England are through to the knockout stages of Euro 2024 and top Group C despite another lacklustre performance against Slovenia.
Gareth Southgate’s side picked up four points from their first two games following a win over Serbia and a draw against Denmark, with results in Group B on Monday night confirming that England are guaranteed a place in the knockout stages as one of the four best third-placed teams at the very least.
With Denmark unable to beat Serbia, a 0-0 draw in Cologne was enough to secure top spot, even if a drab showing led to boos from England supporters at full time. It means England now know where and when they will play in the Round of 16, with a return to Gelsenkirchen confirmed.
Who could England play next?
Having won Group C, England will play one of the four best third-placed teams in the last-16. The formula to decide who gets who is very complicated (see below) and depends on the combination of third-placed teams to go through – but the Netherlands are a possible opponent.
If England win the group and then win in the last-16, they will play either Switzerland or Italy in the quarter-finals. More significantly, if they win the group, they will no longer be on course to face France in the semi-finals. That’s after France finished second in Group D. Germany, Spain and Portugal will be on the other side of the draw too.
Third-place standings
after Group A, Group B and Group D
When will England play next?
June 30
Round of 16, Gelsenkirchen: England v third place Group D/E/F (1700)
Full Round of 16 Schedule
June 29
Round of 16, Berlin: Switzerland v Italy (1700)
Round of 16, Dortmund: Germany v Denmark (2000)
June 30
Round of 16, Gelsenkirchen: England v third place Group D/E/F (1700)
Round of 16, Cologne: Spain v third place Group A/D/E/F (2000)
July 1
Round of 16, Dusseldorf: France v runner-up Group E (1700)
Round of 16, Frankfurt: Portugal v third place Group A/B/C (2000)
July 2
Round of 16, Munich: winner Group E v third place Group A/B/C/D (1700)
Round of 16, Leipzig: Austria v runner-up Group F (2000)
Options for third-placed pairings
|
The four best-placed teams are: |
WB (Spain) |
WC |
WE |
WF (Portugal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A B C D |
3A |
3D |
3B |
3C |
|
A B C E |
3A |
3E |
3B |
3C |
|
A B C F |
3A |
3F |
3B |
3C |
|
A B D E |
3D |
3E |
3A |
3B |
|
A B D F |
3D |
3F |
3A |
3B |
|
A B E F |
3E |
3F |
3B |
3A |
|
A C D E |
3E |
3D |
3C |
3A |
|
A C D F |
3F |
3D |
3C |
3A |
|
A C E F |
3E |
3F |
3C |
3A |
|
A D E F |
3E |
3F |
3D |
3A |
|
B C D E |
3E |
3D |
3B |
3C |
|
B C D F |
3F |
3D |
3C |
3B |
|
B C E F |
3F |
3E |
3C |
3B |
|
B D E F |
3F |
3E |
3D |
3B |
|
C D E F |
3F |
3E |
3D |
3C |