How can England reach the Euro 2024 final? Best potential knockout path

England will head to the 2024 European Championships next summer searching for redemption.

The Three Lions came within a few penalty kicks of winning the last continental competition, suffering an agonising defeat to Italy on penalties at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final.

Next summer offers hope that the England men’s team can lift a first major trophy in 58 years – and in Germany of all places. Gareth Southgate’s side will enter the tournament as one of the favourites, but the weight of expectation has often proved too much for the Three Lions in the past.

If England are to end their long wait for international silverware, then they may need a little fortune along the way. With any luck, Southgate’s men will be afforded a favourable path deep into the competition.

Here’s one of the best possible routes for England on the way to the final at Euro 2024.

England already know all three of their Euro 2024 group-stage opponents. Southgate will lead his side out against Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia.

While not the most difficult group – spare a thought for Albania as they prepare for a first round against Italy, Croatia and Spain – there are certainly some tough opponents.

England faced Denmark at Euro 2020, narrowly beating them 2-1 after extra-time in the semi-final following a controversial penalty. With the likes of Premier League regulars Rasmus Hojlund, Christian Eriksen and Joachim Andersen, they will prove tricky customers.

Slovenia, who England beat 1-0 in the group stage of the 2010 World Cup, are the lowest-ranked side in the group and should pose little threat to Southgate’s side – on paper at least. The Three Lions have won five of six past meetings, most recently in qualification for the 2018 World Cup.

Serbia, who England have never faced as an independent country, will also provide Southgate’s side with a significant challenge. Boasting a front two of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic, they are no pushovers.

Assuming England top their group and therefore get the easiest last-16 draw possible, they will face the third-placed side from Group D, E or F.

Out of the sides guaranteed to be at next summer’s tournament – three teams still need to qualify via the play-offs – the best possible outcome would be facing Slovakia from Group E.

Slovakia are the lowest-ranked guaranteed Euro 2024 side that England could face in the last 16, currently sitting 45th in the FIFA rankings. Drawn alongside Belgium, Romania and a play-off winner from Path B, there is every chance that Francesco Calzona’s side sneak through in third place.

If they were to make it past Slovakia in the first knockout round, England would set up a quarter-final tie with the winner of the match between Group A’s runner-up and their second-placed counterpart from Group B.

Assuming that Albania will finish bottom of their incredibly tough group, the simplest realistic fixture that England could have in the quarter-final would be against Scotland.

While it will be tricky for the Tartan Army to make it to the quarter-final, it’s feasible that they could finish second in a group made up of Germany, Hungary and Switzerland before beating Spain, Italy or Croatia in the round of 16.

Scotland defeated Spain 2-0 in qualifying and have proved themselves a tough opponent for any of Europe’s biggest teams. As recently as Euro 2020, Clarke’s side held England to a goalless draw at Wembley.

Now in the semi-final, England could face some extremely tough opponents. The likes of France, current European champions Italy and Spain could lie in wait, meaning Southgate might be keeping his fingers crossed for a repeat of the 2018 World Cup semi-final with Croatia.

To set up a potential showdown with England, Croatia would have to finish third in Group B – their path dependent on how they ranked among the four third-placed sides that qualify for the knockouts – and then beat the winner of Group D or the runner-up of Group F.

If the Netherlands were somehow able to top Group D ahead of France and then beat the runner-up of Group F (probably Turkey or the Czech Republic), then they would meet Croatia.

If Croatia could then overcome the Netherlands, they would set up a clash with England in the semi-final. Given that Luka Modric and co made it to the final four at the last two World Cups, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them appear in the semi-final once more.

England could well come up against the hosts Germany in the Euro 2024 final – probably the easiest side the Three Lions could realistically face in the big game.

If Germany topped Group A then they would face the runner-up from England’s group, followed by a quarter-final that will most likely see them face the winner of Group C and a semi-final that will probably come against the winner of Group F.

It would prove a difficult route to the showpiece for Germany and it wouldn’t get much easier if they faced England in Berlin.

However, with Germany now slumping to a concerning 16th in the FIFA rankings, it would possibly be the most straightforward final match-up that England could get.

Potential England route to Euro 2024 final

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