England through to Euro 2024 knockout stage without kicking a ball after Spain beat Albania
England are now definitely through to the round of 16
GETTY
England are already through to the knockout stage of Euro 2024 without even kicking a ball after Spain beat Albania 1-0 on Monday night.
Gareth Southgate is putting the finishing touches to his squad for their final group game against Slovenia on Tuesday.
However, they are now already guaranteed a place in the last 16 of Euro 2024 no matter what happens on Tuesday evening.
England are top of Group C on four points following their 1-1 draw with Denmark and a 1-0 win over Serbia.
England are now definitely through to the round of 16
GETTY
There is a chance England could drop down to third in the group if Slovenia beat them in their final group game and Denmark beat Serbia.
However, the four-best third-place teams also progress to the last-16 with two missing out.
Hungary can't improve on the three points they picked up in Group A following their dramatic win over Scotland and it was Group B's turn on Monday evening.
Albania were the only team who could have caused some trouble for England in the third-place rankings, but they needed to pull of a shock win over Spain.
Luis de la Fuente Castillo's side made no mistake despite a spirited effort from Albania with Ferran Torres scoring the winner for Spain.
In the other group game, Italy scored a late equaliser to break Croatia hearts.
It meant that Albania stayed bottom of their group on one point while Croatia ended with just two.
With both Croatia and Hungary sitting on less points than England, Southgate's side are guaranteed to be one of the four best third-placed teams if all goes wrong on Tuesday.
Albania needed to pull off an upset against Spain
REUTERS
But England will still want to make sure of all three points against Slovenia to avoid a potentially disastrous knockout stage.
If they ended up finishing second in the group - which could happen if they draw and Denmark beat Serbia by more than one goal - then England would face hosts Germany in the last-16.
If England managed to get through that tie then it would potentially set up an even trickier tie against Spain in the quarter-finals.
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Winning the group means England will face one of the best third-placed teams from groups D, E or F.
Dropping down to third in the group could either land them a tie against Portugal or the winner of Group E.
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