England U21 face Slovenia U21 on 15 June 2025 in their opening Group B fixture at the UEFA U21 European Championship. Kick-off is scheduled for 17:00 BST in the UK and 18:00 CEST across Italy, Germany, France, and Spain.
This match will set the tone for both sides as they look to build momentum in a group that also features the Czech Republic. England enter as clear favourites, while Slovenia will aim to pull off an early shock in what promises to be a tightly contested encounter.
How are both teams coming into this?
England U21 have been in excellent form, winning 8 of their last 10 games, with just one loss and one draw. That consistency has reinforced their status as one of the pre-tournament favourites in Group B alongside previous champions Czech Republic.
Slovenia U21 are the underdogs in this tie but will arrive full of confidence after a disciplined qualifying campaign. Their defensive organisation and ability to strike quickly on the break could cause problems if England underestimate their opponents.
Our forecast
We expect England U21 to dominate possession and carve out numerous chances. Their blend of technical quality and attacking intent should be too much for Slovenia, who will likely defend in numbers and look to exploit any counter-attacking openings.
Our forecast is an England win by 2-0. For a more conservative option, consider backing Under 2.5 goals or an England clean sheet, as Slovenia may struggle to breach England’s well-organised back line.
