Slovenia vs Denmark Prediction: Danes to get off to a flying start

Slovenia take on Denmark in their Euro 2024 Group C opener on Sunday (17:00, ITV1, STV, ITVX, STV Player), with the match taking place inside MHPArena, home of VfB Stuttgart.

The Danes went on an incredible run to the semi-finals at Euro 2020 and they will be hoping for another fruitful campaign this time around. Below I have outlined my Slovenia vs Denmark predictions, featuring match odds and team news.

Slovenia vs Denmark Odds

Slovenia are 4/1 to pull off an upset and get off to a winning start here, which gives them a 20% chance of victory. Denmark are valued at 8/11 to take the three points, giving them an implied probability of 57.9%. The draw can be backed at 13/5 (27.8%).

Both teams to score is priced at 1/1 and over 2.5 goals is on offer at 11/10.

Slovenia's Benjamin Sesko is one of the hottest strikers in Europe and amid interest from Premier League Arsenal, he recently signed a new long-term deal with Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

He scored 16 goals in all competitions for his club this season and he found the back of the net five times for his country in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. He is marketed at 3/1 to score anytime here.

Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund was the joint-fifth top scorer in qualifying with seven goals as he awaits to make his major tournament bow with Denmark. He is 9/2 to open the scoring in Stuttgart.

Team News

Slovenia have a tough task ahead of them emerge from Group C that features former semi-finalists and finalists in Denmark and England respectively, as well as Serbia.

Their squad is not blessed with world-class stars but the closest they have is Sesko, who is their most important outfield player, and goalkeeper Jan Oblak. The Atletico Madrid shot-stopper was the best in the world at one stage for a couple of years and he will be a huge asset for Slovenia in their first appearance at the Euros finals since 2000.

Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand will be eager to match the Euros journey his side went on three years ago and his side is filled with many of the players who were on that rollercoaster with him, so there is plenty of experience within their ranks.

Hojlund is the man to lead the line after his returns in qualifying and he is likely to be supported by Brentford's Mikkel Damsgaard, who was a bright spark at Euro 2020, and Anders Dreyer.

However, he could be deployed in a two-man strike partnership with Jonas Wind. Christian Eriksen returns to the Euros stage three years after his terrifying ordeal which saw him suffer a cardiac arrest. He is likely to make up a midfield with fellow Premier League stars Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Christian Norgaard.

Joakim Maehle was another Dane who made a good impression at the last Euros and he could be used as a wing-back once again.

Both teams to score - Yes @ 1/1

I think 1/1 is a good price for both teams to score here because both teams are blessed with impressive young strikers. Hojlund and Sesko scored 12 goals between them in qualifying and both will have huge roles to play for their nations in Germany.

In Denmark's most recent friendlies, BTTS landed in two out of the three against Scandinavian neighbours Sweden and Norway. It was also a winning selection in Slovenia's last two friendlies against Bulgaria and Armenia.

Rasmus Hojlund anytime goalscorer @ 13/8

If I had to back one of the two young front men to score here it has to be Hojlund. He's surrounded by a higher calibre of players who have valuable Euros experience from their semi-final run in 2021.

His returns in qualifying were impressive and I expect that the 21-year-old can have a breakthrough on the international stage this summer. This game should see an intense attacking display from Denmark given the talent within their ranks, and there is a lot of quality to be deployed alongside Hojlund so he shouldn't be short of service.

The forward heads into the Euros with confidence and he knows that grabbing his first goal early will help him settle into the tournament. Slovenia's defence are going to be in for a tough afternoon in trying to keep him quiet, although the experienced Oblak will believe that he is more than up to the challenge.

Unfortunately for him and his side, I can see Hojlund getting several opportunities to score in this clash and I think that he is more than capable of putting at least one of them away.

Denmark to win 3-1 @ 14/1

If I had to call this one, I'd go for 3-1 Denmark. Their squad is superior to their opponents and their recent experiences in major tournaments will play an important role in this opening fixture.

There is more than enough firepower in their ranks to have a profitable afternoon in front of goal with the likes of Hojlund, Wind, Yussuf Poulsen etc. I do see Slovenia scoring, however, as Denmark's defence is by no means one of the best heading to the Euros. And the only person I can see scoring for Slovenia id of course Sesko, who could benefit from netting in the first match of the tournament.

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Betfred are running their famed Double Delight & Hat-trick Heaven offer on this match, meaning that if a player scores first and then nets again, you will be paid at double the odds. If he grabs a hat-trick, you will be paid at treble the odds!

You can read all our latest Euro 2024 Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.