How forgotten team-mate of Gary Lineker is plotting to spoil England’s party in Euro 2024 opener vs Serbia
GARY LINEKER’S former team-mate Dragan Stojkovic is the Serbian manager seeking to cause a major upset come Sunday.
The country’s leading football icon will set out to mute English voices and send shockwaves through the nation by beating Gareth Southgate’s side in the Group C opener.
Following two decades in the European Championship wilderness, it is high time that Serbia made their mark on a major tournament.
But Stojkovic’s talented side face the Euro 2020 runners-up England in their group opener in Gelsenkirchen on June 16.
And the Serbians – who have ex-Fulham star Aleksandar Mitrovic leading the line – will set out to spoil England’s party, and could be spurred on by Southgate’s recent results.
Stojkovic will be encouraged by England’s recent run of one win in five games, including the shock 1-0 friendly defeat to Iceland at Wembley.
However, the Three Lions’ remain favourites to lift the Euros come July 14 and enjoyed an unbeaten qualifying campaign.
Stojkovic played with Lineker at Japanese side Nagoya Grampus Eight after joining in the spring of 1994 under Arsene Wenger, who left them for Arsenal in 1996.
Stojkovic went on to spend seven seasons with Grampus Eight, retiring as a player in 2001, and played 183 matches for the club, scoring 57 times.
For Lineker however it didn’t work out as planned.
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The English midfielder played just 24 times over two years, scoring eight goals, and retired after failing to deliver glory during that short spell.
Meanwhile Stojkovic also starred for Red Star Belgrade, reaching the semi-finals of the Uefa Cup and winning the Yugoslavia First League on two occasions.
From here, the former attacking midfielder moved to Olympique Marseille and won the Champions League in 1992.
But the man who scored 15 goals in 84 internationals has a complex history with the Euros.
Stojkovic was in the Yugoslavia team excluded from Euro 92 three days after arriving in Sweden for the tournament, after the outbreak of conflict in the Balkans.
But it is the first time Serbia will feature at the Euros after becoming an independent nation in 2006.
They will pin their hopes on striker Mitrovic extending a superb run of form in all competitions, with five goals from seven games in Euro 2024 qualifying and averaging a goal per game in the Saudi league this season.
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.
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Jack Wilshere's England XI vs Serbia
SunSport columnist Jack Wilshere wants Engand to start with just one holding midfielder - Declan Rice.
That means playing Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham in attacking midfield roles, with Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka on the wings, either side of Harry Kane up top.
Wilshere said: “In the group stage against teams we should beat, we can afford to be more expansive, let’s attack.
“It wasn’t that long ago we were saying we didn’t have the Spanish-type of players who can dominate the ball, now we have.
“So let’s try to utilise that, dominate the ball and go for goals.”
And the ex-England midfielder wants Trent Alexander-Arnold to get the nod at right-back, with Kyle Walker centre-back.
He added: “If you play Trent at right-back and he drifts in midfield, he can switch the play at speed. Walker’s pace will get you out of trouble.”
Read more from Jack Wilshere during Euro 2024.