England went through to the last 16 at Euro 2024 on Monday night without kicking a ball after Albania were beaten 1-0 by Spain. The result in Düsseldorf means Gareth Southgate’s side will finish, at worst, as one of the third-placed teams who qualify for the knockout rounds.
The top two in each group and the four best third-placed countries advance and the four points England secured by beating Serbia and drawing with Denmark mean they go into Tuesday’s final group game against Slovenia knowing they will continue at the tournament in Germany.
Albania’s defeat has also taken France and the Netherlands into the last 16 with one game to play. England have failed to impress in their opening two matches but are one of only six teams – Spain, Germany and Portugal being the others – who have gone through before the end of their group fixtures. Italy, thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser against Croatia on Monday, and Switzerland are also into the last 16, where they will face each other.
There remains plenty at stake for England against Slovenia. The third-placed team in their group will face a group winner in the last 16 and the runners-up will take on Germany in Dortmund. Winning the group would bring a tie against a third-placed side on Sunday in Gelsenkirchen.
An England victory against Slovenia would guarantee top spot in Group C and a draw could also suffice, depending on how Denmark fare against Serbia. Southgate is expecting an improved display from his team.
“We’re very clear on where we need to be better,” the manager said. “We haven’t hidden from that. I think we have a pretty open dialogue – the players, staff – and we’re all on the same page on that. The route forward was pretty simple to highlight. Of course, then we’ve got to go and deliver and I’m expecting that we will do that.”