Alan Shearer makes prediction for England vs Serbia – and spots two potential problems
Alan Shearer believes England will beat Serbia on Sunday - but their opponents' strike-force could pose a big danger.
Gareth Southgate will lead his side into the first of their three group games against the Serbians. England and Newcastle legend Shearer reckons that even though they'll win the game, the duo of Dušan Vlahović and Aleksandar Mitrović could cause significant problems.
Both tall and imposing forces, Mitrovic and Vlahovic have a combined 71 goals between them for their national side. And the former Blackburn striker thinks the pair will be a big threat, especially from crosses. “I think England should win the game," Shearer told Betfair.
"Serbia have Mitrovic and Vlahovic up front, if they decide to go with those two. I think Mitrovic will definitely play, they will look to rain crosses in because that's what he wants and demands, and he gets all the goals for them."
Mitrović will be a familiar name to Premier League fans with the Serbian striker plying his trade at Newcastle for three seasons before heading to Fulham, where he scored over 100 goals for the Cottagers. The 29-year-old swapped the UK for Saudi Arabia last year and joined Al-Hilal, where he has a remarkable record of 28 goals in 28 games for the Saudi Pro League side.
Vlahović may not be as well known to UK fans with the formidable forward playing his football in Italy since 2018, with stints at Fiorentina and Juventus. However, the 24-year-old has scored 77 goals in his time in Serie A and also has 13 goals in 27 appearances for his national side and his form has saw him linked with a move to Arsenal and Manchester United in recent seasons.
Despite Shearer's warning, he has confidence that England will have "too much" for the Serbians going forward. “England should have far too much for them in forward positions so I would say England to win by two or three," he said.
Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic
The Match of the Day pundit may be bullish about England's chances in their first game in Germany this summer but there will be lingering doubt amongst fans, owed to the fact that the Three Lions have only ever won their curtain raiser at the Euros just once. That victory came as they beat Croatia 1-0 in their opening fixture of Euro 2020, which was played in 2021 due to the pandemic.
Nevertheless, Shearer did acknowledge that opening fixtures can be "cagey", however he is a firm believer that Southgate's side will start win a win, saying: "Opening games are never easy, a lot of the time they're always cagey affairs, but I would think England can score two or three and win.”
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