England look to immediately bounce back from a disappointing 1-1 draw with Denmark last week as they face Slovenia in their final group game at Euro 2024 tonight.
Gareth Southgate’s side sit top of the group on four points, knowing that a win will take them through in first place and straight to a last-16 tie in Gelsenkirchen on 30 June. But before them stands a plucky Slovenia side who were unlucky not to beat Serbia in their most recent group game. Having drawn their first game to Denmark, they sit on two points and know that a win (and perhaps even a draw) will see them into the round of 16.
The Three Lions have put themselves in a decent position in the group, but the pressure is on as nothing other than a win – and perhaps one that reminds us of their previous billing among the tournament favourites – will be enough for many back at home.
Follow all the latest updates from England’s final group game below.
Euro 2024: England v Slovenia
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England face Slovenia in their final group game in Cologne
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The Three Lions are under pressure to perform well after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Denmark in their second game
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Conor Gallagher starts in the only change from the first two matches
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Who could England play next and when? Euro 2024 draw and last-16 schedule
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35’ CLOSE! – Foden’s free kick forces a save out of Oblak (ENG 0-0 SVN)
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20’ DISALLOWED! – Saka scores but it’s ruled out for offside (ENG 0-0 SVN)
England 0 – 0 Slovenia
England 0-0 Slovenia
21:09 , Mike Jones
51 mins: It’s brighter and sharper from England. They’re moving the ball quicker, and playing further up the pitch. Kane wins another corner which Slovenia manage to deal with initially.
The ball comes to out to Foden who then drags a shot wide of the target!
England 0-0 Slovenia
21:06 , Mike Jones
48 mins: Mainoo’s first involvement sees him send a pass out wide to Jude Bellingham then continue a run to drive England up the pitch.
His second involvement sees him link up play on the opposite side of the pitch and find Bellingham again this time in the box where the Real Madrid man wins a corner.
England 0-0 Slovenia: On comes Kobbie Mainoo
21:06 , Jamie Braidwood
A drastic move from Gareth Southgate as the England manager hooks Conor Gallagher at half-time and brings on Kobbie Mainoo. Gallagher was asked to play a very different role to Trent Alexander Arnold and stayed high and within England’s inside-right, to the extent that he barely saw the ball in the first 45. Mainoo seems to have come on with new instructions: . Even within the first few moments here, the teenager is drifting around and popping up in different positions.
Gary Neville criticises ‘basic’ England after drab first half against Slovenia
21:03 , Mike Jones
England were criticised for a “basic” and disjointed performance in the first half of their final Group C match against Slovenia at Euro 2024.
Aside from a few Harry Kane shots from distance – and a Bukayo Saka tap-in which was ruled out for offside in the buildup – the Three Lions rarely threatened, looking comfortable in possession but not taking the game to Slovenia with any great regularity.
Ange Postecoglou suggested England’s desire to press more in their third game was being hampered by the fact they actually had domination of the ball, and mooted his belief that the latest midfield iteration – Conor Gallagher having replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold in the starting XI – was not quite of the right balance.
Neville criticises ‘basic’ England after drab first half against Slovenia
Second half! England 0-0 Slovenia
21:02 , Mike Jones
Gareth Southgate makes a change at the break with Kobbie Mainoo coming on to replace Conor Gallagher as Gareth Southgate continues to search for an ideal partner to Declan Rice.
It wasn’t Trent Alexander-Arnold, Gallagher’s 45 minutes didn’t pan out. Can Mainoo improve the team?
Slovenia get the ball rolling again in Cologne.
HT England 0-0 Slovenia
21:00 , Mike Jones
For all of England’s possession (69% – 31%), they’ve only created a couple more attempts than Slovenia and neither was very penetrating.
Things need to change, England are too static and lacking creativity.
HT England 0-0 Slovenia
20:56 , Mike Jones
In the other Group C match tonight Serbia and Denmark are also playing out a 0-0 draw at present. That means as things stand England are topping the group with Slovenia edging through to the last-16.
HT England 0-0 Slovenia
20:52 , Mike Jones
England 0-0 Slovenia: Some Three Lions fans boo team at break
20:51 , Jack Rathborn
Our chief football writer Miguel Delaney has the latest from Cologne:
There were a fair few boos at half-time from the England end. It really hasn’t improved much from the previous games. There are so few connections. Slovenia really fancy this, as visible in how they are going into 50-50s. Phil Foden and Declan Rice are the only two England players really making anything happen. Harry Kane looks so leaden.
