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Slovenia vs Serbia - Euro 2024: Live score, team news and updates after Serbia threaten to quit the tournament ahead of the match

5 months ago 36

By Michael Pavitt

Published: 13:01 BST, 20 June 2024 | Updated: 13:59 BST, 20 June 2024

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The teams are in the tunnel

High fives from Serbia's players as they make their way down the tunnel where Slovenia are already waiting for them.

Here come the two sides.

Time to remind you of those starting line-ups.

Serbia: Rajkovic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, Lukic, Ilic, Mladenovic; Tadic; Mitrovic, Vlahovic

Slovenia: Oblak; Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic, Elsnik, Cerin, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko

Mitrovic vs Sesko

Speaking of the atmosphere.

A battle between the two sets of supporters after 'Freed from Desire' was played in the stadium.

The Serbian variation of 'Mitro's on Fire' was countered by 'Sesko's on Fire' from the Slovenian fans.

Which forward will come out on top on the pitch?

I am always staggered by Mitrovic's record at international level, with the former Fulham star having scored 58 in 92 for Serbia.

Sesko has 11 goals in 30 games for Slovenia.

 Aleksandar Mitrovic of Serbia arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Slovenia and Serbia at Munich Football Arena on June 20, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alex Caparros - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

epa11425024 Benjamin Sesko of Slovenia in action during warm up prior the UEFA EURO 2024 Group C soccer match between Slovenia and Serbia, in Munich, Germany, 20 June 2024.  EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA

Djokovic delivers Serbia's good luck message

Mail Sport's Riath Al-Samarrai at the Allianz Arena

Quite some atmosphere at the Allianz Arena. Novak Djokovic has just delivered a messaged via one of the giant screens and the Serbians are going nuts.

Had a fun moment on my way into the ground. There was a Serbian fella, well on his way to a three-day hangover, staggering over the rail bridge when he stumbled into a lamppost before rebounding back into a mass of other Serbian fans. He apologised to the lamppost.

If his team do withdraw from the Euros in line with their threat, I can’t be sure he’d even notice.

 The LED screen shows a video message from Novak Djokovic, Serbian professional tennis player prior to the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Slovenia and Serbia at Munich Football Arena on June 20, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alex Caparros - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

 Fans of Serbia show their support as they enjoy the pre match atmosphere prior to the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Slovenia and Serbia at Munich Football Arena on June 20, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Atmosphere building in Munich

This Slovenia fan certainly has got in the spirit with an inflatable version of the European Championship trophy.

It would certainly be a shock if Slovenia are lifting the trophy on July 14 in Berlin.

One step at a time though.

Slovenia's fans will understandbly feel optimistic after their draw against Denmark.

With Benjamin Sesko in attack, Slovenia will fancy getting something against Serbia today.

Fans of Slovenia celebrate in the tribune with a replica of the UEFA trophy prior to the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C football match between Slovenia and Serbia at the Munich Football Arena in Munich, southern Germany, on June 20, 2024. (Photo by DAMIEN MEYER / AFP) (Photo by DAMIEN MEYER/AFP via Getty Images)

Soccer Football - Euro 2024 - Group C - Slovenia v Serbia - Munich Football Arena, Munich, Germany - June 20, 2024 Slovenia fans react inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Leonhard Simon

SLOVENIA TEAM NEWS: Matjaz Kek names an unchanged side

Slovenia's team news is more straightforward.

Matjaz Kek has named the same team that earned a 1-1 draw against Denmark on Sunday.

Slovenia: Oblak; Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic, Elsnik, Cerin, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko

SERBIA TEAM NEWS: Captain Dusan Tadic starts

Dragan Stojkovic has made three changes to his starting line-up from loss to England.

Captain Dusan Tadic, as expected, starts after coming off the bench against England.

Tadic replaces Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, with the playmkaker looking to supply Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic in attack.

Filip Mladenovic comes in for Filip Kostic, who is out of Euro 2024 through injury, while Ivan Ilic replaces Nemanja Gudelj.

Serbia: Rajkovic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, Lukic, Ilic, Mladenovic; Tadic; Mitrovic, Vlahovic

 Dusan Tadic of Serbia warms up prior to the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Slovenia and Serbia at Munich Football Arena on June 20, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Serbia preparing in Munich despite quit threat

Well, I can safely report that Serbia look to be taking the pitch in just under an hour for the match against Slovenia.

One wonders whether the Serbia FA threat will act as an unwelcome distraction for Dragan Stojkovic's side heading into this match.

Following the loss to England, another defeat today could render the quit threat meaningless as Serbia's last-16 hopes would be effectively extinguished.

Team news on the way...

 Dusan Vlahovic of Serbia interacts with teammates as they inspect the pitch prior to the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Slovenia and Serbia at Munich Football Arena on June 20, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

 Nemanja Stojic of Serbia looks at his mobile phone as he inspects the pitch prior to during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Slovenia and Serbia at Munich Football Arena on June 20, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Albania and Serbia both facing UEFA action

Worth mentioning in relation to the Serbian FA's threat that both Albania and Serbia are facing UEFA charges Euro 2024.

UEFA charged the Serbian FA with two offences following their defeat by England on Sunday – the throwing of objects and the transmitting of a provocative message 'unfit for a sports event'.

The latter is understood to relate to the displaying of a flag linked to a paramilitary movement that was engaged in ethnic cleansing during the Yugoslav wars.

The governing body also launched an investigation into claims monkey noises were aimed at England players during the clash. An inspector has been appointed to carry out a disciplinary probe 'regarding alleged discriminatory behaviour', though, a resolution is not expected until after the group stages.

Albania have been charged for incidents during their match with Italy. A pitch invader halted the game in the dying moments of the game and that incident comprises one of the charges.

The charges were for the 'throwing of objects', 'lighting of fireworks', 'invasion of the field of play', and 'transmitting a provocative message unfit for a sports event'.

 General view outside the stadium as fans looks on prior to the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Slovenia and Serbia at Munich Football Arena on June 20, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Serbia make extraordinary threat to QUIT the Euros

Today's big news is that the Serbian FA have made the astonishing threat that they could quit Euro 2024.

The Serbian FA are demanding UEFA impose strict punishments on Croatia and Albania following offensive chants during their 2-2 draw in Hamburg on Wednesday.

Both sets of supporters could be heard shouting 'Kill the Serbs' during their clash.

'What happened is scandalous and we will ask UEFA for sanctions, even at the cost of not continuing the competition,' Serbian FA General Secretary Jovan Surbatovic said.

'We will request UEFA to punish the federations of both selections. We don't want to participate in that, but if UEFA doesn't punish them, we will think about how to proceed.

'We were punished for the cases of fishing and our fans behaved much better than the others. One fan was fined for racist abuse and we don't want it to be attributed to others. We Serbs are gentlemen and we have an open heart, so I appeal to the fans to remain gentlemen.'

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Good afternoon!

Welcome to Mail Sport's live blog for this afternoon's Group C clash between Slovenia and Serbia.

Neither side were able to win their opening match with Slovenia drawing against Denmark, while Serbia suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to England.

Both sides could really do with a victory in Munich this afternoon to boost their chances of reaching the knock-out stage.

The build-up to this match has been overshadowed somewhat by events off the pitch.

More on that in a moment...

epa11424879 Fans of Slovenia cheer in the stands before the UEFA EURO 2024 Group C soccer match between Slovenia and Serbia, in Munich, Germany, 20June 2024.  EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA

Key Updates

  • SLOVENIA TEAM NEWS: Matjaz Kek names an unchanged side

  • SERBIA TEAM NEWS: Captain Dusan Tadic starts

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