Slovenia 0-0 Serbia – Euro 2024: Live score, team news and updates as England’s Group C rivals face off as Aleksandar Mitrovic starts up front for Serbs – who threatened to boycott tournament

A dart down the wing for Benjamin Sesko, Slovenia’s highly rated forward.

The 21-year-old shows his pace to get around Nikola Milenkovic but across comes Milos Veljkovic.

Sesko signed a new contract at RB Leipzig earlier this month, despite interest from the likes of Arsenal.

You sense he will have suitors for a while to come.

Serbia are yet to really get going here. Although they did grow into the match against England.

A searching ball forward looks to pick out the run of Dusan Vlahovic down the centre.

That’s an easy one for Slovenia’s skipper Jan Oblak to come out and gather.

Some extremely cool defender from Milos Veljkovic under pressure.

The Serbian centre back holds off his man and guides the ball back to Rajkovic to claim.

Think he might have wanted his goalkeeper’s help earlier there…

Another opening for Slovenia, who have made a bright start in Munich.

Jan Mlakar gets in behind the Serbian defence and sees his low shot blocked by the feet of Rajkovic.

Slovenia make a mess of the resulting corner.

The first shot goes the way of Slovenia as they seize on more loose passes from Serbia.

Adam Cerin drills a low shot goalwards but straight into the gloves of Predrag Rajkovic.

A straightforward one for the Serbia goalkeeper.

A nervy moment for Strahinja Pavlovic early on as the Serbia centre back takes his eye off the ball and gives up possession.

The Serbia defender recovers well.

A loose Slovenian pass goes out of play not long after.

Early nerves from both sides?

Off we go in Munich.

Can the 2pm kick off deliver again at Euro 2024?

Let’s hope so.

A passionate rendition of both national anthems.

Dusan Tadic a standout in the Serbian line, while Slovenia’s players were seen placing a hand on their heart.

Time to get the action underway.

Should be an open game with both teams really needing a win here you feel.

Well, that’s if they want to stay in the tournament…

High fives from Serbia’s players as they make their way down the tunnel where Slovenia are already waiting for them.

Here come the two sides.

Time to remind you of those starting line-ups.

Serbia: Rajkovic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, Lukic, Ilic, Mladenovic; Tadic; Mitrovic, Vlahovic

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

Speaking of the atmosphere.

A battle between the two sets of supporters after ‘Freed from Desire’ was played in the stadium.

The Serbian variation of ‘Mitro’s on Fire’ was countered by ‘Sesko’s on Fire’ from the Slovenian fans.

Which forward will come out on top on the pitch?

I am always staggered by Mitrovic’s record at international level, with the former Fulham star having scored 58 in 92 for Serbia.

Sesko has 11 goals in 30 games for Slovenia.

Mail Sport’s Riath Al-Samarrai at the Allianz Arena

Quite some atmosphere at the Allianz Arena. Novak Djokovic has just delivered a messaged via one of the giant screens and the Serbians are going nuts.

Had a fun moment on my way into the ground. There was a Serbian fella, well on his way to a three-day hangover, staggering over the rail bridge when he stumbled into a lamppost before rebounding back into a mass of other Serbian fans. He apologised to the lamppost.

If his team do withdraw from the Euros in line with their threat, I can’t be sure he’d even notice.

This Slovenia fan certainly has got in the spirit with an inflatable version of the European Championship trophy.

It would certainly be a shock if Slovenia are lifting the trophy on July 14 in Berlin.

One step at a time though.

Slovenia’s fans will understandbly feel optimistic after their draw against Denmark.

With Benjamin Sesko in attack, Slovenia will fancy getting something against Serbia today.

Slovenia’s team news is more straightforward.

Matjaz Kek has named the same team that earned a 1-1 draw against Denmark on Sunday.

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

Dragan Stojkovic has made three changes to his starting line-up from loss to England.

Captain Dusan Tadic, as expected, starts after coming off the bench against England.

Tadic replaces Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, with the playmkaker looking to supply Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic in attack.

Filip Mladenovic comes in for Filip Kostic, who is out of Euro 2024 through injury, while Ivan Ilic replaces Nemanja Gudelj.

Serbia: Rajkovic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, Lukic, Ilic, Mladenovic; Tadic; Mitrovic, Vlahovic

Well, I can safely report that Serbia look to be taking the pitch in just under an hour for the match against Slovenia.

One wonders whether the Serbia FA threat will act as an unwelcome distraction for Dragan Stojkovic’s side heading into this match.

Following the loss to England, another defeat today could render the quit threat meaningless as Serbia’s last-16 hopes would be effectively extinguished.

Team news on the way…

Worth mentioning in relation to the Serbian FA’s threat that both Albania and Serbia are facing UEFA charges Euro 2024.

UEFA charged the Serbian FA with two offences following their defeat by England on Sunday – the throwing of objects and the transmitting of a provocative message ‘unfit for a sports event’.

The latter is understood to relate to the displaying of a flag linked to a paramilitary movement that was engaged in ethnic cleansing during the Yugoslav wars.

The governing body also launched an investigation into claims monkey noises were aimed at England players during the clash. An inspector has been appointed to carry out a disciplinary probe ‘regarding alleged discriminatory behaviour’, though, a resolution is not expected until after the group stages.

Albania have been charged for incidents during their match with Italy. A pitch invader halted the game in the dying moments of the game and that incident comprises one of the charges.

The charges were for the ‘throwing of objects’, ‘lighting of fireworks’, ‘invasion of the field of play’, and ‘transmitting a provocative message unfit for a sports event’.

Today’s big news is that the Serbian FA have made the astonishing threat that they could quit Euro 2024.

The Serbian FA are demanding UEFA impose strict punishments on Croatia and Albania following offensive chants during their 2-2 draw in Hamburg on Wednesday.

Both sets of supporters could be heard shouting ‘Kill the Serbs’ during their clash.

‘What happened is scandalous and we will ask UEFA for sanctions, even at the cost of not continuing the competition,’ Serbian FA General Secretary Jovan Surbatovic said.

‘We will request UEFA to punish the federations of both selections. We don’t want to participate in that, but if UEFA doesn’t punish them, we will think about how to proceed.

‘We were punished for the cases of fishing and our fans behaved much better than the others. One fan was fined for racist abuse and we don’t want it to be attributed to others. We Serbs are gentlemen and we have an open heart, so I appeal to the fans to remain gentlemen.’

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Welcome to Mail Sport’s live blog for this afternoon’s Group C clash between Slovenia and Serbia.

Neither side were able to win their opening match with Slovenia drawing against Denmark, while Serbia suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to England.

Both sides could really do with a victory in Munich this afternoon to boost their chances of reaching the knock-out stage.

The build-up to this match has been overshadowed somewhat by events off the pitch.

More on that in a moment…