After a pretty turgid group stage, England head into the knockout rounds possibly with an extra spring in their step after receiving a potentially favourable knockout draw, starting against Slovakia on Sunday at Euro 2024.
However much improvement is needed from the Three Lions if they are to live up to their title as favourites to go all the way, having scored just two goals in three matches so far.
We’ve looked at some of the best football betting offers, odds and markets from our range of football betting sites to provide you with England v Slovakia betting tips.
England v Slovakia Betting Tips
England v Slovakia Odds
- England to win odds - 2/5
- Draw odds - 100/30
- Slovakia to win odds - 8/1
Odds courtesy of Betfred, correct at the time of publication
England v Slovakia Match Preview
Even though England found themselves finishing top of Group C, they way they did so was rather laborious and when you consider the attacking talent that manager Gareth Southgate has at his disposal, it makes the Three Lions first three performances even more frustrating.
Limping past Serbia to get off the mark with a 1-0 win nearly two weeks ago was then followed up by a sloppy showing against Denmark a few days later. A 1-1 draw against the Danes still meant four points from six and some form of command in terms of the group standings.
However, there was nothing in the way of command against Slovenia and although a point was enough to stay top because of Denmark and Serbia playing out their own Matchday 3 stalemate at the same time, those England fans in attendance and certainly back home are becoming restless.
Which is more than understandable when you consider just how flat this current England crop have looked in Germany and with Harry Kane asking for the criticism to be dialed down before Tuesday’s showing Slovenia, his and other showings have only dialed it up even further.
Then again, there is also reason to be optimistic and that reason comes with not only progress to the Round of 16 but what on paper looks like a clear path to the final – a path that currently has the Three Lions as outright tournament favourites.
With all the other genuine outright candidates on the other side of the tournament bracket, England’s first hurdle to the final comes in the shape of Slovakia and after finishing third in Group E, Francesco Calzona’s men advanced to the knockout phase by the skin of their teeth.
With all four Group C teams finishing on four points, it was time to look down the list of tiebreakers and although the head-to-head record is always top of the list, due to the nature of all six results within the mini-league, it was goal difference that eventually proved to be the dealmaker.
While it looked like a deal had been made by the time Romania had found parity against Slovakia on Wednesday, with both nations knowing a draw would see them through it came as no surprise that their Group E clash would eventually end this way and both sides having reason to celebrate.
Now though, only one nation can celebrate and with England’s boss under pressure, he may decide to switch personnel. Should he fail to do so and the Three Lions fail to roar against Slovakia, it may soon lead to a switch of managerial personnel.
But now it is time for the first of my two tips and with England having to start a lot quicker or even start at all, this could be the pivotal moment of their tournament. Therefore, I think there is value in backing them to win both halves at odds of 5/2.
In addition to this, I am going to use the win in both halves as the bedrock for my second tip. Therefore, I am going to back England to be ahead at the interval by the only goal of the half and then back them to double that advantage come the final whistle at odds of 8/1.
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