England 0-0 Slovenia: Boos in Cologne
20:48 , Jamie Braidwood
A few jeers from the England end at half-time, which came as England had the ball. Would it have ended with anything? Probably not, given how tepid and predictable their play has been in the opening 45. Slovenia, in their 4-4-2, are offering gaps to England but there are often so many players crowding the space. They desperately need some proper width.
Half-time! England 0-0 Slovenia
20:46 , Mike Jones
45 mins: The half-time whistle comes and a sedate first half comes to an end in Cologne. England haven’t really looked under threat and their brightest spark by a mile has been Phil Foden.
England 0-0 Slovenia: Three Lions struggle
20:44 , Jack Rathborn
Our chief football writer Miguel Delaney has the latest from Cologne:
Quite an uncertain start for England. Conor Gallagher’s inclusion hasn’t solved much as he isn’t really showing for the ball. Slovenia clearly fancy something here. That could be seen in how Stojanovic beat Trippier to a 50-50 and then beat him to the ball. It hasn’t convinced yet.
England 0-0 Slovenia
20:44 , Mike Jones
44 mins: Kane drops back to receive the ball and turn. He’s in space and goes for goal but watches his effort deflected out for a corner.
Trippier trots across to take the set piece and floats on over to the back post where Declan Rice fouls his marker.
England 0-0 Slovenia
20:42 , Mike Jones
41 mins: Close! Foden comes inside and switches with Bellingham. He takes the ball to the edge of the box then knocks it back to Trippier.
Trippier fizzes a fine cross into the middle where both Kane and Gallagher throw themselves at the ball and miss it!
It bounces just wide of the back post.
England 0-0 Slovenia
20:39 , Mike Jones
38 mins: Saka and Janza tussle inside the England box with the Slovenian going to ground and hoping for a penalty. The referee doesn’t agree and awards a free kick to England when Kane is fouled trying to turn.
England 0-0 Slovenia
20:36 , Mike Jones
35 mins: Bukayo Saka is fouled by Jaka Bijol as he dances around the edge of the box. England win a free kick having more possession inside the final third.
Phil Foden and Kieran Trippier are standing over the ball. Foden shoots and forces a nice stop out of Jan Oblak who shuffles across and fumbles the ball.
England 0-0 Slovenia
20:32 , Mike Jones
32 mins: Kane gets the ball to feet on the edge of the box, he spins and shoots but the effort is defended. England get the ball back and work it over to Foden who whips in a tantalising cross.
Slovenia turn it behind for a corner.
The set piece finds Kane who can only nod the ball into the air. The second dropping ball is knocked over to Rice who shrugs off a tackle and picks out the captain once more.
Kane turns the ball towards goal but picks out Jan Oblak between the sticks. Better from England.
England 0-0 Slovenia
20:30 , Mike Jones
29 mins: Phil Foden wants the ball to move quicker when it comes out to the wing. He gives it to Kieran Trippier and gestures wildy for it to be played across to Declan Rice.
Trippier dallies in possession and when the pass comes it’s blocked and deflects out for a throw in.
England 0-0 Slovenia
20:28 , Mike Jones
26 mins: England have had 72% possession so far with no official attempts to score. Gallagher is brought down over on the right and England decide to play it quickly.
The ball comes over to Foden who looks for a one-two with Kane but just sends the ball too far away from the England captain for it to be effective.
England 0-0 Slovenia
20:26 , Mike Jones
23 mins: Slovenia had the better opening 20 minutes but since the disallowed goal England seem to have an extra layer of confidence.
They’re interchanging positions with Gallagher, Bellingham and Foden all rotating in midfield.
DISALLOWED! England 0-0 Slovenia
20:23 , Mike Jones
20 mins: England get the ball into the net but it’s chalked off.
Foden injects some pace into the attack and combines with Trippier on the left. The ball is sent across to Rice who squeezes a pass into the penalty area as Foden flies in from the wing.
He collects the ball in behind the defence and gives it to Saka who taps in. The assistant referee raises the offside flag against Foden and it’s a correct decision.
England 0-0 Slovenia
20:19 , Mike Jones
18 mins: A slick move from England see them sweep up the pitch on the inside right with Bellingham sending Bukayo Saka into the box. He lifts a cross over to the back post but Phil Foden can’t get to the ball.
