While England are assured of a place in the knockout round of Euro 2024 and can finish no lower than third in their group, they need to make their presence felt at a tournament that has seen optimism around them wither after two lacklustre games.
England need to avoid defeat in Cologne to guarantee progress and will definitely top the group with a win. Slovenia will go through to the last 16 if they win.
Supporters and pundits have levelled scathing criticism at Gareth Southgate's England side after their 1-0 win over Serbia and anxious 1-1 draw with Denmark that saw fans boo them off the pitch before the players beat a hasty exit from Frankfurt Arena.
Southgate had some concerning post-game comments, pointing to the players' conditioning after long and gruellingly seasons.
"We are not pressing well enough, with enough intensity," he said. "We have limitations in how we can do that with the physical condition.
"We cannot press as high up the pitch as we might have done in the qualifiers, for example," he added.
"And not keeping the ball well enough. It's as simple as that. We have to keep the ball better and build with more control. Then we will be defending less and we'll have more confidence."
The biggest questions are around what changes Southgate will make after he went with the same line-up in both games for the first time in 16 matches.
"We felt the right thing to do against Denmark was to give confidence to the players we picked in the first game," he said. "We had won the previous game."
Southgate took off Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is struggling out of position in midfield, early in the second half against Denmark, and forwards Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden followed some 15 minutes later.
Kane hit back at former England players - Gary Lineker, Rio Ferdinand and Alan Shearer, among others - for their scathing criticism of the team's performances at Euro 2024, saying they should remember how difficult it is to play for their country.
"I always feel like they have a responsibility," the England captain said on Sunday.
"I know they have got to be honest and give their opinion but also they have a responsibility of being an ex-England player that a lot of players look up to, that people do listen to them and people do care what they say."
Kane acknowledged that his performance so far at Euro 2024 has not been up to his own high standards, but he insisted he is fit amid speculation he may be having back problems.
"Have I played the best that I know I can? No," Kane told reporters. "But I didn't score in the group stage of the (2022) World Cup or the group stage in (Euro 2020), so from my point of view, it's a bonus to be one goal ahead.
"I always judge myself first and of course I know I can play better ... (but) I don't panic, don't get too high or too low.
"We haven't played the way we wanted to play," he said. "Tuesday is important for the feeling of the group, we want to finish top and take the momentum into the knockout stages and just all round have a better feeling coming off the pitch and take that into the rest of the tournament."
He denied a report of a player-only meeting after the Denmark game, saying the team held a short debrief with manager Gareth Southgate and then had a family day.
"We had seven hours with the family, which I'm not sure all the lads were quite happy about after a few hours," he said with a laugh. "We might cut that down in the future, but that's what it was. It was an important day just to switch the minds off."
Slovenia were heading for their first victory at a European Championship when Serbia's Luka Jovic equalised seconds before the final whistle to snatch a 1-1 draw.
"We have proven that we deserve to be at Euro 2024," Slovenia manager Matjaz Kek said. "Football can be really cruel. But I am convinced that this team will get its satisfaction."
England's defence could have their hands full coping with Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko, who has drawn comparisons to Manchester City's towering forward Erling Haaland.
"(England) know we have played two great games, they are not at their best, they're still great of course, but I think now is the best opportunity to play against them and show them the best we can," said Sesko, who turned down reported interest from Arsenal among other top clubs to extend his say with Leipzig.
"In every single position they have amazing players," he added. "And what's more exciting is that we have a great team and we can show our skills against them. I know we can surprise them. I am sure we are going to shine."
In team news, Luke Shaw returned to England training as all 26 players took part in a session on the eve of the Euro 2024 clash with Slovenia.
Gareth Southgate's side sit on four points following their opening two fixtures and face Slovenia in Cologne aiming to secure top spot in Group C.
Shaw has not been in action since suffering a hamstring injury playing for Manchester United in February but was a surprise inclusion in Southgate's squad for the finals.
Denmark head into their final Euro 2024 group match full of confidence knowing that victory will propel them into the knockout round, while Serbia hope to build on a last-gasp draw against Slovenia that kept their tournament hopes alive.
