ENGLAND received a massive boost before their final Euro 2024 group match.
Gareth Southgate‘s troops will look to top Group C with victory over Slovenia in their Cologne clash this evening.
The Three Lions were already guaranteed passage to the last 16 following Spain‘s win over Albania on Monday night.
But they initially faced a potentially tricky route to next month’s final – although that has changed following a dramatic finish to Group D.
Austria sensationally topped the group with a shock 3-2 win over the Netherlands, who ended up finishing in third place behind France.
And their stunning win over the Oranje has well and truly shaken up brackets for the knockout stages – which makes for good reading for Three Lions fans.
Should they top Group C, England will likely face the Netherlands in the Round of 16.
A win over Ronald Koeman‘s mob will set up a quarter-final tie against either Switzerland or Italy, the latter of whom scraped through to the knockout stages by the skin of their teeth.
England will face either Austria, Hungary, Romania or Turkey in the semis, which are set to take place on Tuesday, July 9 and Wednesday, July 10.
Three Lions fans around the world will be buzzing at the news that powerhouses France, Spain, Germany and Portugal are all on the other side of the draw.
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So that means, they’ll avoid facing one of the quartet until the final on July 14.
England, however, could put paid to their cushty route if they win 3-0 this evening, a result that would send Croatia through via goal difference and bring about a change to their last 16 opponents.
England received a barrage of criticism following their drab draw with Denmark last Thursday, although Southgate has paid little attention to it.
He said: “That’s the world we’re in. I’m oblivious to it, it’s not important to me at all.
“What’s important to me is I guide this group of players through the tournament.
“We’re a high-profile team with expectations and we understand everything we do will be scrutinised.
“I’m very comfortable with that life.
“I don’t need to listen to externals because I am my own biggest critic and I think the players are as well.
“We know what we have done well, we have been very honest about that.
“We know where we need to be better, we have been brutally honest about that.
“And that’s how you coach a team and improve performance.”
