England at Euro 2024: Fixtures, last 16 opponents and route to final
England play Slovenia today in their final Euro 2024 Group C game knowing that victory means they will top the group.
So far in Germany, England narrowly beat Serbia 1-0 in their opening match, thanks to Jude Bellingham’s early header, and then drew with Denmark, with a performance that drew plenty of criticism.
Are England through to the knock-out rounds?
England have already qualified for the last 16 regardless of their match tonight, because Spain beat Albania 1-0 on Monday. This ensured England would, at least, be one of the four best third-placed teams to progress to the knockouts, although fans will be hoping that they are ideally able to finish top of Group C for a smoother passage through the tournament.
What is the tournament format?
The top two teams from each of the six groups of four will qualify for the round of 16, along with the four best third-placed teams. The tournament will then follow a one-leg knockout format until the champion is crowned in the European Championship final.
Who will England play in the round of 16?
If England win Group C, they will play one of the four best third-placed teams in their next match.
June 30 (Round of 16): vs third-place team, 5pm
July 6 (Quarter-final): vs Switzerland or Italy, 5pm
July 10 (Semi-final): 8pm
July 14 (Final): 8pm
England are increasingly likely to face the Netherlands in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday. Austria’s win over the Dutch consigned them to third place in Group D, significantly boosting the chances of Gareth Southgate’s side playing them if the Three Lions beat Slovenia. That is because Croatia are almost certain to be eliminated after finishing Group B in third on two points. The winners of Group C were always going to play one of the third-placed teams from Group D, E or F, with only four of the six nations who end up in that position qualifying for the last-16.
England could still face any of the sides in Group E, who are all locked on three points after winning one and losing one of their first two matches. They are Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine. They could also face one of Turkey, Czech Republic or Georgia from Group F. However, there is every chance that group will end with the latter two nations being eliminated on one point each. If Croatia also go out on two points, England would definitely play the Netherlands in the last 16. The same would apply if the Croatians go home along with whoever finishes third in Group E.
If England finish second in group C, they will play Germany in their next match.
June 29 (Round of 16): vs Germany, 8pm
July 5 (Quarter-final): vs Spain or a third-placed team, 5pm
July 9 (Semi-final): 8pm
July 14 (Final): 8pm
Simple. England will play Germany, who won Group A, in Dortmund on Saturday. Worryingly, the Three Lions have never beaten a major football nation in a knockout tie away from Wembley in their entire history. Those countries include Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina, France, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. They beat the Germans in the last-16 at Euro 2020 – but that was at Wembley.
If England go through as one of the best third-placed teams, their next opponenents will be confirmed on Wednesday.
Route 1: R16 on July 1, QF on July 5, SF on July 9, Final on July 14
Route 2: R16 on July 2, QF on July 6, SF on July 10, Final on July 14
There is a two in three chance England will play the winners of Group E, who could be any one of Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine. There is a one in three chance they will play Portugal, who have already won Group F.
Full Euro 2024 fixtures and results
England’s potential routes to Euro 2024 final
By Oliver Blair
Possible route if England win their group:
Round of 16: Slovakia
Quarter-final: Italy
Semi-final: France
Final: Portugal/Germany
Victory against Slovenia tonight will see England progress as winners of Group C. In that case, a contest with Slovakia in the round of 16 becomes the most likely for England. However, this is only one of the many unpredictable permutations of third-place qualification.
Slovakia had an impressive qualification campaign, recording 22 points and seven wins, and took this form into their opening match at this year’s Euros. They pulled off a shock upset against an ageing Belgium side, surviving an onslaught of chances from Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, who had two goals disallowed by Var.
England should have the quality to edge this one, although as we have seen, good players do not always create a cohesive team.
England would go on to face the winner from the match between the runners up of Group A and Group B, so Switzerland and Italy.
The reigning champions will surely be favourites against Switzerland in the round of 16, and a win would see them go on to face England in the quarter-finals.
Although Italy are reigning champions, they are far from a vintage Italian side and England may possess enough attacking talent to right the wrongs of the last final.
The semi-finals are where England are likely to face their stiffest test of the tournament. Standing in the way of England’s route to the final, France are the ultimate challenge off the back of their near-miss in Qatar and with the world’s best player Kylian Mbappe in their ranks - provided his broken nose holds up. However, having come so close to defeating France at the World Cup, there is every reason to feel confident that England can be victorious.
If England are to reach the final, the favourite to rise out of the opposing side of the draw will be Portugal. They will need to answer the somewhat important question during the tournament – will Cristiano Ronaldo continue to start? But if they are able to avoid the drama that seems to trail their talisman, their immense talent and relatively easy group should set them on a path to the finals. The hosts should represent the toughest challenge for Roberto Martínez’s side, but Germany’s defence, which is yet to be properly tested, may prove incapable of keeping out some of the world’s most exciting, and mercurial, attacking talent.
After beating France, England would go in with all expectations of defeating Portugal and ending all those years of hurt.
Possible route if England finish second in their group:
Round of 16: Germany
Quarter-final: Spain
Semi-final: Portugal
Final: France
If England continue their malaise and are unable to top their group, qualifying in second place would swing them onto the other side of the bracket, where Germany would await them. The hosts will be confident of going far in the tournament, cheered on by some of the best fans in world football. England have the quality to beat them, but facing the hosts will be a more daunting challenge than the alternative path that winning their group would provide.
Victory against Germany would likely see England face the winner of Group B in the semi-finals, so Spain. Luis de la Fuente’s patient possession-based style might prove challenging to break up for England.
If England overcome that to reach the semi-finals on this side of the bracket, Portugal will stand in their way before a finals tie against France.
Possible route if England qualify from third place:
Qualifying as one of the best third-place finishers could see a variety of matchups take place for England. Who England faces will totally depend on who the other three teams that go through in third with Croatia, Czech Republic and Hungary all possible contenders.
How do I buy England tickets?
Fans can apply for tickets for any team via the Uefa Euro 2024 ticket portal.
What are England’s odds to win Euro 2024?
England: 4/1
Germany: 9/2
Spain: 9/2
France: 5/1
Portugal: 6/1
Italy: 18/1
Netherlands: 14/1
Take a look at these Euro 2024 betting offers and free bets
