England vs Slovakia Predictions

• Under 2.5 goals has landed in five of these sides’ six combined Euro 2024 games.
• England have kept three clean sheets in their last five games.
• Harry Kane has scored nine goals in his last 11 competitive England appearances.

Three Lions struggling going forward

England fans’ frustrations over the Three Lions’ performances so far this tournament were not eased as they laboured to a goalless draw with Slovenia in their final game of Group C, and punters should not expect much entertainment when they meet Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday.

A tournament-low seven goals were scored in Group C and England were responsible for just two of those across their three outings, and their ineffectiveness at breaking down a low block will not have gone unnoticed by Slovakia manager Francesco Calzona.

Sokoli to sit back against England

Slovakia qualified third in a tight Group E in which all four teams ended on four points, but their 1-0 win over Belgium in their opener will give them a great deal of confidence and, despite their status as big underdogs, they are unlikely to be blown away at the Arena AufSchalke.

The Sokoli are almost certain to sit back and frustrate England on Sunday, and the result is likely to be a low-scoring affair between the sides.

Captain Kane to make the difference in tight game

Under 2.5 goals has landed in two of Slovakia’s three group games and they have conceded just three goals across their last five games, while only three goals were scored in England’s group outings.

Gareth Southgate’s men both generated and allowed fewer than one expected goal in each of their group games, with just 3.4 expected goals being generated in total and under 2.5 goals landing in all of them. I’m backing another low-scoring game, but a tight England win could be in store.

They have beaten Slovakia in five of their six meetings and have kept three clean sheets in their last five, so a repeat of their 1-0 scoreline against Serbia looks a good bet.

Harry Kane stands out in the anytime goalscorer department, despite his rather subdued showings so far. He is the only England player to have generated more than 0.2 expected goals this tournament and has scored nine goals in his last 11 competitive outings for the Three Lions.