The Danes have had success under Kasper Hjulmand, making the Euro 2020 semi-finals and playing eye-catching football, including in the 1-1 draw with England after they fought back to level and showed a tenacity their opponents failed to match.
"I'm not disappointed with the result but it was clear that there was more to this match," Hjulmand said. "We play as Denmark should play. This is how we are. We play with both fire and passion."
That result left Denmark second in Group C on two points, two behind leaders England, who play third-placed Slovenia in their final game, and one ahead of bottom side Serbia who they face at the Munich Football Arena.
Denmark will progress if they beat Serbia but they would go out if they lose and Slovenia do not. If the Danes and Slovenia both draw, they be split for second and third place via overall goal difference and then other factors.
The Danes will look to the Manchester United duo of Rasmus Hojlund and Christian Eriksen, who netted in the opening 1-1 draw with Slovenia three years after he suffered a cardiac arrest playing at the last tournament
The team have got a boost from the tens of thousands of Danes who have streamed across the border into Germany but Serbia will also have a strong contingent cheering them on.
More important for Serbia is rediscovering the quality they displayed during the second half against England and one or two attacking moments versus Slovenia in a side full of quality individual players.
A team with the likes of Luka Jovic, who came off the bench to score the last-gasp equaliser against Slovenia and is one of 13 players in the squad from clubs in England, Germany, Italy or Spain, have not come close to their pre-tournament billing.
Serbia can, however, qualify for the next round if they beat Denmark and Slovenia do not win against England. Serbia will be out if they lose or if they draw and Slovenia do not lose.
Serbia manager Dragan Stojkovic recalled captain Dusan Tadic to the starting line-up against Slovenia, having used him in the second half versus England, in a bid to add some bite to the attack, a tactic he suggested would be repeated for the Danes.
"It is important that we secured that draw, even though the starting line-up shows that our idea was to win and to score goals – to play attractive, attacking football" he said.
Serbia may have their backs against the wall but are confident of the win they require, said midfielder Veljko Birmancevic.
"We have no options for comfort, we have reached the wall," Stojkovic said in a press conference at the team's training base in Augsburg. "There is no going back and we can only go forward. If you want to move forward, you have to win.
"Everyone is ready to give 100%. We learned a lot from these two games, we are ready to give everything for Serbia and for the fans who came to support us," Birmancevic, who has made two substitute appearances in the tournament, said.
"You can never go for a point in life. In life you always have to look to win. Winners go for victory. When you calculate in life you will always lose," the Sparta Prague player said.
"I don't think there's a player who does not think that we should make a step forward to pass the group stage.
"Against Slovenia it could have been 2-0 or 3-0. Now we have to show our character but since I know what kind of group we are, I believe we can do it."
Meanwhile, Denmark's Thomas Delaney is struggling to break into his side's starting midfield at Euro 2024 but the combative 32-year-old is still full of praise for Morten Hjulmand, who has taken his spot in the team.
Delaney, a regular starter until he limped out of the 2022 World Cup after injuring himself against Tunisia, is known for his combative approach in midfield, but injuries and ailments have allowed Hjulmand to take over his spot.
"He is a player after my own heart. He is great to watch and does many of the things I like to see. I'm impressed by that," Delaney told reporters at the Danish camp, adding that sparks have flown between the two in training.
"I like that, even though we had a huge discussion about a tackle on one of the first days we were together - there has to be some fire when we are together for a long time, and Morten certainly brings that," Delaney said.
With a midfield anchored by Hjulmand and Pierre-Emil Hojbjerg and playmaker Christian Eriksen just in front, Delaney knows that it will be tough to break into the side, especially with Hjulmand in the way, but he is taking it all with his customary good humour.
"Yes, it's annoying, but Christian Eriksen is also annoying! At the same time, I also want us to win, so we need good players and sharp competition, it has been that way in the midfield for a long time, and it will probably only get bigger in the future," said Delaney.
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