The flag’s within the window, the fridge is stocked, you’ve saved up your annual go away and a mad month of desires and despair is lastly upon us. Euro 2024 is right here.
It’s been 58 years because the final and solely time England’s males lifted a serious trophy. Too lengthy. The wait is over, certainly?
We received’t know for certain till bedtime on Sunday, July 14, however do you have to ebook the Monday off now and beat the frenzy?
You possibly can’t set off on a journey into the unknown with out some form of a map, so let’s take a look on the path upon which England will embark this weekend.
What do we all know for certain?
England face Serbia of their opening Group C recreation in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday (8pm BST) earlier than taking up Denmark in Frankfurt 4 days later and ending the group stage with a recreation towards Slovenia in Cologne on June 25.
Group C is full ✔️
What do you reckon, #ThreeLions followers? pic.twitter.com/BLVZoQvPOs
— England (@England) December 2, 2023
England ought to win that group, proper?
Effectively that’s harmful speak, however the bookies definitely suppose so.
Ought to England certainly end prime of Group C they might then play their Spherical of 16 recreation again in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday, June 30, towards a third-placed facet from Teams D, E or F – doubtlessly Poland, Czech Republic or Ukraine.
The winner of that encounter would then face a visit to Dusseldorf for the quarter-final on July 6, the place they may count on to come back up towards defending champions Italy, ought to they end as runners-up behind Spain in Group B.
The facet who progresses to the semi-final in Dortmund on July 10 can be more likely to discover France ready for them within the last-four.
Whichever facet prevails on that facet of the draw can count on to tackle Portugal, Spain or, gulp, Germany, within the closing in Berlin’s Olympiastadion on July 14.
Sounds exhausting. What if England end as runners-up?
It’s doubtlessly even tougher! Ought to England end second of their group they’ll head to Dortmund on June 29 for the Spherical of 16 the place they might face the winners of Group A – you’d count on that to be Germany.
England did oust their previous foes at that very same stage at Wembley within the earlier match however might they repeat the feat with the tables turned on German soil in a Saturday evening recreation? Think about the hype on that one for a second. Shivers.
The winner of that tie would, after they end celebrating, undergo to a quarter-final in Stuttgart on July 5, with Spain or Italy the potential opposition at that stage.
Whoever will get by means of that tie can count on to line-up towards Portugal within the semi-final in Munich on July 9.
The ultimate, in Berlin, would pit the winner of that encounter towards, in all probability, France – on Bastille Day, July 14. What a prospect.
📌 Olympiastadion, Berlin
🗓️ July 14, 2024Which two groups will attain the #EURO2024 closing? pic.twitter.com/29E9Bvgbon
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) January 2, 2024
It’s top-two or bust, proper?
Really no. There may be additionally a manner of progressing, even when catastrophe strikes within the group stage and England don’t end within the prime two in Group C.
The 4 greatest third-placed finishers throughout the six teams will be a part of the 12 groups who end first and second of their teams in going by means of to the following stage.
At Euro 2016, the primary expanded match the place this 24-team format was used, Portugal certified from Group F regardless of solely incomes three attracts, whereas Northern Eire additionally progressed with three factors and a objective distinction of zero after profitable one and shedding two video games in Group C.
At Euro 2020 Ukraine truly certified from Group C with three factors from three video games and a objective distinction of minus one, having misplaced two of their three group video games.
Ought to England discover themselves in third place then their ‘reward’ can be a last-16 conflict with Portugal or Belgium, although ought to they handle to get by means of that then issues may truly open up from there with the Netherlands probably the most daunting potential quarter-final opposition earlier than the really big-guns reconvene within the last-four.
So in conclusion…
Runners-up appears to be the very definition of doing issues the exhausting manner. It’s nearly preferable to complete third and take the short-term ache for long-term achieve choice.
There aren’t any simple video games and to be the most effective you must beat the most effective, however you additionally must develop right into a match and peak on the proper time. England’s greatest probability of doing that might appear to be by topping Group C and building-up for a doubtlessly decisive encounter with France within the semi-final.
Whoever wins that, you’d suppose, can be sturdy favourites to go on and carry the trophy in Berlin – although certainly no person can ever write off the Germans, particularly on house soil.
No matter occurs, it’s going to be a month of recollections which can final a lifetime, a technique or one other.
Prepared for EURO 2024! 🤩#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/Fb7WEdgJff
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) March 26, 2024
