England are set to kick off their Euro 2024 campaign with an international friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James’ Park on Monday evening.
This match marks the first of two warm-up games for the Three Lions, with a subsequent fixture against Iceland scheduled for Friday evening.
The tournament begins for Gareth Southgate’s team on June 16, when they face Serbia. Ahead of these matches, Southgate will need to finalise his squad, giving several players a final chance to prove they deserve a spot on the flight to Germany.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the other hand, won’t feature in Euro 2024 after finishing fifth in their group and losing in the play-offs to Ukraine. This failure led to a managerial change, with Sergej Barbarez poised to manage his first game for the Dragons at St James’ Park.
Betting odds suggest England are the overwhelming favourites at 1/7, according to Bet 365. For those betting on England to win without conceding, odds are available at 4/5.
Conversely, Bosnia and Herzegovina are considered long shots at 12/1, with the draw priced at 15/2.
This encounter will be the inaugural match between the two nations.
Bosnia and Herzegovina haven’t won an away friendly since 2018, which doesn’t promise much for their first clash against a formidable England.
Key players to watch include Kobbie Mainoo, who impressed in last weekend’s FA Cup final and is tipped to shine for England, with odds of 13/2 to score anytime. For Bosnia and Herzegovina, veteran striker Edin Dzeko is a standout, with odds of 9/2 to score during the match.
