England’s place in Euro 2024 Group C has been strengthened by Serbia’s dramatic ninety fifth minute equaliser towards Slovenia on Thursday afternoon, guaranteeing the latter was unable to leapfrog Gareth Southgate’s staff on the prime of the standings.
The Three Lions now go into Thursday night’s encounter with Denmark forward of the remainder and with the chance to complete matchday two by opening up a four-point cushion on second place.
Former Actual Madrid flop Luka Jovic was the Serbian hero, managing to direct Ivan Ilic’s in-swinging stoppage time nook into the web together with his head, regardless of his shirt virtually being ripped from his again.
It was principally the final second of the competition, with the referee signalling full-time as quickly as the sport restarted. Slovenian gamers hit the deck, crestfallen, having seen a primary ever European Championship win snatched away in such agonising style. Three factors would additionally all however definitely sealed their place within the knockout phases of a serious worldwide match for the primary time.
Having fought laborious for some extent towards Denmark on matchday one, that they had taken the lead within the 69th minute by right-back Zan Karnicnik and have been actually seconds away from victory. Nevertheless, their destiny now will depend on subsequent Tuesday’s encounter with England.
Headlines earlier than kick-off in Munich centred on Serbia’s risk to withdraw from the match after anti-Serbian chanting was heard throughout Wednesday’s conflict between Croatia and Albania, calling on UEFA to impose sanctions on every nationwide federation.
And plastic bottles and cups rained down on the pitch from the stands as Dragan Stojokvic’s aspect have been looking out desperately for his or her equalising purpose.
In snatching away Slovenia’s probability of just about definitely reaching the knockout phases with a recreation to spare – 4 factors has all the time been sufficient on this 24-team format – Serbia have revived their very own.
Having misplaced on matchday one towards England, they’ll go on to face Denmark subsequent week understanding that victory in that recreation would get themselves onto 4 factors and due to this fact into the knockouts for the primary time since competing at Serbia, fairly than Yugoslavia.
