Despite a monotonous end to England’s qualification campaign, the Three Lions confirmed their place at Euro 2024 with relative ease.
England sauntered to top spot in Group C, winning six of their eight qualification matches. That included back-to-back victories against European champions Italy, as well as a 7-0 thrashing of North Macedonia and comfortable wins against Ukraine and Malta.
However, England have always flattered to deceive at major tournaments. Qualification has normally been straightforward but they have too frequently choked on the big stage despite an abundance of talent.
With the Euro 2024 draw coming in December, let’s look at who England could face in next summer’s tournament.
With Euro 2024 a tournament made up of 24 nations, the group stage consists of six groups of four teams. Each group is made up of a single team from each pot – one to four – with the strongest teams, hypothetically, in Pot 1.
England were one of the five qualification group winners to be drawn into Pot 1 based on their impressive record in qualifying. They will also be joined by hosts Germany in the top pot.
Pot 1 also consists of Spain, Belgium, Portugal and France, meaning England won’t face any of these teams in the Euro 2024 group stage.
Pots are decided based on the performance of teams in Euro 2024 qualifying.
|
Pot 1 teams |
FIFA World Ranking |
|---|---|
|
Germany (hosts) |
16th |
|
Belgium |
5th |
|
England |
4th |
|
France |
2nd |
|
Portugal |
6th |
|
Spain |
8th |
|
Team |
Pot |
FIFA World Ranking |
|---|---|---|
|
Albania |
2 |
59th |
|
Austria |
2 |
25th |
|
Denmark |
2 |
19th |
|
Hungary |
2 |
30th |
|
Romania |
2 |
48th |
|
Turkey |
2 |
38th |
|
Croatia |
3 |
10th |
|
Czechia |
3 |
41st |
|
Netherlands |
3 |
7th |
|
Scotland |
3 |
34th |
|
Slovakia |
3 |
50th |
|
Slovenia |
3 |
54th |
|
Italy |
4 |
9th |
|
Serbia |
4 |
29th |
|
Switzerland |
4 |
14th |
|
Play-off winner A |
4 |
– |
|
Play-off winner B |
4 |
– |
|
Play-off winner C |
4 |
– |
While England are guaranteed to miss encounters with some of Europe’s big-hitters in the group stage, there are still plenty of testing opponents that could make life difficult for Gareth Southgate’s side.
Pot 2 seems surprisingly weak, with the likes of Albania and Romania having performed well in qualifying despite relatively low FIFA rankings. However, England could be set for a reunion with Denmark having knocked them out of Euro 2020 in the semi-finals.
Pot 3 obviously throws up the possibility of a home nations clash between Scotland and England, as was the case in the Euro 2020 group stage. Netherlands and Croatia would be very tough opponents, the latter having knocked Southgate’s side out of the 2018 World Cup semi-final.
There could also be a rematch of the Euro 2020 final between the Three Lions and Italy. England beat them twice during qualification for Euro 2024, but it would certainly be an opponent that Southgate wouldn’t mind avoiding.
There are also three teams yet to qualify for next summer’s competition, seeking progression via the play-offs that take place next March.
|
Team |
Pot |
FIFA World Ranking |
|---|---|---|
|
England |
1 |
4th |
|
Denmark |
2 |
19th |
|
Netherlands |
3 |
7th |
|
Italy |
4 |
9th |
England’s group could feasibly contain three of the ten best teams in world football according to the rankings. If the Three Lions were draw against Denmark, Netherlands and Italy, it would certainly be a stroke of bad luck.
Obviously, Italy are the current European champions and only find themselves in Pot 4 due to their underwhelming qualification results. England know the quality of the Italians all too well having lost the Euro 2020 final to them on penalties at Wembley.
Denmark also put up a fight against England during their Euro 2020 semi-final, Southgate’s side fortunate to win following Harry Kane’s penalty that was controversially won by Raheem Sterling in extra time.
England have lost three of their last four meetings with the Dutch, most recently in the UEFA Nations League semi-final in 2019 after extra-time.
In fact, England would be the only nation not to have won the European Championships in this potential group, despite being the highest ranked currently.
|
Team |
Pot |
FIFA World Ranking |
|---|---|---|
|
England |
1 |
4th |
|
Albania |
2 |
59th |
|
Slovenia |
3 |
54th |
|
Serbia |
4 |
29th |
Of the teams currently guaranteed a place at Euro 2024, a group containing Albania, Slovenia and Serbia would be England’s simplest route to the knockout stages based on rankings. However, it’s worth noting that the Three Lions could potentially get a winner of a play-off with a lower ranking in Pot 4 than Serbia.
Despite impressive group stage showings, Albania and Slovenia would be unlikely to pose England too much threat. The Three Lions have won all six of their past meetings with Albania and are undefeated in as many games against Slovenia, only failing to win during a goalless draw in 2016.
They may be in Pot 4, but Serbia are comfortably the highest ranked team in this potential group. England have never faced the 29th-ranked side since they became a sovereign country, but that could change in Germany next year.
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