Rio Ferdinand has picked out the three ‘most important gamers’ England ought to be cautious of in opposition to Serbia however doubts they are going to pose ‘a lot of an issue’ within the Euro 2024 Group C contest.
England – one of many scorching favourites this summer time – kick off their group-stage marketing campaign in Gelsenkirchen as they set out on their quest to carry house a primary main trophy in 58 years.
There have been doubts over the health of John Stones, Bukayo Saka and Luke Shaw in latest days however Gareth Southgate has a completely match squad at his disposal and the Three Lions will likely be eager to make a press release with their opening efficiency.
Event hosts Germany kick-started their marketing campaign with an emphatic 5-1 victory in Friday’s curtain-raiser and Spain put Croatia to the sword earlier than Italy – the reigning champions – got here from behind to beat Albania yesterday.
Previewing tonight’s conflict on the FIVE YouTube channel, former Manchester United defender Ferdinand confidently backed Southgate’s males to observe swimsuit and are available away from Area AufSchalke with victory.
Nevertheless, the legendary ex-England worldwide – capped 81 instances between 1997 and 2011 – believes Serbia have three star gamers of their ranks able to hurting the Three Lions.
‘I don’t assume they’re going to be a lot of an issue. [Aleksandar] Mitrovic and [Dusan] Vlahovic up entrance, [Dusan] Tadic behind, they’re the three most important gamers however I don’t assume will begin each Vlahovic and Mitrovic,’ Ferdinand stated.
‘Mitrovic is in Saudi [Arabia] and has scored a great deal of targets, I believe they received the league as effectively.
‘He’s a menace however my staff speak could be: “We hold these lot out of our field and so long as we hold them out of our field we win!”
‘Mitrovic is their most important menace, Tadic can do a bit as effectively, don’t get me flawed.
‘However simply hold them excessive… Mitrovic or Vlahovic ain’t working in behind and neither is Tadic. You ain’t bought to fret about that. Squeeze the sport and suffocate them.’
Ferdinand urged England to ‘respect’ the opposition however believes Dragan Stojkovic’s squad lacks the standard of years passed by when the likes of Nemanja Vidic, Nemanja Matic and Branislav Ivanovic have been on the peak of their powers.
‘They perceive going into battle. It’s stress and so they’ve bought to take care of it, however I really like Vidic,’ he added.
‘He’s a high man and clearly you meet folks and also you study a bit about their tradition which is sweet.
‘You’ve bought to respect Serbia however I simply don’t assume they’ve bought a few of the gamers they perhaps as soon as had earlier than.
‘Matic just isn’t concerned now, Vidic isn’t concerned, Ivanovic, folks like that. They’ve had some nice gamers over time.
‘They’ve bought good gamers now however I don’t assume they’re going to be a robust sufficient staff to play in opposition to England in the mean time.’
Looking forward to the latter phases of the event, Ferdinand predicted that England would come out because the eventual winners and get their arms on a primary main trophy since Sir Alf Ramsey’s staff of 1966.
Ferdinand additionally backed Germany’s Jamal Musiala to scoop the Participant of the Event prize, Spain’s Lamine Yamal to be named the Younger Participant of the Event and France’s Kylian Mbappe to complete as high scorer.
On Spanish wonderkid Yamal, Ferdinand joked: ‘Simply assume, 16 years previous, simply posted his GCSEs… he hasn’t bought his letter again but! Has not bought his outcomes from his GCSEs but! It’s unbelievable.
‘And he’s now posted up at a Euros, gonna go and injury it up! Unbelievable.’
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