25 June 2024 , 12:52
861
0
The identity of England 's opponents in the Last 16 of Euro 2024 is still unclear heading into their final group game.
The Three Lions have been assured of a place in the knockout stages after Spain defeated Albania on Monday. Ferran Torres' first-half strike proved to be enough for La Roja to claim all three points and maintain their 100 per cent record in the tournament so far.
It also saw Gareth Southgate 's England side be assured of, at worst, one of the four 'best third-placed' spots. Southgate's men beat Serbia in their opening game before disappointingly drawing with Denmark.
They face Slovenia in their final match of Group C on Tuesday night, knowing a win will mean they finish top. If they did finish as group winners, the Three Lions would play one of the best third-place sides from Groups D, E or F.
As it stands that would be Austria, the Czech Republic or Slovakia. France, the Netherlands and even Poland can also finish in third place in Group D, though the Poles would need a four goal swing to finish ahead of Austria.
Singh Gill to make history as Premier League's first Sikh-Punjabi official
Austria take on the Netherlands in their final group game, while France face Poland. Group E is even more open, with all four of Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine sitting on three points after two games.
Ukraine need a two-goal swing to finish third, with Romania and Belgium only ahead of Slovakia by a margin of one-goal. Slovakia face Romania on Wednesday, while Ukraine face Belgium.
HAVE YOUR SAY! How should England line-up against Slovenia? Comment below.
Spain's win over Albania ensured England will qualify for the Last 16 (Anadolu via Getty Images)Finally in Group F, Portugal cannot finish lower than second, meaning the race for third is between Turkey, the Czech Republic and Georgia. The Czechs are currently ranked the lowest of the third-place teams and must win to go through.
They face Turkey on the final day, while Portugal take on Georgia. If England finished as runners-up in their group, they would be certain of face hosts Germany in the Last 16 on Saturday evening.
England's worst-case scenario is if they lose to Slovenia and Denmark beat Serbia, which would see them drop into third. Progression by third-place would see them face the winners of Group E - which as we've said is wide open - or Group F, Portugal or Turkey.
Has Southgate had his day? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
Boss Southgate is seeking to keep his side focused on Tuesday's game rather than looking further ahead in the tournament. He said: "If we weren't top of the group and in control of our own destiny then it might feel different, but we are calm.
"The facts are only three teams had six points from their first two games, everybody else needs a result from their last game. That is how it normally works and we're very clear with the players about the world we're in. We'd love to be sitting a bit more comfortably having scored a few more goals and on six points but we aren't."