European Championship: Group C Preview

England are favourites to win Euro 2024 this summer and have a relatively straightforward group to escape from. Group C at Euro 2024 consists of Gareth Southgate’s defeated finalists from three years ago, dark horses Denmark, and rank outsiders Serbia and Slovenia.

England head into the tournament as the 2/5 favourites to top Group C. Their odds of finishing in the top two are as slim as 1/5.

Is this confidence justified? The Three Lions have lost some of their sparkle since reaching the Euros final at Wembley in 2021. Yet Denmark are arguably less of a danger than they were when reaching the semi-finals of that tournament.

This could be a routine group for England that doesn’t properly test them, and leaves Southgate’s squad vulnerable to a swift exit in the knockouts. But, with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka spearheading the attack, trophy success this summer cannot be discounted.

This Group C Euro 2024 guide will take you through the best football bets and tips for the summer, and look at the standout players who are worth following.

Euro 2024 Group C

Group C is one of the more predictable groups at Euro 2024 this summer. England and Denmark should stroll into the last-16, while there’s every possibility the third-placed team won’t advance.

England

Let’s start with the tournament favourites. England are 16/5 to win the whole thing and 2/5 to top Group C. They are expected to get off to a winning start against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on 16 June, before their trickiest fixture against Denmark four days later.

England aren’t in great form, though. The surety of their defence that guided the Three Lions through Euro 2020 has evaporated as Southgate’s midfield three pivots from a defensive-minded structure to one that seeks out goals.

Then there is his effort to find continuity in attack, with Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer pushing for supporting roles around Kane. Southgate generally likes a settled XI but doesn’t have one yet.

This could be a strange tournament for England. Win the group and they would place a third-placed side from groups D, E or F. That could mean a last-16 clash with Poland or maybe Ukraine. Leap that hurdle and a showdown with the runners up of Groups A or B await – potentially Switzerland or Italy. However, the likes of Germany and Spain could also lurk here. Reaching the semis could be a big achievement in itself.

Denmark

Denmark are dark horses for the tournament this summer and carry odds of 40/1 to be crowned European champions for a second time. Kasper Hjulmand’s squad retains much of the quality that saw them reach the Euros semis three years ago.

However, Denmark bombed at the 2022 World Cup, losing to France and Australia and scraping a 0-0 draw with Tunisia to exit Qatar bottom of their group. Goals are a big issue. Denmark are on a relatively good run of form but they only managed to stick two past the likes of San Marino and Faroe Islands recently. Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund is expected to lead the line but Jonas Wind and Kasper Dolberg are potentially better options.

Denmark's midfield is also less assured than it once was. Like England, the Danes have lost their protection as Pierre-Emile Højbjerg battles to cover the defence while also dealing with an ever-changing midfield.

Denmark could thrive at the Euros and are 4/1 to top Group C. However, they could prove to be one of the flops of the summer.

Slovenia

Slovenia reached only their second European finals by qualifying second in their group and level on points with table-toppers Denmark. The two sides shared a 1-1 draw in Ljubljana a year ago, before Denmark edged the reverse fixture 2-1.

Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko bagged five goals in qualifying and the 20-year-old has hit a scoring streak for his club this spring. He is the standout name but this squad has plenty of quality throughout too.

Slovenia are the lowest-priced side in Group C to finish in the top two, at 5/2. Yet they've already proven a match for Denmark, drew with Serbia in their last meeting in 2022, and generally enjoy close encounters with England. Bettors looking for an outside wager here could do worse than backing Slovenia to reach the knockouts.

Serbia

At 23/20, Serbia also carry high odds to finish in the top two of Euro 2024 Group C. Their qualifying campaign was relatively straightforward and they finished an expected second behind Hungary. While they lost both games to the Hungarians, it was always assumed that Dragan Stojkovic's side would overcome the likes of Lithuania, Bulgaria and Montenegro to secure safe passage to Germany this summer.

Gauging Serbia's chances at the Euros is a little tricky. Their form across friendlies has been sporadic and they recently lost 4-0 to Russia. They were thrashed 3-0 by Denmark in a 2022 friendly and historic games with Slovenia are usually close.

However, with experienced heads like Aleksandar Mitrovic, Luka Jovic, Dušan Tadic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in the squad, there's no denying Serbia don't have talent. The issue is whether they can form a unit – particularly in defence – that is combative enough to keep England and Denmark at bay.

Euro 2024 Group C Fixtures

Match 1

16 June – Slovenia vs Denmark | Stuttgart Arena, Stuttgart
16 June – Serbia vs England | Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen

Match 2

20 June – Slovenia vs Serbia | Fußball Arena München, Munich
20 June – Denmark vs England | Frankfurt Arena, Frankfurt

Match 3

25 June – England vs Slovenia | Cologne Stadium, Cologne
25 June – Denmark vs Serbia | Fußball Arena München, Munich

Best Players in Group C to Watch

Jude Bellingham is expected to enjoy a core role in England's pursuit of the European Championship this summer. He's made himself undroppable with his form for club side Real Madrid and his country this season. He links up well with centre-forward Harry Kane but also has an understanding of the midfield duties that Gareth Southgate demands. Bellingham can help Declan Rice cover the back four and push forward.

