England learned who they will play in the Euro 2024 last 16 as the tournament’s group stage concluded.
Gareth Southgate’s men will face Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday evening (June 30), avoiding the Netherlands thanks to Georgia’s shock 2-0 win over Portugal.
If Georgia had failed to win it would have meant a meeting with Ronald Koeman’s men instead. Slovakia finished third in Group E thanks to a shock victory over Belgium and a draw this afternoon (Wednesday, June 26) against Romania.
READ MORE: England fan who fell asleep during Slovenia snoozefest dreamed Three Lions win Euro 2024
England’s path through the knockout stages is now mapped out, and it will be a meeting with Italy or Switzerland in Dusseldorf on Saturday, July 6 if they can get past Slovakia.
(Image: Getty Images)
It would then be one of the Netherlands, Romania, Turkey or Austria in the semi-final (without wishing to get too far ahead of ourselves).
Georgia’s shock 2-0 victory over Portugal was arguably the best result in the country’s football history.
Portugal, who had already qualified for the last 16, made a raft of changes and Georgia never looked back after star man Khvicha Kvaratskhelia fired them in front inside two minutes.
(Image: Icon Sport via Getty Images)
Some England fans are already plotting the route to the final as the Three Lions once again find themselves on the favourable side of the draw at a major international tournament.
Spain, France, Portugal and Germany are all on the other side of the draw, meaning England can’t play one of them until the final at the earliest.
Bookmakers have installed England as 4/1 favourites to lift their first international men’s trophy since 1966.
(Image: Getty Images)
Alex Apati, of Ladbrokes, said: “The draw has been kind to Southgate and co and with the rest of the frontrunners in the top half of the bracket England have now pulled away to head the betting to go one better than Euro 2020.’’
The Three Lions have never lost to Slovakia in six previous matches – winning five and drawing one.
The countries last met during qualification for the 2018 World Cup, with England winning 1-0 away from home (in Sam Allardyce’s only game in charge) and 2-1 at Wembley.
To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.