Slovenia 0-0 Serbia – Euro 2024: Live score and updates as England’s Group C rivals remain level at half-time
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
We are past the hour mark in Munich.
Changes are on the way as both coaches seek a vital win.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
Slovenia show their threat on the break.
A slick couple of passes leads to Benjamin Sesko picking up the ball in a shooting position outside the box.
Sesko attempts to become the latest player at Euro 2024 to net a worldie, but his curling effort is tipped over by Rajkovic.
That counter attack came after a really dangerous move from Serbia.
Dusan Tadic’s cutback to Mitrovic in the box was just cut out.
You would have fancied Mitrovic to finish had the ball found him.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
Slightly harsh booking for Sasa Lukic.
The Fulham midfielder is nutmegged by Petar Stojanovic, who then runs into the Serbian man.
Nowhere he could go really.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
A risk from Milos Veljkovic, who leans into Benjamin Sesko as the last man.
The whistle goes but it is a free kick for Slovenia for an earlier foul.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
Serbia are cranking up the pressure here.
A goregous looking cross nearly picks out Mitrovic, by a Slovenian head gets to the ball first and sends it behind for another corner.
Oblak is off his line to palm away the set-piece.
Can Serbia make the most of their pressure.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
Jaka Bijol’s heart must have been in his mouth.
The Slovenia defender swings at a clearance in front of his own goal and slices the ball narrow wide.
That could have easily gone in. Slovenia get the resulting corner clear.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
Nearly the perfect start to the half from Serbia as Mitrovic and Tadic link up.
Mitrovic lays at the ball off to his captain and darts into the penalty area, with Tadic picking him out a return pass.
Jan Oblak is quick off his line to deny Mitrovic.
Good stuff all around there.
SECOND HALF: Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
Serbia have made a change at the break.
Mijat Gacinovic has come on for Filip Mladenovic, who was booked in the first half.
England prepare to face Denmark
Elsewhere in Group C, England and Serbia will be kicking off in just two hours time against Denmark.
You can follow all the build-up on our dedicated live blog here.
England vs Denmark – Euro 2024: Live score, team news and updates
Slovenia’s president shows her support
Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar is among those in attendance in Munich.
She has been pictured alongside UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, showing her support by wearing a national team kit.
Some Serbian supporters have been wearing water polo caps in the venue.
Quite a typical thing, with Serbian the two-time defending Olympic men’s water polo champions.
Coaches animated in the dugout
Both coaches have been fairly animated in the dugout during that first half as they look to encourage their respective sides.
What will Matjaz Kek and Dragan Stojkovic change at the break?
HALF-TIME: Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
Mitrovic nods a header well wide of the target for Serbia, as he backpedals to reach a cross.
And that’s your lot from the first half.
Goalless at the break in Munich in a match that has got better as it has gone along with chances at both ends.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
Feels like half-time might be coming at the wrong time with the match becoming end to end.
Sasa Lukic is the latest to get a shot away, with Elsnik getting in the way for Slovenia.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
Now Mitrovic is denied by Oblak.
Serbia’s dangerman is found at the back post by a Zivkovic cross.
Mitroivic is being wrestled by a Slovenian defender but stays on his feet and gets a shot away, with Oblak doing well to keep him out.
Do wonder what would have happened had Mitrovic gone down there, although there may have been an offside in the build-up.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
It is now Serbia’s turn to come forward.
Dusan Vlahovic strikes a free kick straight into the Slovenian wall.
Serbia keep coming and Dusan Tadic tries to work a shooting chance in the box.
The tackle eventually comes in to deny him.
Slovenia hit the post!
Elsnik cracks a shot against the post for Slovenia!
The midfielder pays a one-two inadvertenly off a Serbian man and races into space.
His driven shot strikes the frame of the goal before rebounding into the box.
It falls to the feet of Sesko, but it is a difficult chance for for the forward.
Under pressure his dinked effort misses the target.
A big chance for Slovenia to go ahead.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
The corner fashions the best chance of the match so far.
It’s a dangerous delivery towards the near post which looks to take a nick on.
Aleksandr Mitrovic may well get a touch and the ball goes agonisingly past the upright from a Serbian point of view.
Relief from Slovenia. That was a scare.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
A nice bit of play from Vlahovic, who is starting to see more of the ball.
He drops deep and spreads the play out wide before breaking back into the centre.
Vlahovic goes down under a challenge but his appeals for a free kick are in vain.
Serbia do win a corner though…
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
A first sight of goal for Serbia!
Dusan Vlahovic’s diving header goes straight into the palms of Jan Oblak.
The Juvenus forward gives the thumbs up for the cross into the box.
Finally some supply for the Serbian forwards.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
Filip Mladenovic is the first man into the book.
The Serbian left wing back goes sliding in Karnicnik on the touchline and gets nowhere near the ball.
A certain yellow.
Serbia could do without Mladenovic getting himself into trouble, with Kostic already ruled out of the rest of the tournament.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
Slovenia opt to go short again with their second corner of the match.
When the cross comes in, it is far too deep and Predrag Rajkovic gathers with ease.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
A dart down the wing for Benjamin Sesko, Slovenia’s highly rated forward.
The 21-year-old shows his pace to get around Nikola Milenkovic but across comes Milos Veljkovic.
Sesko signed a new contract at RB Leipzig earlier this month, despite interest from the likes of Arsenal.
You sense he will have suitors for a while to come.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
Serbia are yet to really get going here. Although they did grow into the match against England.
A searching ball forward looks to pick out the run of Dusan Vlahovic down the centre.
That’s an easy one for Slovenia’s skipper Jan Oblak to come out and gather.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
Some extremely cool defender from Milos Veljkovic under pressure.
The Serbian centre back holds off his man and guides the ball back to Rajkovic to claim.
Think he might have wanted his goalkeeper’s help earlier there…
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
Another opening for Slovenia, who have made a bright start in Munich.
Jan Mlakar gets in behind the Serbian defence and sees his low shot blocked by the feet of Rajkovic.
Slovenia make a mess of the resulting corner.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
The first shot goes the way of Slovenia as they seize on more loose passes from Serbia.
Adam Cerin drills a low shot goalwards but straight into the gloves of Predrag Rajkovic.
A straightforward one for the Serbia goalkeeper.
Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
A nervy moment for Strahinja Pavlovic early on as the Serbia centre back takes his eye off the ball and gives up possession.
The Serbia defender recovers well.
A loose Slovenian pass goes out of play not long after.
Early nerves from both sides?
KICK OFF: Slovenia 0-0 Serbia
Off we go in Munich.
Can the 2pm kick off deliver again at Euro 2024?
Let’s hope so.
Stirring national anthems from Slovenia and Serbia
A passionate rendition of both national anthems.
Dusan Tadic a standout in the Serbian line, while Slovenia’s players were seen placing a hand on their heart.
Time to get the action underway.
Should be an open game with both teams really needing a win here you feel.
Well, that’s if they want to stay in the tournament…
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.
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.
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.
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
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…
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’.
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.’
READ MORE:
Serbia threaten to QUIT Euro 2024
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…
More Details: Read More
