England have topped Group C at Euro 2024, securing a favorable path through the knockout stages of the tournament. They cannot face Spain, Germany, Portugal, or France until the final. Despite a 0-0 draw against Slovenia, England won the group due to Serbia and Denmark also playing out a goalless stalemate. To reach the final in Berlin on July 14th, England will need to win three knockout games – the last-16, quarter-final, and semi-final.
In the last-16, England will face the Netherlands or the team that finishes third in Group E. Currently, Romania, Belgium, Slovakia, and Ukraine are all tied on three points in Group E. The results in Group F on Wednesday will determine who England faces next. If the Czech Republic beat Turkey or Georgia defeat Portugal, England will face the Dutch, who finished third in Group D. If Hungary’s place in the third-placed standings is taken by any of these teams with three points or more, England will face someone from Group E. According to data analysts Nielsen Gracenote, there is a 61% chance England will face the Netherlands.
In the quarter-finals, England could potentially face Italy, setting up a rematch of the Euro 2020 final. The winner of Switzerland’s game against Italy will be England’s opponent. This quarter-final match would take place on July 6th in Dusseldorf.
In the semi-finals, England has avoided a possible match against France and instead finds themselves alongside Group D winners Austria. The other potential opponents include the winner of Group E, the runner-up of Group F, and one of Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, and the Netherlands.
Overall, England’s path through the knockout stages seems favorable as they have avoided major teams until the final. However, they will still face tough challenges along the way and will need to maintain their form to secure a place in the final.