England vs Serbia: Euro 2024 kick-off time, TV details and how to watch Three Lions' opener

Euro 2024 is almost underway as host nation Germany kick things off against Scotland in Munich this evening with England having to wait a few days until their campaign gets underway.

The Three Lions will begin their European Championships venture against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday night with Denmark and Slovenia the other opponents in Group C.

It's up for debate whether Sunday's game or next Thursday's meeting with Denmark, whom England beat 2-1 in the semi-finals of Euro 2020, will prove to be Gareth Southgate's side's toughest fixture of the group stage with Slovenia not expected to progress into the knockout stages. Who knows though? There's always a surprise package or two.

Southgate has admitted that this could well be his final tournament in charge of England if he doesn't guide them to glory as the nation waits to see if this is finally the year that ends a 58-year wait for silverware and there's certainly a new look about the 26-man squad he's named.

Regulars such as Harry Kane, Jordan Pickford, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier are all expected to be crucial for the Three Lions out in Germany but there are plenty of new faces too, such as Kobbie Mainoo, Anthony Gordon, Jarrod Bowen and Adam Wharton.

With who plays in defence the biggest talking point ahead of England's opener with Harry Maguire missing out on the final squad due to injury, it's going to be a familiar task for whoever slots in at the back with Serbia boasting former Fulham and Newcastle United forward Aleksander Mitrovic in attack.

Being many's pre-tournament favourites to win the Euros, England are expected to breeze through their group with no trouble and that all starts on Sunday. But how can fans who haven't made the trip out to Gelsenkirchen watch? Here's everything you need to know...

Venue and kick-off time

The Serbia clash takes place at Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen and kicks off at 8pm (UK time).

How to watch

The match will be shown on BBC One, and can be streamed via the BBC iPlayer. Coverage begins from 7pm.

BBC Radio 5Live are also broadcasting from Germany which can be listened to online via the BBC website or BBC Sounds app.

Team news

After missing training earlier this week due to illness, centre-back John Stones is now expected to be able to start against Serbia but there are doubts regarding the likeliness of the Manchester City defender being able to play a full 90 minutes having played one full match in the last three months. Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi is expected to be the man that slots in alongside Stones in Harry Maguire's absence.

Gareth Southgate also has a decision to make in midfield as to who partners Declan Rice with Jude Bellingham expected to play further forward. Currently, the favourite to slot in is Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, although the 25-year-old is predominantly a right-back but Conor Gallagher, Adam Wharton and Kobbie Mainoo are all fit.

Luke Shaw is also training after narrowly making the squad in time having been injured for Manchester United but isn't expected to play a role in this game.

Form guide and how they got here

England's breezed through qualifying, finishing top of Group C with six wins and two draws ahead of Italy and Ukraine who qualified as well as North Macedonia and Malta. Two victories over Italy after losing to the Azzurri on penalties in the Euro 2020 final were particularly sweet.

Serbia finished runners up in Group G to Hungary but qualified ahead of Montenegro, Lithuania and Bulgaria with four wins, two draws and two defeats.

Likely line-ups

England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Alexander-Arnold, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane

Serbia: V Milinkovic-Savic; Milenkovic, Veljkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, S Milinkovic-Savic, Lukic, Kostic; Tadic; Mitrovic, Vlahovic

Officials

Italian Daniele Orsato will be the referee on Sunday night with the 48-year-old set to retire after Euro 2024. He was the man in the middle for the Champions League semi-final second leg between Paris Saint-German and Borussia Dortmund. The Italian also officiated the 2020 Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

Referee: Daniele Orsato (ITA)

Assistant Referees: Ciro Carbone (ITA) and Alessandro Giallatini (ITA)

Video Assistant Referee: Massimiliano Irrati (ITA)

Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: Paolo Valeri (ITA)

Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2: Catalin Popa (ROU)

Fourth official: Ivan Kruzliak (SVK)