Slovenia vs Denmark LIVE! Euro 2024 match stream, latest score and goal updates today

Slovenia vs Denmark LIVE!

Group C kicks off in Stuttgart this evening as Slovenia and Denmark face off in a game which will prove crucial to their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alongside, or instead of, rivals England or Serbia. The Danes have pedigree on this stage, having reached the semi-finals three years ago before losing to the Three Lions after extra time.

For Slovenia, much of the focus will be on star striker Benjamin Sesko, who was expected by some to make a big-money summer move to Arsenal, or another Premier League side, only to confirm before the tournament start that he will be staying put at RB Leipzig. Can he prove his worth on the biggest stage of his burgeoning career?

Sesko will likely need to be at his best if his country are to win their first ever in this tournament’s history. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog!

Slovenia vs Denmark latest updates

17:22 , Alex Young

21min: Cerin, eventually, delivers and it’s set wide to Janza, who is easily crowded out.

17:21 , Alex Young

19min: Slovenia try to hit back immediately, winning a corner after Janza’s shot is blocked.

GOAL!

17:19 , Alex Young

17min: It had to be! Eriksen opens the scoring for his country, and it’s a beauty.

A stunning flick from Wind lets Eriksen run onto the ball, chest it down and volley into the far corner.

Easily the goal of the tournament so far.

17:17 , Alex Young

16min: Oh my, that’s why Sesko is so fancied! A thunderous effort out of nothing from 30 yards!

That had Schmeichel scrambling, but it fizzes past the post.

17:16 , Alex Young

15min: Bijol has just clattered Wind from behind to give away a clear free kick. Early frustration?

17:13 , Alex Young

12min: Those Danish fans aren’t half making a noise. Incredible support.

17:10 , Alex Young

9min: This is going to be a long game for the Slovenian defence. More Eriksen magic to scoop the ball over one and into Hojlund’s path, who holds it up and sends it wide for Wind to drill a low cross in.

Slovenia slide in and clear.

17:07 , Alex Young

7min: Superb ball over the top from Eriksen to Wind into the area, but the forward cannot get the ball out of his feet before the offside flag is raised.

17:06 , Alex Young

5min: Slovenia still chasing shadows. Genuinely could be 99 per cent possession in their favour.

17:04 , Alex Young

3min: Denmark just pinging the ball around with ease, Slovenia chasing shadows until a late foot in on Hojlund pauses play.

Kick-off!

17:01 , Alex Young

1min: Here we go! Up and running in Group C!

16:56 , Alex Young

The teams are out, the national anthems are getting bellowed. Minutes away.

Not long now

16:49 , Alex Young

Kick-off is just 10 minutes away.

Denmark highlight Sesko threat

16:41 , Alex Young

Denmark are confident they are favourites to beat Slovenia today but remain wary of the threat of Benjamin Sesko.

“In this game we are favourites but we have a lot of respect for Slovenia and they have shown great results, especially against Portugal (2-0 friendly win in March) and we have to do our very best if we want to play our game,” manager Kasper Hjulmand said.

“Sesko is very fast and he has a great left foot and is a player we know and a player we’ve analysed a lot because he’s significant for Slovenia.

“Sesko is a big star and a young attacker but we are ready for him. I’m happy that we played friendly games (before the tournament) because we played against players that reminded us of him.”

‘We’ve been waiting too long’

16:32 , Alex Young

Slovenia, who have never beaten Denmark in their six meetings, have reached just their second European Championship and their first since 2000, when they finished bottom of their group with two draws and a loss.

Midfielder Timi Elsnik said: “We have been waiting too long.

“We have reached our goal by coming here, but this is not the end. The best teams in Europe play in this competition and we are among them.

“This shouldn’t be a burden to us, we shouldn’t feel too much pressure. Everyone will give their utmost, but we shouldn’t forget to enjoy these moments.”

Team news

16:16 , Alex Young

So, as expected, Benjamin Sesko starts up front for Slovenia. After much transfer talk surrounding the striker, he smartly put all that to bed before the tournament by signing a new contract with RB Leipzig.

Still, there will be plenty of eyes on him today – will be live up to the hype?

All the big names start for Denmark, which includes Manchester United pair Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund.

Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is in the centre, and former Premier League players Kasper Schmeichel and Andreas Christensen in goal and defence respectively.