Slovenia break up the pitch with Kieran Trippier bombing forward and making a foul. Andraz Sporar gets released into the vacant space behind the left-back and is brought down beside the box.
The resultant free kick comes into the middle but England manage to deal with it.
England 0-0 Slovenia: Woeful start from England
20:17 , Jack Rathborn
Our sports reporter Jamie Braidwood has the latest from Cologne:
England needed a reaction but after 15 minutes it’s arguably even… worse? So many of the connections within this structure look broken when England are on the ball, as evidenced by a number of passes that have been off target so far. Slovenia look solid in their shape, and are finding it pretty easy to cut through England too.
England 0-0 Slovenia
20:16 , Mike Jones
15 mins: Harry Kane is being man marked every time he comes deep to receive the ball. Phil Foden moves inside and switches positions with the captain to try and draw away a defender.
John Stones, perhaps thinking about the next pass, miscontrols the ball and it bounces out for a throw in.
England 0-0 Slovenia
20:10 , Mike Jones
9 mins: Declan Rice receives the ball and looks to pass it back. He’s got no options on and decides to spin and drive forward. England go with him as the ball is slotted over to Harry Kane.
Kane shakes off a defender then looks to slip Phil Foden into the box but the pass is intercepted.
England 0-0 Slovenia
20:06 , Mike Jones
6 mins: Chance!
The first opportunity comes to Slovenia who switch the play and whip a cross into the box from the left wing. The delivery picks out Petar Stojanovic who nods it back across the box.
Benjamin Sesko is there to win the second header but nods it straight to Jordan Pickford.
England 0-0 Slovenia
20:03 , Mike Jones
3 mins: England’s players spoke about pressing up the pitch and there’s an early display as Harry Kane sprints to close down goalkeeper Jan Oblak with Phil Foden pushing up on Vanja Drkusic as Slovenia attempt to play out from the back.
Decent work off the ball from the Three Lions.
Kick off! England 0-0 Slovenia
20:01 , Mike Jones
England get the ball rolling in Cologne for this final group stage match, Jordan Pickford belts it forward on the right wing. England recover possession then slot the ball back to their defence.
Slovenia line-up
19:07 , Mike Jones
Slovenia XI: Oblak; Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic, Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko
Matjaz Kek names the same Slovenia team who drew 1-1 with Serbia in their last game. Benjamin Sesko starts despite worries about a quad issue.
England’s last three meeting with Slovenia
19:03 , Mike Jones
England 1-0 Slovenia, World Cup European Qualifier, 5 October 2017
A last-minute goal from Harry Kane sealed three points for Gareth Southgate’s team at Wembley, when the nations met in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Slovenia 0-0 England, World Cup European Qualifier, 11 October 2016
Gareth Southgate’s second game as interim head coach saw the Three Lions settle for a point during their trip to Ljubljana.
Slovenia 2-3 England, Euro 2016 European Qualifier, 14 June 2015
An unforgettable strike from Jack Wilshere and a late Wayne Rooney winner settled a thrilling encounter during qualifying for Euro 2016.
England team changes
18:57 , Mike Jones
Gareth Southgate has decided that the Trent Alexander-Arnold experiment hasn’t worked and makes one change to the England starting line-up.
The Liverpool man drops out of midfield with Conor Gallagher brought in to replace him.
England line-up
18:51 , Mike Jones
England XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Gallagher, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane
England receive big fitness boost ahead of Slovenia Euro 2024 test
18:37 , Mike Jones
Kieran Trippier and Luke Shaw both took part in England training on Monday ahead of the side’s final Euro 2024 group match against Slovenia.
Gareth Southgate had appeared to find himself in the midst of a crisis with Trippier nursing a calf issue that has affected his performance at the Euros.
The left-back conundrum has already been a key problem for the England manager, but it now shows signs of easing. Luke Shaw was named in Southgate’s squad for the tournament as the only specialist in the position, but he was not even fit enough to be on the bench for the game against Denmark and had been training on his own.
England desperately search for reset button in match that will define their tournament
18:30 , Mike Jones
With the way some of England’s squad are training, it doesn’t feel like the team are facing their most pressurised tournament since Euro 2016. Declan Rice says the team’s match-winners “look frightening, they look on it”.
The midfielder insists the camp is like “a bunch of kids at nursery”, such is the sense of “fun”. “We’re all playing different games – Uno, basketball, padel. We are having a lot of fun off the pitch.”
