“Everyone thought England might be some miracle from another planet” - Serbia coach aims cheeky dig at Three Lions after Euro 2024 exit
Serbia boss Dragan Stojkovic has said after his team's Euro 2024 exit that group winners England didn't play like one of the pre-tournament favourites they were touted to be. The Serbs finished last in Group C and out of knockout reckoning after drawing goalless to Denmark in their final group game on Tuesday (June 25) in Munich.
Serbia finished with two points from three games, a point behind Denmark and Slovenia - who ended with the same points, head-to-head record, goals difference, goals scored and disciplinary record.
However, the Danes finished second, as they had beaten Slovenia 2-1 at home and drawn 1-1 away in their qualifying group, with both teams finishing with the same number of points (22).
England won the group, courtesy of their 1-0 win over Serbia, 1-1 draw with Denmark and the goalless stalemate with Slovenia - who qualified for their first major tournament knockout. However, Gareth Southgate's side were far from convincing across the three games, a sentiment echoed by Stojkovic, who said (as per Express):
"Everyone thought England might be some miracle from another planet, but they were nothing like that. The expectations were just different."
The Three Lions had topped a qualifying group containing defending champions Italy - whom they could meet in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals - coming to the Germany finals.
"We couldn't quite find that moment to decide the game" - England boss after topping Euro 2024 group
England boss Gareth Southgate has taken his side past the group stage at a fourth straight major tournament after a goalless draw with Slovenia confirmed his side as Euro 2024 Group C winners, putting them into the knockouts.
However, the Three Lions looked largely inept and bereft of ideas in the attacking third against a disciplined but modest Slovenian defence despite bossing possession.
Post-game, Southgate admitted that his team couldn't take the few chances they conjured on the night to take all three points, telling Euro2024.com:
"I think it was an improvement on where we've been. We were pretty much in control of the game, we had over 70% of the ball, particularly in the second half. They were sustaining wave after wave of attack."
"We couldn't quite find that moment to decide the game. We did create a couple of decent chances but we just didn't take them on the night."
Highlighting the positives, he remarked:
"Clearly, we've defended extremely well, which is giving us a foundation to build on. Tonight, we were better with the ball, the impact of our substitutions was very positive. So there are signs of that side of the game coming."
Captain Harry Kane narrowly failed to latch on to a teasing Kieran Trippier cross in the first half. In the second, substitute Cole Palmer squandered England's best chance to win by shooting straight at the goalkeeper. Another substitute, Trent Alexander-Arnold blazed his effort wastefully off target.
The Three Lions await the identity of their Euro 2024 Round-of-16 opponents, who will could be one of the Netherlands or the third-placed team in groups E and F, which conclude on Wednesday (June 26).