England team for Euro 2024 opener vs Serbia REVEALED with Bukayo Saka set to start after winning fitness battle
BUKAYO SAKA is expected to start for England against Serbia on Sunday.
There had been a slight doubt over Saka’s fitness after he missed the final game of Arsenal’s season with a groin injury.
He came on for the final 25 minutes of the shock 1-0 defeat to Iceland at Wembley last Friday.
The winger has not completed all the training sessions in the last ten days.
But SunSport understands the 22-year-old, the second highest scorer in the Three Lions squad after Harry Kane with 11 goals, is in line to play from the off in Gelsenkirchen.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is also expected to start his first game at a major tournament in six years alongside Declan Rice in midfield, getting the nod over Conor Gallagher.
John Stones is set to start in a backline also including Kyle Walker, Marc Guehi and Kieran Trippier, with Jordan Pickford in goal.
The Manchester City centre-back, 30, is ready to go despite missing training on Wednesday with a sickness bug.
He trained on Saturday along all 25 other players in Southgate’s squad.
Skipper Kane will start up top with a trio of Saka, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden behind him, barring injury.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
The game kicks off at the Veltins-Arena at 8pm tomorrow and will be broadcast on BBC One.
England and Serbia have only faced off once back when the latter competed as Serbia and Montenegro.
The two teams met in 2003 during an international friendly at the King Power Stadium.
The Three Lions won 2-1 thanks to goals by Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole, while Nenad Jestrovic temporarily equalised for his country.
England also hold a better record from back when Serbia competed as part of Yugoslavia.
The national team won five out of 14 matches, of which they lost four.
The likes of AC Milan’s Luka Jovic and Juventus’ Filip Kostic available to fire up the attack of manager Dragan Stojkovic.
Al-Hilal’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic could also prove a problem in midfield.
England saw Scotland get thumped 5-1 by hosts Germany in the tournament curtain raiser last night.
England Euro 2024 guide
GARETH SOUTHGATE is under no illusions coming into this competition – it is win or bust.
The Three Lions have never had a better opportunity to end their 58-year wait for a major international trophy given the talent and experience they have in their armoury.
MANAGER: Gareth Southgate
The former England star has come closer than anyone since Sir Alf Ramsey to ending the Three Lions’ trophy hoodoo.
Southgate is aware that the nations expects, and has even suggested he will quit if he doesn’t deliver the European Championship.
STAR MAN: Jude Bellingham
The Real Madrid star is arguably the world’s best player at the moment and gives England the platform they need to dominate big games.
How England attack
England will look to dominate the ball against almost everybody.
Declan Rice is crucial in progressing the ball, Bellingham, Saka and Foden will rotate to pull defenders out of position and Kane can both score and drop deep to provide chances for others.
How England defend
England press man-to-man with the midfield pushing up to support Kane when the ball is lost and look to win it as close to the opposition goal as possible.
However, the left-back spot could be a cause for concern, particularly with Luke Shaw entering the tournament with fitness worries.
Read the full England Euro 2024 guide here, including predicted line-ups, odds and Wags.