England desperately seek reset button for match that will define their tournament
The young stars are out at Euro 2024 as football’s next era arrives
18:23 , Mike Jones
When Julian Nagelsmann sat down with Jamal Musiala on becoming Germany manager, he repeated a piece of advice he gave to the playmaker when they were together at Bayern Munich.
That was to just keep playing as if he’s back on a small pitch having fun. Musiala’s age means that was just a few years ago, and it makes the words all the more striking, given he’s now effortlessly illuminating the greatest stage in European football.
Zinedine Zidane didn’t get this before dominating Euro 2000, when he was 28. Despite that gap, Musiala is being seen in similar terms to the French great then, at least as far as an individual European Championships goes. That is as the potential player of the tournament.
The young stars are out at Euro 2024 as football’s next era arrives
Declan Rice wary of Slovenia challenge as England look to bounce back
17:45 , Mike Jones
Declan Rice wants England to move on from their slow start at Euro 2024 – but warned next opponents Slovenia will be out to “shock the world”.
England play their last Group C fixture in Cologne on Tuesday night knowing victory will see them progress to the last 16 in top spot.
In all likelihood, Gareth Southgate’s side will qualify even if they slip to a narrow defeat to Slovenia, who – at 57th – are the lowest ranked side in England’s group.
Declan Rice wary of Slovenia challenge as England look to bounce back
Gareth Southgate backs England to deliver against Slovenia
16:54 , Mike Jones
“We have had time on the training pitch and plenty of discussions with the players,” the England manager said on the eve of Tuesday’s group finale against Slovenia.
“Obviously whatever I say is fairly irrelevant. We have to go and produce it on the pitch.
“We’re very clear on where we need to be better. We haven’t hidden from that. I think we have a pretty open dialogue – the players, staff – and we’re all on the same page on that.
“The route forward was pretty simple to highlight. Of course, then we’ve got to go and deliver and I’m expecting that we will do that tomorrow.”
Gareth Southgate gives his verdict on Lineker’s expletive England criticism
16:48 , Mike Jones
England manager Gareth Southgate said the quad gain nothing from “external noise” ahead of their final group stage game of Euro 2024 against Slovenia.
Mr Southgate was asked about Gary Lineker’s recent criticism of England performances, in which he branded the efforts as “sh**” on his podcast.
“That’s the world we’re in. I’m oblivious to it, it’s not important to me, at all”, he told journalists on Monday (24 June).
Centre-midfielder Declan Rice joined proceedings as the pair fielded questions from journalists ahead of the clash in Cologne, where England are still tipped to top the group.
Declan Rice hits back at suggestions England are too tired to make mark at Euro 2024
16:03 , Mike Jones
Declan Rice has hit back at criticism that England’s players are too tired to make their mark at Euro 2024.
After a narrow victory over Serbia and a 1-1 draw with Denmark, manager Gareth Southgate said his team cannot commit to a pressing game because of their fitness levels.
Rice, though, refuted claims that England’s players are exhausted after demanding club campaigns.
“If I wasn’t fit enough or the lads weren’t fit enough we shouldn’t be here in the first place,” he said, “We should be able to compete for seven games, whether they go to extra time, we have got a squad of 26 players that are fit enough, strong enough, fast enough and ready to go the whole way.
“It’s ridiculous. Let them keep questioning it. We are built to play these types of seasons.
“Because we are sitting in a low block people automatically assume we are tired and leggy and not fit enough – if we’re not fit enough to compete for 90 minutes, we shouldn’t be footballers.”
Kane assesses his own Euro 2024 performances
15:48 , Mike Jones
Harry Kane’s positioning on the pitch has been controversial over England’s opening two matches at Euro 2024. For some, he was too high against Serbia, for others too deep against Denmark.
He is damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t.
“As always, with me personally, I’ve had it over the last four or five years, if I stay too high and I don’t touch the ball, I should drop deep and be involved,” he said. “And if I dropped deep, and get involved, I should be in the box to score.
“Have I played the best that I know I can? No.
“But I didn’t score in the group stage at the [2022] World Cup, I didn’t score in the group stage at the Euros [in 2021]. So from my point of view, it’s a bonus to be one goal ahead.”
Declan Rice responds to ‘bitter’ James McClean criticism
15:25 , Mike Jones
Declan Rice says James McClean’s criticism may have come from “bitterness towards me not playing for Ireland”, although he was keen to praise what he had thought was a good relationship with the retired winger.