He is the man to watch from England's perspective, while in Denmark all the chatter is about Rasmus Hojlund. The Manchester United striker has had a fairly standard first season at Old Trafford but his goal rate for Denmark is above 60% and improving. Kasper Dolberg and Yussuf Poulsen are also now in their prime, while the young Mohamed Daramy is the latest top talent to break into the team.

English football fans will know all about Aleksandar Mitrovic from his time at Fulham and he averages more than a goal a game for his country. Yet it's Milan's Luka Jovic who could really stand out here. The 26-year-old is a more versatile striker and will likely find pockets of space left by defenders who are too preoccupied with Mitrovic.

The previously mentioned Benjamin Sesko carries the hopes of a nation on his shoulders, meanwhile, as Slovenia seek to make an impact at this tournament. Sesko will be 21 come the start of Euro 2024 but he has an experienced strike partner in 30-year-old Andraz Sporar alongside him. Like Jovic to Mitrovic, Sesko will likely get opportunities when Sporar drags defenders away from play.

Euro 2024 Group C Tips

Euro 2024 Group C should be relatively straightforward for England but it may become a scramble for second place. Here are three Euro 2024 tips to consider heading into the tournament:

England won’t win all three matches

Let’s start with England. The Three Lions are odds-on favourites to win all three matches in Group C and sail into the last-16. They have escaped the group stage in each of their last four European Championships. However, never in England’s history have they won a Euro group with maximum points.

Collecting seven points is more likely if we assume Southgate begins this tournament in typically conservative fashion. He is always more wary about conceding then scoring, because it’s the defence that usually gets you to the latter stages.

It’s therefore something of an outside tip to say England will earn nine points from Group C. It’s perfectly within the team’s ability to do so but seven points is more likely.

No third-place progress

It seems as though there are two ways Group C at Euro 2024 will go. Either Denmark join England in defeating Serbia and Slovenia, and the pair saunter through. Or, one of the underdogs will claim an against-the-odds win to shake things up.

From a betting perspective, the first instance seems most likely. If Denmark and England both claim wins over the two underdogs, then Serbia and Slovenia will face off for the right to earn three points. Three points might not be enough to escape this group as a best third-placed side.

In fact, a draw between the pair and they will both definitely be eliminated. This is a far greater prospect than Slovenia or Serbia upsetting the two bigger teams in Group C.

Serbia top Group C

If you are determined to find value in the Group C odds and want an outside bet that could come off, then Serbia to win Group C is the best choice. This goes against the logic outlined in our other tips but Serbia have the experience and quality to enjoy a successful summer like Wales did in 2016.

Secure a draw against slow-starters England on 20 June and suddenly the group opens up. It may be the case Serbia head into the last group game against Denmark already on four points and eyeing top spot. At odds of 8/1 this bet carries good value.

Euro 2024 Group C Top Scorer

Whether Serbia, Denmark or Slovenia impress at Euro 2024 remains to be seen. What is almost assured is that Harry Kane will finish top scorer in Group C. England’s captain has a nose for goal like few other footballers on the planet. He has a 2:3 goals-to-game ratio and takes all of England’s spot kicks.

Kane is the man who finishes off moves that Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden start. He’s the end point of Southgate’s attacking set-up. In fact, Kane is the 11/2 pre-tournament second favourite to win the Golden Boot. Only France’s Kylian Mbappe (5/1) is ahead of the Bayern striker in the betting.

Rivals to Kane’s golden boot in Group C come from other seasoned goalscorers. Aleksandar Mitrovic and Luka Jovic are fine finishers who will petrify opposition defenders this summer. Slovenia have the young Benjamin Sesko to look to for goalscoring inspiration.

The big question mark hanging over this market is Denmark. Who from the likes of Rasmus Hojlund, Jonas Wind and Kasper Dolberg will get in on the goals? Yussuf Poulsen and Mikkel Damsgaard could also pop up with a goal or two, as could full-back Joakim Mæhle. Christian Eriksen, should he play, will oversee set pieces. It's difficult to pinpoint one player to lead the charts for Denmark here.

Euro 2024 Outside Bet: Group C

If you're determined to seek an outside bet for the first matches of Euro 2024 then backing Serbia to pinch a draw with England on 16 June is not a terrible shout. At 7/2 the draw covers the likelihood that Gareth Southgate's side will start slow and be protective of their goal. Southgate never rushes things.

Serbia will take the draw and won't come hard at England. If we're to see goals they're likely to come from set pieces – and that goes for the Three Lions too. Under 2.5 goals at odds of 23/20 is also a worthwhile wager.