Who will England face in last 16? What is their possible route to Euro 2024 final?

England reached the Euro 2024 knockout rounds on Monday after Spain claimed a 1-0 victory in their final group game against Albania.

Spain's narrow win ensured that the Three Lions would be guaranteed at least one of the four best third-placed spots before they even faced Slovenia in their final group game.

Although they went on to play out a goalless draw against Slovenia, England still managed to finish in top spot in Group C after picking up five points from three matches.

Here, Sports Mole looks at who Gareth Southgate's side will face in the last 16 and what their route to the final may look like.

Group C summary

June 16: Slovenia 1-1 Denmark (5pm | MHPArena)
June 16: Serbia 0-1 England (8pm | Veltins-Arena)
June 20: Slovenia 1-1 Serbia (2pm | Allianz Arena, Munich)
June 20: Denmark 1-1 England (5pm | Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt)
June 25: England 0-0 Slovenia (8pm | RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne)
June 25: Denmark 0-0 Serbia (8pm | Allianz Arena, Munich)

All kickoff times BST

Who will England face in last 16?

© Reuters

England finished in pole position in Group C to avoid potential last-16 ties against the likes of Germany and Portugal.

At one stage, it looked as though England would face the Netherlands, who surprisingly ended Group D in third position.

The Dutch dropped down to third spot after suffering a shock 3-2 defeat in Tuesday's clash with eventual group winners Austria.

However, the situation changed following Georgia's surprise 2-0 win over Portugal on Wednesday, ensuring England will now face the third-placed team from Group E.

All four teams in Group E picked up four points from their three matches, but it was Slovakia who had to settle for third position after finishing behind Romania and Belgium on goal difference.

As a result, England will prepare for the first meeting with Slovakia since claiming a 2-1 victory in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in September.

Right-back Kyle Walker and forward Harry Kane are the only two players in the current squad who started in the narrow win nearly seven years ago.

England's potential route to Euro 2024 final

Last 16: Slovakia (Gelsenkirchen | June 30, 5pm)

England began the tournament with a 1-0 win over Serbia in Gelsenkirchen, and they will return to the Veltins-Arena for Sunday's last-16 clash with Slovakia.

The Euro 2020 finalists will be the obvious favourites to beat Slovakia, who are set to appear in the European Championship knockout rounds for the first time since losing to Germany at the same stage in Euro 2016.

Quarter-finals: Italy (Dusseldorf | July 6, 5pm)

If England find a way past Slovakia, they will then travel to Dusseldorf for what could be a rematch of the Euro 2020 final.

Italy are the favourites to advance from their last-16 tie against Switzerland, but Murat Yakin's side may fancy their chances of troubling the reigning European champions, especially as they held tournament hosts Germany to a 1-1 draw in their final group game.

Semi-finals: Netherlands (Dortmund | July 10, 8pm)

The Netherlands were once projected as potential last-16 opponents, but that meeting could now be delayed until the semi-final stage.

The Dutch will have to negotiate a tie against Romania, before facing either Austria or Turkey in the quarter-finals.

If England and the Netherlands advance to the semi-finals, it would represent the first meeting between the two countries since they went head-to-head in the last four of the UEFA Nations League in June 2019 – a game that England lost 3-1 after extra time.

Final: France (Berlin | 14 July, 8pm)

Having earned themselves a place in the favourable half of the draw, England cannot face the likes of Spain, Germany, Portugal or France until the final in Berlin.

Any of those sides can realistically reach the final, and they would all prove to be formidable opposition if England were to make it that far.