England remain among the favourites to win Euro 2024 heading into the knockout stages despite an unconvincing string of displays in the group stage in Germany.
Gareth Southgate’s side beat Serbia 1-0 in their opening match and then drew 1-1 with Denmark before labouring to a 0-0 draw against Slovenia on Tuesday night.
Two draws and three drab displays has made for unhappy supporters, but somehow it was enough to top Group C ahead of Denmark and Slovenia, who also progressed to the round of 16.
Nevertheless, despite the negativity – England were booed off against Slovenia with cups thrown at Southgate by supporters – the Three Lions must now focus on the task in hand, where three wins would take them to the final in Berlin on 14 July.
It looks a tall order, but not out of the question, so let’s see who they are playing in the round of 16 and analyse their potential path to the final from there…
Who England play in the last 16 of Euro 2024
After topping their group, England will play Slovakia in the round of 16 at Euro 2024, with the match taking place at 5pm on Sunday 30 June.
A meeting with the Netherlands had looked likely for England, but a shock win for Georgia over Portugal on Wednesday night changed the make-up of the third-placed teams who advanced to the knockout stages.
Georgia’s win, in their first-ever European Championships, meant they were among the four teams that finished third and reached the last 16, likewise England’s opponents Slovakia, plus the Netherlands and Slovenia.
Slovakia finished behind Romania and Belgium in Group E, and ahead of Ukraine, although remarkably all four teams finished on four points.
For their part, Slovakia beat Belgium 1-0, and then lost to Ukraine 2-1 before drawing with Romania 1-1.
England’s warning, therefore, will come from that Belgium game in particular. Slovakia will be no walkover on Sunday.
Euro 2024 last 16 draw in full
- Spain vs Georgia: 8pm Sun 30 Jun
- Germany vs Denmark: 8pm Sat 29 Jun
- Portugal vs Slovenia: 8pm Mon 1 Jul
- France vs Belgium: 5pm Mon 1 Jul
- Romania vs Netherlands: 5pm Tue 2 Jul
- Austria vs Turkey: 8pm Tue 2 Jul
- England vs Slovakia: 5pm Sun 30 Jun
- Switzerland vs Italy: 5pm Sat 29 Jun
England’s potential path to the Euro 2024 final
If England beat Slovakia and advance to the quarter-finals, they would face either Italy or Switzerland in the last eight on Saturday 6 July.
Italy finished second in their group behind Spain on four points, while Switzerland were second in Group A behind Germany.
The positive for England, should they progress even further, is that France – their 2022 World Cup conquerors – no longer potentially await in the semi-finals, having failed to top their own group.
France are now in the same half as Germany, Portugal, Belgium and Spain going into the knockouts, meaning all five of those nations could await England should Southgate’s side make the final.
Therefore, if England reach the last four, they are set to face one of Austria, Netherlands, Romania or Turkey on Wednesday 10 July.
Key dates of the Euro 2024 knockout stage
All times in BST
- Last 16: 29 June to 2 July (England game: 30 June, 5pm)
- Quarter-finals: 5-6 July (potential England game: 6 July, 5pm)
- Semi-finals: 9-10 July (potential England game: 10 July, 8pm)
- Final: 14 July, 8pm
