England qualify for Euro 2024 knockout stage ahead of Slovenia clash | Football

Gareth Southgate’s side currently sit top of Group C on four points after beating Serbia and drawing with Denmark, and following Monday night’s results which saw Spain beat Albania while Italy snatched a late 1-1 draw against Croatia, it means that the Three Lions will be guaranteed to finish as one of the best third-placed teams from the group stage.

Four of the best third-placed teams out of all six groups will go through to the last-16 and with England, France and Netherlands already on four points with one game each remaining, all three nations are guaranteed a spot in the last 16.

If England beat Slovenia to secure top spot in Group C on Tuesday, they will face a third-place team from either Group D, E or F.

Their most likely opponents from Group D is either Austria or Netherlands. From Group E, England could play any one of Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine or Belgium, who all have three points ahead of their last group matches.

‘That’s the world we’re in. I’m oblivious to it, it’s not important to me at all,’ Southgate said.

‘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.’

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