Euro 2024: Group Stage Results and KO Predictions After England Draws with Slovenia

The knockout stage of the 2024 European Championship is nearly set with two more groups drawing to a close Tuesday in Germany.

Austria, France and the Netherlands punched a ticket to the round of 16 from Group C. Elsewhere, the trio of England, Denmark and Slovenia advanced out of Group D.

Group Standings

Group A

1. Germany: 7 pts (2-1-0, +6)*

2. Switzerland: 5 pts (1-2-0, +2)*

3. Hungary: 3 pts (1-0-2, -3)

4. Scotland: 1 pt (0-1-2, -5)

Group B

1. Spain: 9 pts (3-0-0, +5)*

2. Italy: 4 pts (1-1-1, 0)*

3. Croatia: 2 pts (0-2-1, -3)

4. Albania: 1 pt (0-1-2, -2)

Group C

1. England: 5 pts (1-2-0, +1)*

2. Denmark: 3 pts (0-3-0, 0)*

3. Slovenia: 3 pts (0-3-0, 0)*

4. Serbia: 2 pts (0-2-1, -1)

Group D

1. Austria: 6 pts (2-0-1, +2)*

2. France: 4 pts (1-2-0, +1)*

3. Netherlands: 4 pts (1-1-1, 0)*

4. Poland: 1 pt (0-1-2, -3)

Group E

1. Romania: 3 pts (1-0-1, +1)

2. Belgium: 3 pts (1-0-1, +1)

3. Slovakia: 3 pts (1-0-1, 0)

4. Ukraine: 3 pts (1-0-1, -2)

Group F

1. Portugal: 6 pts (2-0-0, +4)*

2. Türkiye: 3 pts (1-0-1, -1

3. Czechia: 1 pt (0-1-1, -1)

4. Georgia: 1 pt, (0-1-1, -2)

Note: * indicates a team has qualified for the knockout stage

Knockout Phase Predictions

Based on the group stage, Euro 2024 is Spain's to lose. La Roja rolled through with three straight wins and scored five goals while conceding none.

The 1-0 victory over Italy was a particularly strong statement, one in which the final score failed to reflect the gulf between the two teams. Were it not for goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Azzurri would've suffered a far more embarrassing outcome.

Portugal, to its credit, has looked equally assured to its neighbor on the Iberian Peninsula. Roberto Martínez's side hasn't really been tested much through two games, though, and it sits in arguably the easiest group of the six.

Host Germany had a bright start, too, before a 1-1 draw with Switzerland served as a possible warning sign. Were it not for Niclas Füllkrug's late heroics, the Germans were headed toward a second-place finish in Group A.

In general, the narrative of Euro 2024 has centered on the heavy hitters who have flattered to deceive.

Neither France nor the Netherlands came away as the winner from Group D. The two countries played to a dull 0-0 draw in their head-to-head meeting and then fell flat in their final group match on Tuesday.

The French watched Robert Lewandowski equalize for Poland in the 79th minute. Les Bleus have never been that thrilling under coach Didier Deschamps, and now his pragmatic approach isn't even translating to results.

When it comes to the Dutch, Donyell Malen's own goal in the sixth minute against Austria set the tone in their disjointed 3-2 defeat. The defense was supposed to be a strength for the Netherlands thanks to a back line anchored by Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Aké. Instead, they've been shaky at that end of the pitch without a discernible plan going forward.

Then there's England.

The Three Lions possess perhaps more pure talent than any other country in the 24-team field, yet all of their star power combined to deliver one win, two draws and two goals scored. It turns out that simply swapping Trent Alexander-Arnold for Conor Gallagher in midfield wasn't a panacea.

Gareth Southgate may have stayed on for one major tournament too many. A lineup that included Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka shouldn't be as dull as it was Tuesday against Slovenia, and it's hard to see Southgate discovering a more coherent tactical plan when he hasn't to this point.

The knockout stage couldn't be more finely poised given how few teams are standing out from the pack. Not to mention, one of Spain or Germany won't make it past the quarterfinals since that's where they're slated to face off if they both win their next matches. The same goes for Portugal and France, who could be on a collision course in the quarters.

And for as bad as England has looked, it might still have the inside track on the Euro 2024 title by virtue of avoiding any of Spain, Germany, France or Portugal until the final.

You'd give Spain the slight edge the rest of the way based on form, but actually handicapping the rest of the tournament is a fool's errand.