England Euro 2021 Fixtures

England v Croatia leaps out when looking at England Euro 2021 fixtures. It’s the toughest matchup in a favourable group and serves as a rematch of the heartbreak at the 2018 World Cup.

Euro 2021 starts on June 11^th. England’s tournament doesn’t get underway until a couple of days later. Gareth Southgate’s team are matched up with Croatia, Scotland and Czech Republic, and are expected to comfortably progress to the last 16.

Bookies tab England among the pre-tournament favourites. Southgate has a squad loaded with talent, particularly in attacking areas, and they were superb throughout the qualification campaign. They have the added benefit of home advantage, too. England v Croatia is one of several Euro 2021 fixtures due to be played at Wembley.

England v Croatia

Croatia are not the team they were in 2018. Key men have retired or aged. England, in contrast, have only got stronger since then with young players emerging and developing, while Harry Kane is playing the best football of his career.

The Three Lions won and drew when they faced Croatia in the Nations League. Bookies will be leaning heavily towards Southgate’s men for this England v Croatia clash, and with good reason. England are a formidable unit, and the impact of the home crowd will be greater than ever after so many months playing behind closed doors.

Croatia’s recent results do little to suggest they can go on another deep run. They have just four wins in their last 11 outings, two of which were against Cyprus and Malta in the last round of World Cup qualifiers.

Goals are expected. Croatia’s clean sheet against Cyprus was their first since October 2019. Where their midfield schooled England in the World Cup semi-final, England should be able to control this match and generate plenty of chances.

England v Croatia on June 13^th looks like an easy Three Lions win. There’s value backing an England win and over 2.5 total goals.

England Friendly

England have two friendly matches before Euro 2020. It has been a packed few months of football, and that isn’t slowing down any time soon. England face Austria on June 2^nd and Romania on June 6^th.

Southgate has selected a preliminary squad of 33 players. The former Middlesbrough defender has to whittle that down to 26 players by UEFA’s squad deadline on June 1^st.

Pre-tournament England friendly matches are not a time to experiment with shape or personnel. Southgate will spread the minutes out, but these matches are about getting time on the pitch together for his favoured line-ups.

Only a limited amount can be read into friendlies. Avoiding nightmare injuries and maintaining match fitness is the key ahead of England v Croatia.

England v Austria

Austria are without Marko Arnautovic for England v Austria on June 2^nd. Despite losing 4-0 to Denmark in their last match, Austria head into this fixture in good form. They were on an eight-match unbeaten run before that loss.

This is a good test for England. Austria have experience in David Alaba, Julian Baumgartlinger, Stefan Ilsanker and several other veterans. They are generally a difficult team to beat and will be taking this match just as seriously as England as they prepare for Euro 2020.

The result is irrelevant. England, of course, will be hoping for a routine win, but individual form and team performance is far more important than winning the match itself.

Southgate probably already knows his team for England v Croatia, but this could be a last chance for some players to win him over.

England Euro 2021 Results

2nd June 2021 – England 1 – 0 Austria, Bukayo Saka 56′ (Friendly)

6th June 2021 – England 1-0 Romania, Rashford 68′ (Friendly)

Keep posted of all the latest England Euro 2021 fixtures & results here or at our live match centre

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