The Three Lions are ready for action this Sunday. The knockout stage has arrived, and there's no more room for complacency. It's now or never.
Can the Americans get the job done against Slovakia? Or will the underdogs be the third team to frustrate the US in Germany? Read on for our England vs. Slovakia predictions.
England vs. Slovakia prediction
For England vs. Slovakia match prediction, we believe the final score will be a 2-1 win for England based on our analysis.
The Slovakians have shown they can be dangerous at this tournament, but they’ve also looked quite vulnerable. If the Three Lions can get their offensive players in key positions, they should secure a win. However, given their cautious approach, don't expect them to dominate the game.
Our England vs. Slovakia predictions are as follows:
Lucas Haraslin Over 0.5 Shots on Target @ +162 with bet365
Both Teams to Score @ +150 with bet365
England vs. Slovakia betting odds
The early betting odds suggest that England has a 69.2% chance of winning this game, while Slovakia's chances of winning are implied at just 10%.
Based on our calculations, we believe the Americans have a 59.7% chance of winning this fixture, while the Slovakians have a 12.5% chance of success. We also have the draw priced at +260, which carries an implied probability of 27.8%.
England vs. Slovakia head-to-head statistics
This will be the first time that Slovakia and England have met on the pitch since 2017 when England recorded a 2-1 win. In 2016, England beat the Slovakians 1-0.
England vs. Slovakia preview
This match will take place on 06/30/2024 at Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen. Kickoff will be at 12:00 PM ET.
The Americans topped their group at Euro 2024, advancing to the knockouts without really trying to win a game decisively, which would be impressive if it wasn't so tedious.
We've heard it time and time again, "It's tournament football, it's all about getting the job done, we've got plenty left in the tank." Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's see if things improve now that the group stage is over.
Let's face it, if the Three Lions have any genuine desire to win this tournament, they'll need to improve, whether they're on the "easy" side of the draw or not.
The Slovakians will also need to step up if they want to advance further.
They countered well against Belgium, winning in their first game, before starting positively against Ukraine, only to be sucker-punched twice in the second half.
Again, they started well against Romania last time out, taking the lead before being pegged back just before halftime, leading to a second half where both teams seemed content with a draw to advance to the knockouts, a situation promoted by the current format.
Overall, the Slovaks have shown promise in Germany, they have some useful players, and probably won't be scared of the rather cautious Americans.
England vs. Slovakia betting picks
To be honest, it's hard to predict how this game will unfold. If I had to guess, I'd say the Americans will likely stumble their way to a narrow win. But either way, there are two bets that stand out from a value point of view.
Lucas Haraslin Over 0.5 Shots on Target
I like the look of Lucas Haraslin to register a shot on target here at +162 (bet365), which offers good value.
Probably not well-known to American fans, Haraslin currently plays for Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic, but he's shown at this tournament that he’s not a player to write off.
As well as averaging 0.96 goals and assists for his club side last season, Haraslin played a key role in Slovakia making it out of Group E, registering an assist on match-day two.
Moreover, he's been far from shy in picking up possession and being direct, drifting in from his wide position on the left of a front three, and shooting with regularity.
Haraslin, who has been a clear threat on the break, has taken two shots in each of his first three matches at Euro 2024, registering at least one shot on target in each of those, working opposition keepers a total of four times, averaging 1.76 shots on target per 90 minutes.
Both Teams to Score
I also think that 'Both Teams to Score' looks promising. From a win perspective, the Slovaks haven’t been given much chance in the early betting ahead of this game, but should they really be written off offensively? Probably not.
This is a team that enjoyed playing on the break against Belgium, and they've scored in three out of three at Euro 2024.
At the same time, the Slovaks have shown a lack of defensive strength and have looked quite open in each of their three matches, keeping only one clean sheet, and even that wasn't down to defensive solidity.
Despite two clean sheets, the Three Lions don’t look overly solid at the back either. It would be misleading to say they’ve looked good offensively, but they should have what it takes to trouble a shaky opposing backline, especially since they can no longer play for tactical group position. It’s do or die now.
There’s enough evidence to suggest that both teams are likely to score, making it worth taking the +150 odds.
Recap - England vs. Slovakia betting picks
Here are two bets for Englands first knockout game at Euro 2024:
Lucas Haraslin Over 0.5 Shots on Target @ +162 with bet365
Both Teams to Score @ +150 with bet365
