England has secured its place in the knockout stages of Euro 2024, even before their final Group C match against Slovenia. This was confirmed after Albania’s defeat to Spain in their last Group B game. Spain, already qualified, maintained their perfect record in the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Albania, ensuring they topped Group B.
Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in Dusseldorf, leading Spain to their third win in Group B. This result guaranteed England’s progression to the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams, regardless of their result against Slovenia. Even if England were to lose their upcoming game, they are mathematically certain to advance, much to the relief of fans and Gareth Southgate’s squad.
The Euro 2024 qualification format sees the top two teams from each of the six groups automatically qualify for the knockout stage, along with the four best third-placed teams. Albania’s loss meant they finished Group B with just one point, extinguishing their hopes of progressing as a third-placed team and confirming England’s qualification.
The permutations in Group C are still to be decided. England can still secure the top spot in Group C with a win against Slovenia in Cologne. A draw might also be enough to finish first, provided Denmark doesn’t beat Serbia by a margin of more than one goal in their respective match. However, a loss for England against Slovenia could see them finish third if Denmark wins, or second if Denmark fails to win against Serbia. The final standings in Group C will dictate England’s opponent in the last 16, adding extra intrigue to their final group game.
The results in Group B also had implications for other groups. Albania’s failure to secure a win meant that both France and the Netherlands are also through to the knockout stages from Group D with a game to spare. They will play their final group matches against Poland and Austria respectively, with the top spots in Group D still up for grabs.
Euro 2024 Group B Results So Far
- Slovenia 1-1 Denmark
- Serbia 0-1 England
- Slovenia 1-1 Serbia
- Denmark 1-1 England
- Spain 3 – 0 Croatia
- Albania 2 – 1 Croatia
- Spain 1 – 0 Albania
Euro 2024 Group B Standings
| Team | Played | Goals Scored | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain (Q) | 3 | 5 | 5 | 9 |
| Italy (Q) | 3 | 4 | -1 | 4 |
| Croatia | 3 | 3 | -3 | 2 |
| Albania | 3 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
(Q) Qualified for Knockout Stage
Euro 2024 Group C Remaining Fixtures
Tuesday, June 25
- England vs Slovenia (8pm UK time; 3pm ET)
- Denmark vs Serbia (8pm UK time; 3pm ET)
