England have taken four points from their opening two Euro 2024 contests, and with a victory over Slovenia, the Three Lions can secure the top spot in Group C.
However, it has been anything but free-flowing performances from Gareth Southgate’s side and a victory in Cologne is anything but guaranteed.
Slovenia has its own qualification ambitions, and Matjaz Kek’s men have performed well in a pair of draws against Denmark and Serbia.
England has a vastly superior squad, but it remains to be seen if Southgate can get the Three Lions purring.
Tip 1: England to win to nil
England take on Slovenia on Tuesday evening, and there is hope of a better showing from the Three Lions. However, from everything we have seen from Gareth Southgate’s side over the past 24 months, it seems far more likely that it’ll be more of the same in Cologne.
That’s not to say that England won’t improve on the dismal 1-1 draw with Denmark, indeed surely the only way is up, but any progress is unlikely to come from a change of approach.
Southgate is a defensive-minded coach, who wants his side to defend deep and there has been no indication or suggestion that the 53-year-old is suddenly going to throw caution to the wind.
Conor Gallagher is in line to start in place of Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield, but that isn’t going to turn the Three Lions into a breathtaking, high-tempo and progressive outfit and it will likely be another safety-first approach in Cologne.
The Three Lions certainly have the quality and talent to hurt any side in Europe, but Southgate’s priority will be a clean sheet and backing England to win to nil looks the play against Slovenia.
Kek’s men have been second-best in games against Denmark and Serbia, and for all that England have failed to impress, Slovenia has a huge gap in class to bridge.
Tip 2: Harry Kane to score first
England have carried very little goal threat in wide areas, with full-backs Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker offering little penetration and wide forwards Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka struggling to make an impact.
Harry Kane has come in for a fair amount of criticism, but the Bayern Munich man found the net in the 1-1 draw with Denmark, and, if chances are created, there is no better striker to take them.
It’s difficult to see many rivals to Kane in the first goalscorer market, with Jude Bellingham the pick of the pack, and the 30-year-old should get a chance to add to his 64 international goals.
It’s also worth noting that Kane will be on penalty duty for the Three Lions and that has to be a major consideration in a contest that England should really be dominating.
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