It’s a day with a sense of “déjà vu”. The four semifinalists of the last Euro meet again on Thursday. Before the evening showdown between Spain and Italy, both victorious in their first matches, Denmark will seek revenge against England, who eliminated them in the 2021 European Championship. Earlier in the afternoon, the stakes are simple between Serbia and Slovenia: earn points (Beirut time).
4:00 PM: Slovenia vs. Serbia
Serbia has no choice but to win. After their defeat against England in the first round, Dragan Stojkovic’s men must score points against Slovenia. The Serbs can rely on their two strikers, Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic, who scored 58 goals between them this season, to find the back of the net.
Resilient (1-1) against the Danes, Slovenia remains unbeaten in their last seven matches, including a victory against Portugal on March 26. Their defensive solidity, embodied by Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak, is their foundation for continuing their good form.
7:00 PM: Denmark vs. England
Despite being favorites, England did not inspire confidence in their first match against Serbia. Although they won 1-0 thanks to an inevitable goal from Jude Bellingham, Gareth Southgate’s men did not show great composure. Against Denmark, they will need to step up their game to pave their way to the knockout stages.
On the other side, Denmark couldn’t do better than a draw against Slovenia. Scorer Christian Eriksen of Manchester United will face familiar opponents, with the obligation to perform exceptionally to keep good chances of qualifying for the Round of 16.
10:00 PM: Spain vs. Italy
This is one of the most anticipated group matches. This clash between two of the last three competition winners is a high-stakes match. Their 41st historical duel is a rematch after Italy’s penalty shootout victory in the Euro semifinals three years ago. Both teams come into this match having won their first game, but in different manners. While La Roja impressed with a 3-0 win over Croatia, the Azzurri struggled to secure a 2-1 victory against modest Albania.
The winner will secure a place in the Round of 16, while the loser will be under pressure for their final group match. A draw would move both teams closer to qualification but could allow Croatia or Albania to close the gap.