McClean created headlines as a pundit on Irish national station RTE, by describing his former international teammate as “overrated” and “not world class”, with follow-up comments on the passive nature of his game.
Rice said: “Do you know what? I played with James for Ireland for three games and I got on with him really well. I am not going to sit here and slag him off. I thought he was a really top guy. When I left Ireland to come to England, I heard a few things he was obviously not happy about. He made comments a few years ago.
“It is what it is. I am not going to sit here and say anything about him. He’s had a great career himself – I think he is coming to the end of his career now and he’s got over a hundred caps for Ireland.
“It would be easy for me to sit here and say something back to him but, like I said, we are at opposite ends of our careers now – he’s 35 and I’m 25. I’ve known him, I’ve played with him, he’s entitled to his opinion and I’ve had to fight a load of those opinions from other people before.
“It might be a bit of bitterness towards me not playing for Ireland but I’ve not got a bad word to say about him, to be honest. I see the comments but I don’t try to put too much energy into it. It is what it is and you move on. You live and learn.”
Euro 2024 Golden Boot standings
15:19 , Mike Jones
Here’s how the top scorer standings currently sit:
2 goals: Georges Mikautadze (Georgia)
2 goals: Jamal Musiala (Germany)
2 goals: Ivan Schranz (Slovakia)
2 goals: Niclas Fullkrug (Germany)
1 goal: Various including Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham (England)
Euro 2024 kits: Every home and away shirt ranked and rated
14:49 , Mike Jones
Euro 2024 is upon us and with it comes a sartorial smorgasbord for us to enjoy, or be deeply offended by.
What have Croatia done this time? Have England pulled off a genuine gem? Why are Belgium wearing brown shorts? And which kit has won our highly coveted top spot?
Nike, Adidas, Puma, Macron, Joma and the good people at Hummel have dropped their designs so, without further ado, let’s get stuck in.
Remember, this is all a bit of fun as we go from worst kit all the way to best.
Ranked from the visually upsetting to the optically arousing, here is our list of Euro 2024 kits.
Euro 2024 kits: Every shirt ranked and rated
Euro 2024: Full list of BBC and ITV pundits and commentators including Wayne Rooney and Roy Keane
14:41 , Mike Jones
England legend Wayne Rooney and Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou are among the headline pundits for Euro 2024 on the BBC and ITV coverage.
Frank Lampard and David Moyes also feature for the BBC, with Roy Keane and Gary Neville linking up for ITV. Meanwhile, the lead presenters out in Germany include Gary Lineker, Gabby Logan, Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods.
The BBC again shares coverage of the quadrennial continental championship with ITV in the United Kingdom, although both channels will show the final on 14 July.
ITV will cover the first three matches of the tournament, including the opener between hosts Germany and Scotland on Friday evening, while the BBC’s coverage begins on Saturday evening with holders Italy facing Albania. England’s first game against Serbia on Sunday evening is on the BBC.
Euro 2024: Full list of pundits, commentators and presenters on BBC and ITV
Who could England play next and when? Euro 2024 draw and last-16 schedule
14:27 , Mike Jones
Who could England play next?
If England top the group: If England win Group C, they will play one of the four best third-placed teams in the last-16. The formula to decide who gets who is very complicated (see below) and depends on the combination of third-placed teams to go through.
If England finish second: If England are Group C runners-up, they will face Germany in Dortmund on Saturday 29 June.
If England finish third: If England go through in third, they will play either the winner of Group B, Group E or Group F. Spain and Portugal are already through as winners of Group B and Group F, respectively, while Belgium are favourites to top a wide-open Group E on Wednesday. The formula to decide who gets who is very complicated (see below) and depends on the combination of third-placed teams to go through.
Who could England play next and when? Euro 2024 draw and last-16 schedule
14:11 , Sonia Twigg
England are through to the knockout stages of Euro 2024 with a game to spare.
Gareth Southgate’s side picked up four points from their first two games following a win over Serbia and a draw against Denmark, with results in Group B on Monday night confirming that England are guaranteed a place in the knockout stages as one of the four best third-placed teams at the very least.
However, England will be looking to top Group C and can do so with a victory over Slovenia in Cologne on Tuesday night. A draw may also be good enough to top the group, but Denmark can leapfrog them if they defeat Serbia by two goals.
Read the full article here