Draw opens up - England's path through the knockouts

3 months ago 14

Photo of England manager Gareth Southgate smilingImage source, Getty Images

Image caption,

England won Group C despite being held to a 0-0 draw by Slovenia on Tuesday

England have topped Group C at Euro 2024 - and results elsewhere have handed Gareth Southgate's side a path through the knockouts which avoids many of the major teams.

Spain, Germany, Portugal and France are all on the other side of the draw and England cannot play any of the quartet before the final.

The Three Lions failed to beat Slovenia on Tuesday, but won the group despite their 0-0 draw as Serbia and Denmark also played out a goalless stalemate.

They've topped the group, but now need to win three knock-out games - the last-16, quarter-final and semi-final to try and earn a place in the final in Berlin on 14 July.

BBC Sport takes a look at the path that England could take for the rest of the tournament.

Who could England play in the last 16?

By winning the group, England have avoided a last-16 game against Germany and will instead face the Netherlands or whoever finishes third in Group E at 17:00 BST on Sunday, in Gelsenkirchen.

As it stands, Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine are all locked on three points each in Group E so it could yet end up being any one of those four.

Confusingly, however, it's actually the results in Group F on Wednesday which will decide who the Three Lions face next. Stay with us for the next bit.

Southgate's men will face the Dutch, who finished third in Group D, unless the Czech Republic beat Turkey or Georgia are victorious against Portugal in Group F.

That's because Turkey, Czech Republic and Georgia can all finish third in Group F - and, if they do so while ending up with three points or more, they would take Hungary's place in the third-placed standings.

The knock-on impact of that will leave England with a tie against someone in Group E.

Data Analysts Nielsen Gracenote have the likelihood of England's opponents as:

  • 61% Netherlands

  • 16% Slovakia

  • 11% Ukraine

  • 8% Romania

  • 4% Belgium

Who could England play in the quarter-finals?

Thankfully, it's easier to work out who England could play in the quarters – and a potential repeat of the Euro 2020 final is on the cards.

They will take on the winner of Switzerland's game against Italy, who beat England on penalties at Wembley to win the last European Championship.

A last-eight tie would take place on Saturday, 6 July, in Dusseldorf (20:00 BST).

Who could England play in the semi-finals?

England have avoided a possible semi-final against France and instead find Group D winners Austria on their side of the draw.

Group E's winner, the runner-up of Group F and one of Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia and the Netherlands are the other potential opponents.

Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine are all currently on three points in Group E, while Turkey are currently second in Group F.

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