Morten Hjulmand (#21) of Denmark shoots to score in the UEFA European Championship group game against England in Frankfurt, Germany, June 20, 2024. /CFP
Where England stand after two European Championship games is the envy of most teams. Just not good enough yet to have title ambitions.
Thursday's 1-1 draw with Denmark – semifinalists last time, don't forget – means England are unbeaten and all-but-certain to advance to the round of 16.
It also was a slack, mistake-filled display that left coach Gareth Southgate angrily gesturing at his players for gifting a slew of scoring chances late in the game.
"The team didn't function today, that is my responsibility," said Southgate, who heard jeers from fans behind the England goal in a ragged second half.
Harry Kane gave England another fast start at Euro 2024, scoring in the 18th minute, but the captain was substituted off in the second half as the team faded.
Denmark leveled in the 34th when Morten Hjulmand fired in a powerful low shot from long distance, after Kane gave away the ball in defense.
Eight years with Southgate have seen England earn sustained tournament success. The Three Lions reached the final of the pandemic-delayed Euro 2020 – after beating Denmark in the last four – and a semifinal and a quarterfinal at the past two World Cups.
"We're in the environment of winning on the biggest stage," the coach acknowledged, adding "You have to accept what (criticism) comes our way."
England have never won back-to-back games to begin a Euros, and a pattern of second-game syndrome has repeated at three straight tournaments.
Players of Serbia celebrate after tying the score 1-1 in the UEFA European Championship group game against Slovenia in Munich, Germany, June 20, 2024. /CFP
Slovenia 1-1 Serbia
A late strike denied Slovenia a first-ever win in a European Championship as Serbia snatched a 1-1 draw on Thursday.
Zan Karnicnik's 69th-minute goal put Slovenia on the brink of a historic win, until substitute Luka Jovic leveled deep in stoppage time to keep Serbia’s chances of advancing to the knockout stage alive.
The goal sent the Serbia fans into raucous joy, but also saw them throw flares and other objects onto the field. By that point, the ground around both goals was littered with plastic cups that had rained down from the stands in the final 10 minutes, prompting announcements over the stadium's speakers urging the fans to stop.
The equalizer was virtually the last action as the referee blew fulltime immediately after the players restarted. The Slovenia players collapsed to the ground in disappointment.
"Serbs do not die so easily," Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic said. "We do not give up and nor will we. We believe all the way to the end and the reward came for believing. We didn't accept that we would lose to Slovenia tonight, we didn't want to accept this result and that's why the reward came."
It would have been Slovenia's second win in a major tournament and its first since victory over Algeria in the 2010 World Cup.
"Slovenia has shown that it has a place here at the European Championships," Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek said. "Sports and football can be cruel, but I believe karma will play its part for this team. We have played a fair game in an atmosphere for the ages."
He went on to add, "We have felt disappointment because we know how strong the Serbia players are, how good they are at dead-ball situations. There was a lack of concentration in the last minute, but a big thank you to the players for the heart that they have shown in this arena."