Filip Kostic's Euro 2024 Continuation In Doubt After Injury Against England

Serbia's wing-back Filip Kostic is feared to have sustained ligament damage during his team's 1-0 defeat to England at Euro 2024, as revealed by coach Dragan Stojkovic. England secured a winning start to their Group C campaign on Sunday, with Jude Bellingham's early header deciding the closely contested match in Gelsenkirchen.

The incident that led to Kostic's injury involved a challenge with Bellingham. The Juventus player required treatment after falling awkwardly and was substituted after 43 minutes. Serbia now faces Slovenia and Denmark in their remaining group-stage games, but Kostic's participation is in serious doubt, potentially sidelining him for an extended period.

"Kostic felt a strong pain in the outside part of his left knee, and we fear that he could have ligament damage," Stojkovic stated at his post-match press conference. "He will undergo medical tests on Monday; let's hope it's not as bad as it looks."

Despite the narrow loss, Serbia's coach expressed pride in his team's performance. England limited Serbia to just six shots, with only one on target, resulting in an expected goals (xG) tally of 0.18. However, Stojkovic believed his team deserved more from the match.

"We managed to corner the English team, and I think we didn't deserve to lose," Stojkovic said. "I told my players I was proud of their performance and everything but the result. Now all we can do is rest and prepare for what is probably the most important match of the group stage against Slovenia."

Serbia 0-1 England

It wasn't pretty, but a win is a win in tournament football. Three points for England.

Denmark up next.

#EURO2024 | #SRBENG pic.twitter.com/QcPc4p8Vo9

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) June 16, 2024

Serbia's upcoming matches against Slovenia and Denmark are crucial for their progression in Euro 2024. With Kostic's potential absence, the team faces additional challenges in securing points from these fixtures.

Stojkovic emphasized the importance of rest and preparation for the next game against Slovenia, which he considers pivotal for their group-stage campaign. The team's ability to adapt and overcome Kostic's absence will be critical in their quest for success in the tournament.