England entered Euro 2024 as the tournament favorite and starts its run on Sunday with a Group C match against Serbia in the final match of the day. The Three Lions are the biggest favorite of the three matches on the schedule.
The Netherlands, another contender, opens the day with a match against a Poland team that will be missing star striker Robert Lewandowski, to start what could be a very competitive Group D. Slovenia and Denmark have the second match of the day, with the Danes favored.
There are clear favorites in all three matches.
All odds from BetMGM.
Poland vs. Netherlands
Kickoff time: 9 a.m. ET/2 p.m. BST/3 p.m. CEST
Venue: Volksparkstadion — Hamburg
On paper, Group D could be the deepest in the tournament. France is one of the best teams in the world, the Netherlands are contenders in every tournament they enter, and Poland and Austria have enough talent to not be viewed as an easy win for any of the other teams in the group.
The Dutch still open this match as a significant favorite despite injuries to midfielders Frankie De Jong and Teun Koopmeiners. Both were replaced on the Dutch squad just before the tournament.
Poland is dealing with injury issues of its own. Lewandowski injured his right leg in a warmup match on Monday and is out for this match but could return later in the group stage.
Poland has qualified for the last five European Championships but only made it out of the group stage in 2016 during that run. That year, Poland made a quarterfinal.
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Slovenia vs. Denmark
Kickoff time: Noon ET/5 p.m. BST/6 p.m. CEST
Venue: Stuttgart Arena — Stuttgart
The Danes were a surprise semifinalist at the last Euros. They provided one of the feel-good stories of the tournament, making that run after Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field during the team’s opening match in Copenhagen.
The 32-year-old Manchester United midfielder is one of the most-capped players on the squad. His 130 caps are only topped by Simon Kjær’s 132.
This time around, Eriksen is expected to play a key role if Denmark is to make another run. Denmark is viewed as the second-best team in Group C in the odds (+400 to win the group, -300 to advance).
Slovenia has made three major tournaments as an independent nation (Euro 2000, the 2002 World Cup and the 2010 World Cup). It did not make it out of the group stage in any of them.
England vs. Serbia
Kickoff time: 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. BST/9 p.m. CEST
Venue: Arena AufSchalke — Gelsenkirchen
Expectations are nothing new for England, but this squad has the talent to back them up. The Three Lions have had good results at the last three major tournaments, finishing fourth at the 2018 World Cup, runner-up at the last Euro and making the quarterfinals at the last World Cup.
A trophy hasn’t come yet. At this point, it seems like anything other than a trophy would be a disappointment for this England squad. Harry Kane, John Stones and Kyle Walker are north of 30, but Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are all under 25 and coming off big club seasons.
Serbia is a big underdog in this match. The Serbians are making a first Euro appearance since 2000, which is strange for a nation that has made four of the past five World Cups.
If England doesn’t win, and likely even win while looking good, the English press will do its thing and put pressure on the team.
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(Photo of Jude Bellingham: Julian Finney / Getty Images)