Euro 2024 : MM Group C Prediction & Breakdown

It’s no secret that International tournaments are the holy grail for any football fan, something anticipated worldwide and watched live by millions. Hosted in Germany this year, the Euro 2024 Championship kicks off this evening, and here at Mixtape Madness, we have taken the time to delve into our group predictions, star players and players to keep an eye on. Group C consists of Denmark, England, Serbia and Slovenia so our group-by-group breakdown starts alphabetically with Albania.

Denmark

A strong team full of experienced and young players, Kasper Hjulmand’s Denmark will hope to creep out of the group and into the round of 16 in this group despite close competition. With a solid midfield and plenty of players playing at the highest level, I see Denmark as England’s biggest competitor in Group C, and so their game on Thursday night will tell all in terms of the standings for the group.

Star Player: Christian Eriksen

The last European Championship almost ended in tragedy when Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch due to a cardiac arrest, yet three years on against all odds, one of Denmark’s main stars over the years returns for yet another International tournament. A threat from set pieces predominantly, the rest of the Danish team will be hoping their playmaker can find some form and guide them to qualification to the Round of 16.

Player to look out for: Rasmus Hojlund

There’s no secret that the anticipation for Rasmus Højlund in this Danish team will be high. Having found some form at Manchester United up front despite a tough start to life in the North of England, the feeling from winning the FA Cup Final against Manchester City will be fresh in his mind competing. A real threat getting in behind defences, he’ll be hoping to bag a few goals this tournament.

Group Prediction: 2nd

Denmark’s collective spirit has been more evident since the close-to-tragedy of Christian Eriksen at Euro 2020, and their intuition and togetherness within the squad represent the nation as a whole. A widely respected International side, Denmark has the quality and the resilience to grind out some results this Euro’s, and as England knows too well from their semi-final against them last tournament that can be a very tricky and technical side to play against. I’d expect them to challenge strongly and finish 2nd in this group.

England

Despite losing the Euro 2020 Final to Italy on penalties, England enter this tournament as clear favourites just in front of France and Germany. Looking to get their first International trophy since the 1966 World Cup, a few injury setbacks defensively have caused slight concern for Southgate and his coaching staff and so adaptability has had to be a consideration throughout his team and squad selections.

Star Player : Jude Bellingham

One of the brightest young talents of our generation, Jude Bellingham is already a star within the International footballing world. A staple signing for Real Madrid last summer, the 20-year-old guided them to both the league title and Champions League title, and his confidence and composure at such a young age are helping to pioneer the new-gen England side. He is an offensive threat and boasts stamina levels that allow him to get stuck in defensively – I have no doubt he will be the standout player for England this tournament.

Player to look out for: Phil Foden

Having won the Player of the Year Award in the Premier League this season, Phil Foden is another one of the brightest young talents in International football. However, his England form has always been shaky and inconsistent and it seems Gareth Southgate has struggled to man-manage him to the best of his ability due to the intense competition in the Number 10 role for England. If this tournament Southgate can find a way for Foden to play more narrow than the left-hand side, we could see the Manc in prime form.

Group Prediction : 1st

England is without a doubt the strongest team within Group C, and if we can start strong I have no doubt we’ll go three for three in the group stages. This is arguably the strongest team England has ever had, and so realistically anything other than a final win this year will inevitably end in Southgate parting ways with the squad.

Serbia

A well-drilled and vastly experienced team, Dragan Stojkovic’s Serbia are a decent contender to make it out of the group and into the finals. A close competition to Denmark for the 2nd place spot in the group, I think they’ll fall just short in their game with Denmark which will ultimately decide their position in the group. With a very strong attack and midfield with the likes of vastly experienced Mitrovic and Milinkovic-Savic in the squad, the team has depth to compete with all others in the group.

Star Player: Dusan Vlahovic

One of the best players within Juventus’ side, Dusan Vlahovic has come in clutch for them many times this season in the final minutes of games. With 16 goals and 4 assists in 33 matches, the attacking midfielder/striker has proven time in and time out that he can pose a real threat to any defense, and Serbia will be hoping to help find his way into every group stage game they play.

Player to look out for: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

Holding down the midfield region, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is likely to be a real talisman for this Serbian side. Despite his move from Lazio to Al Hilal, where he was one of the most favourable players on the teamsheet every week, the 29-year-old has proved he is one of the best in the business on his day. With an innate ability to cruise box-to-box in the game and pose a threat with powerful strikes outside the box, his range game is likely to be capitalised on and he may be a very important player for Serbia this tournament.

Group Prediction: 3rd

Although Serbia’s team does include a lot of experienced players playing within the top leagues of Europe, I think that Denmark will just top them points-wise throughout the group stages. It’s a bit of a toss-up in all honestly, one that will inevitably run down to the game they play against each other and the outcome of that.

Slovenia

One of the weaker sides in the tournament, Serbia come into Group C as major underdogs to make it out of the group. Not to be underestimated of course, however, a small run of promising performances in the build-up friendlies have crafted some promise for the side. It’s impossible to write off any team that has qualified to be in the tournament in the first place, but I do envision they will struggle in this group.

Star Player : Benjamin Sesko

Just 21 years of age, Slovenian and RP Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko is likely to be a key man for the International side, especially if they want any chance of making it out of the group. With 14 goals and 2 assists in 34 games for Leipzig, the striker averages just under 1 goal involvement every two games and will be hoping to snag a few chances in the group stages.

Player to look out for : Jaka Bijol

A rare choice of player to look out for at the centre-back position, Slovenia will hope to bring Jaka Bijol’s experience into the tournament to help push the team to some points. Playing for Udinese, he’s one of only three players expected to start from the top five leagues, and therefore will have the most experience defending against world-class players.

Group Prediction : 4th

Only three players are expected to be in Slovenia’s starting eleven play within Europe’s “Top 5” leagues, and therefore I expect the side to struggle against the vast competition within the Danish, English and Albanian side. I don’t quite think they’ll have strong enough experience and talent within the squad, and a lack of pooling for Slovenia I think will cost them from picking up many points in the group stages, and therefore I have them rooted at the bottom in 4th.