IN their first of two pre-Euro 2024 warm-up friendlies, England will host Bosnia-Herzegovina at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park on Monday evening.
The Three Lions are gearing up for their latest shot at international glory, while their visitors will not be participating in this year’s continental showdown.
As one of the favourites to triumph in Germany this summer and end 58 years of hurt—at least on the men’s side—the pressure on England is immense.
Gareth Southgate’s squad aims to emulate their female counterparts, who conquered Europe in 2022.
Two years after the women’s team lifted the trophy, Southgate’s men are determined to right the wrongs of Wembley 2021, where they suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Italy.
Having navigated their Euro 2024 qualifying section without a single defeat, England is set to face Serbia, Slovenia, and Euro 2020 semi-final foes Denmark in the group stage later this month.
Their quest for glory kicks off against Serbia on June 16.
Before heading to Germany, England will play friendlies against Bosnia and Iceland (June 7), giving Southgate’s men a chance to secure a confidence-boosting win.
Their last international outings in March were underwhelming, with a 1-0 defeat to Brazil, courtesy of Real Madrid-bound teenager Endrick, and a last-gasp 2-2 draw with Belgium, thanks to Jude Bellingham’s heroics.
Southgate’s future remains a topic of speculation, with rumours linking him to Manchester United.
Bosnia, on the other hand, failed to capitalize on their playoff opportunity after finishing second-from-bottom in Group J.
Only three of their ten qualification matches ended in victory, with two wins against minnows Liechtenstein.
Despite their poor campaign, they secured a playoff semi-final against Ukraine.
Bosnia led through a Mykola Matviyenko own goal, but late strikes from Artem Dovbyk and Roman Yaremchuk dashed their hopes, leaving Bosnia still waiting for their first Euros appearance as an independent nation.
Bosnia, who participated in the 2014 World Cup—their only major tournament since the breakup of Yugoslavia—arrive at St James’ Park on a four-match losing streak.
They face reigning European champions Italy on June 9 before preparing for life in League A of the Nations League.
The Dragons haven’t won a friendly away from home since June 2018, failing to score in their last four and losing three consecutively, which does not bode well for their first-ever encounter with England.
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