As the anticipation for Euro 2024 reaches a fever pitch, England finds itself in Group C, facing the formidable challenge of Denmark, Slovenia, and Serbia. Gareth Southgate’s squad is set for a reunion with the Danes, a flashback to the Euro 2020 semi-final where England emerged victorious in a gripping encounter. The journey kicks off on Sunday, June 16, as the Three Lions lock horns with Serbia in Gelsenkirchen, followed by a showdown against Denmark in Frankfurt on Thursday, June 20. The group stage concludes on Tuesday, June 25, in Cologne, where England faces Slovenia, a team they’ve conquered before in a crucial World Cup 2010 group match.
Group Dynamics: A Closer Look
Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland
Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania
Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England
Group D: Poland/Wales/Finland/Estonia, Netherlands, Austria, France
Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Israel/Bosnia & Herzegovina/Ukraine/Iceland
Group F: Turkey, Georgia/Greece/Kazakhstan/Luxembourg, Portugal, Czech Republic
The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, advance to the knockout stages.
Group Stage Fixtures
- Sunday, June 16: Group C – Serbia vs England (Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen – 8pm UK time)
- Thursday, June 20: Group C – Denmark vs England (Waldstadion, Frankfurt – 5pm UK time)
- Tuesday, June 25: Group C – England vs Slovenia (RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne – 8pm UK time)
Potential Routes to Glory
Route as Group Winners
- Round of 16 – Sunday, June 30: England vs Austria/Romania/Turkey (Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen)
- Quarter-final – Saturday, July 6: England vs Italy (Merkur Spiel-Arena, Dusseldorf)
- Semi-final – Wednesday, July 10: France vs England (Westfalenstadion, Dortmund)
- Final – Sunday, July 14: Spain vs England (Olympiastadion, Berlin)
Route as Group Runners-up
- Round of 16 – Saturday, June 29: Germany vs England (Westfalenstadion, Dortmund)
- Quarter-final – Friday, July 5: Spain vs England (MHPArena, Stuttgart)
- Semi-final – Tuesday, July 9: England vs Netherlands (Allianz Arena, Munich)
- Final – Sunday, July 14: England vs France (Olympiastadion, Berlin)
Round of 16 Scenarios
- If England finishes first in Group C: Sunday, June 30 – Group C winners vs third-placed side in Group D/E/F (Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen)
- If England finishes second in Group C: Saturday, June 29 – Group A winners vs Group C runners-up (Westfalenstadion, Dortmund)
- If England finishes as one of four best third-place teams:
- Monday, July 1 – Group F winner vs third-placed side from Group A/B/C (Waldstadion, Frankfurt)
- Tuesday, July 2 – Group E winners vs third-placed side from Group A/B/C/D (Allianz Arena, Munich)
Quarter-final Scenarios
- If England finishes first in Group C and wins the round of 16 game: Saturday, July 6 (Merkur Spiel-Arena, Dusseldorf)
- If England finishes second in Group C and wins the round of 16 game: Friday, July 5 (MHPArena, Stuttgart)
- If England finishes as one of four best third-place teams and wins the round of 16 game:
- Friday, July 5 (Volksparkstadion, Hamburg)
- Saturday, July 6 (Olympiastadion, Berlin)
Semi-final Scenarios
- If England finishes first in Group C, wins the round of 16 game, and wins the quarter-final: Wednesday, July 10 – 8pm (Westfalenstadion, Dortmund)
- If England finishes second in Group C, wins the round of 16 game, and wins the quarter-final: Tuesday, July 9 – 8pm (Allianz Arena, Munich)
- If England finishes as one of four best third-place teams, wins the round of 16 game, and wins the quarter-final:
- Tuesday, July 9 – 8pm (Allianz Arena, Munich)
- Wednesday, July 10 – 8pm (Westfalenstadion, Dortmund)
The Grand Finale
- Sunday, July 14 – 8pm (Olympiastadion, Berlin)
Conclusion
As England charts its course through the Euro 2024 maze, football enthusiasts await with bated breath, eager to witness if the Three Lions can script another chapter of glory on the grandest stage of European football. The journey is laden with challenges, but if England’s stars align, the dream of lifting the coveted trophy in Berlin’s Olympiastadion may well become a reality.