England learned Slovakia will be their last-16 opponents after the final group games at Euro 2024 were concluded on Wednesday night.
Gareth Southgate’s side will return to Gelsenkirchen on Sunday for a 5pm kick-off against Slovakia, who progressed as one of the four best third-placed teams after drawing 1-1 with Group F winners Romania.
Belgium reached the first knockout phase after a 0-0 draw with Ukraine, while Group F winners Portugal lost 2-0 to Georgia, who also progressed after causing one of the European Championship’s biggest upsets.
Here, the PA news agency looks back at day 13.
Slovakia next up for England
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England will play Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday for a place in the #EURO2024 quarter-finals. pic.twitter.com/NC7mIYFmY6
— England (@England) June 26, 2024
England will bid to ignite their tournament against Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen, where they beat Serbia 1-0 in their opening game before drab draws against Denmark and Slovenia left expectant fans disappointed.
Francesco Calzona’s side finished on four points in Group E, where a 1-0 win against Belgium and 2-1 defeat to Ukraine was followed by Wednesday’s draw with Romania.
Slovakia – 45th in the FIFA world rankings, 40 places below England – lost 2-1 at Wembley in the last meeting between the sides in a World Cup qualifier in September 2017.
Southgate takes the strain
Under-fire England boss Southgate remains resolute in his focus despite accepting he is probably the reason why England’s “world is different” to any other team going for Euro 2024 glory right now.
Asked if he would rather have the criticism directed at him after England’s below-par group displays, he said: “One hundred per cent. That is my job. I have to keep the players right on track.
“On the day of the game I showed them pictures of Italy celebrating their qualification with their fans, of Hungary celebrating when they didn’t even know if they were through.
“Denmark celebrating a draw against us, and they were on two points. Our world is different at the moment and I feel that is probably because of me.
“I have to help the players as much as I possibly can because we brought the joy back into playing for England and we have to be very careful of where we head with it.”
Fingers crossed for Foden
England are hoping Phil Foden will be back in time for Sunday’s last-16 clash after the Football Association announced he had returned home to attend to “a pressing family matter”.
The PA news agency understands Foden, 24, who started all three of England’s Group C matches, has left his side’s Spa and GolfResort Weimarer Land base for the birth of his third child.
An FA spokesperson said: “Phil Foden has temporarily left the England camp and returned to the UK for a pressing family matter.”
Georgia stun Portugal
Georgia produced one of the biggest shocks in European Championship history as they beat Portugal 2-0 to qualify for the knockout stages.
The eastern European nation with a population of four million, playing in a major tournament for the first time, registered the biggest win in their existence as goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze in either half ensured they finished third in Group F.
That saw them qualify for the last 16 where they will play Spain, while Portugal meet Slovenia. Cristiano Ronaldo, who made his 50th major tournament appearance for his country, was upstaged.
Picture of the day
Post of the day
Just look what it means 🥺🇬🇪
The goal that sealed Georgia's place in the knockout stage of #Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/xTtCEDuErO
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 26, 2024
What next?
Switzerland v Italy, Saturday 5pm
Germany v Denmark, Saturday 8pm