Slovenia team news in full

16:03 , Alex Young

Slovenia XI: Oblak; Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic, Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko

Subs: Belec, Vekic, Balkovec, Blazic, G. Stankovic, Verbic, Lovric, Kurtic, Horvat, Vipotnik, Celar, Brekalo, Zugelj, Zeljkovic, Ilicic

Slovenia XI

16:00 , Alex Young

…and here is Slovenia!

Denmark team in full

15:57 , Alex Young

Denmark XI: Schmeichel; Andersen, Christensen, Vestergaard; Kristiansen, Hjulmand, Eriksen, Hojbjerg, Bah; Hojlund, Wind

Subs: Hermansen, Ronnow, Kjaer, Maehle, Jensen, Delaney, Skov Olsen, Dolberg, Jorgensen, Damsgaard, Norgaard, Poulsen, Dreyer, Kristensen, Bruun Larsen

Denmark XI

15:46 , Alex Young

They do! Here’s the Denmark team.

15:39 , Alex Young

Team news should be too far away. Will Manchester United’s double Danes get the nod?

15:33 , Alex Young

The atmosphere is building in Stuttgart. One fans looks less nervous than the other.

Former Denmark international Thomas Sorensen

15:29 , Alex Young

“In the first game of any major tournament you just need to make sure you don’t lose, Denmark had Slovenia in qualifying and drew 1-1 away and won 2-1 at home,” he told OLBG.

“They should be the better side and have more quality but they have some dynamic players and a star player in their goalkeeper, Jan Oblak.

“It’s going to be a tough one but I think Denmark will just shade it. I’ll be happy with a 1-0 to open up and get the three points.”

Former Slovenia international Robert Koren prediction

15:23 , Alex Young

“It’s really important that we get a good result. It always gives you some extra energy for the next games. And I would love to see our team win,” he told OLBG.

“I would say Slovenia will beat Denmark 2-1.”

Latest odds

15:15 , Alex Young

The bookies appear to agree with our prediction.

• Slovenia: 9/2

• Draw: 21/10

• Denmark: 4/7

(Odds via Betfair.)

Score prediction

15:07 , Alex Young

Slovenia have clear quality at both ends of the pitch, with Oblak and Sesko, but it is in the middle of the pitch where this game will be won.

Denmark look too good to slip up here despite their World Cup struggles.

Denmark to win, 2-1.

Predicted lineups

14:57 , Alex Young

Predicted Slovenia XI: Oblak; Karnicnik, Brekalo, Bijol, Janza; Horvat, Elsnik, Gnezda Cerin, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko

Predicted Denmark XI: Schmeichel; Andersen, Christensen, Vestergaard; Kristiansen, Hjulmand, Eriksen, Hojbjerg, Bah; Hojlund, Wind

Denmark team news

14:57 , Alex Young

Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen and Benfica’s Alexander Bah have both recovered from injuries to make the Danish squad.

Simon Kjaer will captain the team but his minutes will be managed.

Christian Eriksen should start, his first Euros game since suffering a cardiac arrest against Finland three years ago, and Manchester United team-mate Rasmus Hojlund will lead the line.

Slovenia team news

14:57 , Alex Young

Josip Ilicic has been named in the Slovenia squad for the first time since 2021 after struggling with mental health issues.

Atletico Madrid legend Jan Oblak captains the team, and he’s widely considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world still.

There are injury doubts over midfielders Benjamin Verbic and Sandi Lovric plus defenders Peta Stojanovic and Miha Blazic.

All eyes, as mentioned, on Benjamin Sesko.

Where to watch Slovenia vs Denmark

14:36 , Alex Young

TV channel: Today’s clash will be broadcast live and free-to-air in the UK on ITV1. Coverage starts at 4:10pm BST ahead of a 5pm kick-off.

Live stream: ITVX will provide a free live stream online for fans via its website and app.

Welcome

14:28 , Alex Young

Good afternoon and welcome to the Evening Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Euro 2024 clash between Slovenia and Denmark.

It’s the first game of Group C, which also includes England and Serbia – who face off hours later at 8pm this evening.

There will be plenty of eyes on Slovenia frontman Benjamin Sesko, a big transfer target this summer before he signed a new contract with RB Leipzig, who will be aiming to fire his nation to their first ever win at a Euros.

Denmark, meanwhile, reached the semi-finals three years ago but struggled at the World Cup 18 months ago. Which version will show up this summer?

Kick-off is at 5pm BST. Stick with us.