a very different type of football than we are used to seeing.
Spain went away from the unconventional one against Croatia with a 3-0 win. New manager Luis de la Fuente changed the style of play and made it faster and more direct. The change was driven by the talents of young Spanish players.
Defending champion Italy, led by its new manager Luciano Spalletti, has also switched to a new concept. Instead of a defensive game plan that was a trademark of the Squadra Azzurra, Spalletti focuses on active possession now. It was reflected in Italy’s 2-1 win against Albania in the opening match.
The clash of the two contradicting styles of play by the two teams is going to make the game interesting to watch the fans at the Gelsenkirchen stadium.
Tonight, it will be another different story in Frankfurt, which is England and Denmark. Yes, England began their Euro 2024 with a slim 1-0 win over Serbia. The win occupied the top spot in Group C, but their performance was uninspiring. Manager Gareth Southgate admitted that they have to be better.
Despite a goal from midfielder Jude Bellingham, the English attack failed to impress. Denmark, their next opponent, will be looking to avenge their 2020 semi-final defeat at the hands of England.
The Danes drew their opening match 1-1 draw against Slovenia, but the main sensation of the match was still the return of midfielder Christian Eriksen to the pitch after a cardiac arrest.
Although Eriksen scored his goal, Denmark will have to play more evenly to challenge England. Both countries have great stories coming into the game, with England hoping to win their first major international championship and England to upset the favorites and repeat the 1992 European Championship.
On the same day, Slovenia and Serbia are both looking for their first win at Euro 2024 in Munich as they enter the second round of fixtures. A must-win for a trip to the next round. Slovenia is competing in their first major tournament since 2010, holding Denmark to a 1-1 draw on Matchday 1. Serbia, however, met England and played well despite a narrow 1-0 defeat.
However, they have been much more successful in their Euro head-to-head matches. While the two sides are desperate for three points, it is clear that one of them will lose and face the extremely difficult task of getting to the knockout stages. Slovenia are unbeaten in their last seven games but haven’t won at the Euros before, while the Serbian team only managed to win once in their last 12 European Championship games.