Who England could play in the Euro 2024 knockout stages

The 2024 European Championships are right around the corner and once again, the hopes of bringing football home is on the mind of everyone up and down the nation.

Gareth Southgate's side will be wary of more than one opponent this time around despite being the pre-tournament favourites, with France, Portugal, Spain, Italy and hosts Germany all threats to the dream of breaking the 58-year wait for a major men's tournament trophy lift.

The Three Lions boss is entering what is likely to be his final major tournament with the national team and selected his final 26-man squad last week, giving major tournament debuts to the likes of Cole Palmer, Kobbie Mainoo, Adam Wharton and Ollie Watkins.

Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling and James Maddison were all excluded while Manchester United defender Harry Maguire was forced to be left out of the squad due to a calf injury.

With all that said, here's everything you need to know about who England could possibly play in the knockout stages (provided they qualify - we don't want a repeat of the 2014 World Cup)…

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Round of 16 stage

If England top their group, they'll be drawn to play one of the four best third-place teams from the group stage. Of all the opponents they could face, the three most likely would be Austria from Group D, Romania from Group E or Turkey from Group F.

However, if the Three Lions were to exit Group C in second place, they'd have to face the winner of Group A. Their list of possible teams to face would be one of Germany, Hungary, Scotland or Switzerland but would likely produce another last 16 clash against historic rivals Germany - a fixture that we've seen fives times at major tournaments since the 1990 World Cup semi-final clash.

It could also see Scotland face England in what would be another epic chapter in international football's oldest rivalry. With the Scots having beaten England just once since 1985, it'd be a chance for ultimate victory before their quarter-final matchup.

The Three Lions could still make the last 16 even if they finish third in their group, but it would mean playing against either Portugal from Group F or Belgium from Group E, those two group's most likely winners.

Quarter-final stage

With the Three Lions having topped their group and won their Round of 16 clash, this is where the tournament will truly start to ramp up. A potential rematch of the Euro 2021 final against Italy will give the Three Lions the perfect recipe for revenge over the Azzurri but only if they top Group B over another potential quarter-final opponent Spain.

If a Round of 16 upset was to occur in this scenario, one of Hungary, Croatia or Scotland could also be their last eight opponents.

England finishing second in Group C would see Italy still be the most likely outcome for a quarter-final clash alongside Spain with the latter being one of the pre-tournament favourites to go all the way this year, while France would be a surprise quarter-final opponent, but only in the unlikely event that England finish third in their group.

Semi-final stage

Of course, any team could make it this far - it's a major international tournament after all and there's always upsets. Morocco in the 2022 World Cup, South Korea and Turkey in 2002,

England are likeliest though to face any of the pre-tournament favourites at this stage. Certain scenarios see them facing any of Belgium, France, Portugal, the Netherlands or Germany in the final four with a spot in the final on the line.