The Three Lions have been given a clear path to the semis, Cristiano Ronaldo could run riot in the group stage but the champions might be in trouble
After yet another UEFA draw that took far too long to get going, we now know the make-up of the groups for Euro 2024, which will be staged in Germany next summer. There is no true 'Group of Death' but Spain, defending champions Italy and Croatia are all in the same pool, while favourites France have been bracketed with Netherlands and Austria.
Elsewhere, England's hopes of a first major tournament triumph since 1966 have been given a big boost, with the Three Lions set to face Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia in Group C. In-form Portugal will also be pleased with their lot, after drawing Turkey, Czech Republic and the winner of Play-off Path B, which will be Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan or Luxembourg.
A resurgent Belgium should have little trouble seeing off Romania, Slovakia and the winner of Play-off Path B (Israel, Iceland, Ukraine or Bosnia & Herzegovina) and, despite their recent struggles, Germany will be cautiously optimistic about progress from a group containing Scotland, Switzerland and Hungary.
Below, GOAL runs through all of the winners and losers from the draw for Euro 2024…
GettyWINNER: Gareth Southgate
The draw has once again been ridiculously kind to England, who have not only been placed in a relatively weak group, but also given a clear path to the semi-finals. Indeed, it would be a massive surprise if England did not finish above Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia.
After a dreadful World Cup, the Danes failed to impress in qualifying, suffering a shock 3-2 loss to Kazakhstan and also scraping a 2-1 win over San Marino. The Scandinavians still managed to top their group, ahead of Slovenia, but England have nothing to fear from Kasper Hjulmund's side – or Serbia, who finished second to Hungary in their pool.
Even more encouragingly for England, if they do progress in first place, they're not scheduled to meet another group winner until the semi-finals (further evidence, as if it were needed, that a 24-team Euros is nonsensical from a structural perspective). So, there really are no more excuses left for Gareth Southgate. This is expected to be his final tournament at the helm and he simply has to win it. Otherwise, he will be forever remembered for failing to end England's trophy drought with an outrageously talented group of players – and in spite of a succession of favourable draws.
AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Italy
It was Italy who upset England in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley just two years ago (because of the Covid-enforced delay) and yet the Azzurri found themselves in Pot 4 for Saturday's draw. Consequently, the title-holders were always likely to find themselves in a difficult group but, truth be told, things couldn't have gone much worse for new coach Luciano Spalletti, who took over following the shock resignation of Roberto Mancini during the summer.
Obviously, being put in Group D alongside France and Netherlands would have been a nightmare but having to face Spain, Croatia and an Albania side that qualified as one of the group winners is not much better. Italy's tournament opener against the latter is going to be absolutely key to their hopes of progressing. Nothing less than a victory over Albania will suffice for Spalletti & Co.
GettyWINNER: Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo had an absolute shocker of a World Cup. It was so bad, in fact, that we wondered whether we would ever again see the international game's all-time leading goalscorer represent Portugal, particularly as Goncalo Ramos had emerged as a better option to lead the line in Qatar.
However, Ronaldo returned for the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign – and with a vengeance, scoring 10 goals in total – only Romelu Lukaku managed more. Now, there's no getting away from the fact that the opposition was terrible, as underlined by the fact that the Seleccao won all of their games, but the good news is that Portugal have been placed in one of the weaker pools in Germany.
There's every chance, then, that Ronaldo could run riot in the group stage as he looks to bring the curtain down on a record-breaking international career by winning a second European Championship – and maybe a Golden Boot to go with it.
GettyLOSER: Netherlands
It's hard not to feel a little sorry for Netherlands because the last thing they would have wanted was to be drawn in the same group as France. The Dutch were beaten home and away by Les Bleus in qualifying, with a 4-0 loss in Paris proving particularly painful.
Credit to Ronald Koeman's team, they took care of business elsewhere, winning all six of their games against Greece, Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar, and eventually qualified with a game to spare.
However, one can be sure that their backline will not be looking forward to renewing acquaintances with Kylian Mbappe, who gave them the run-around in Amsterdam, and they can't afford to take anything for granted against an Austria side that has improved incredibly since the appointment of Ralf Rangnick as coach.
It's also worth noting that Robert Lewandowski's Poland could also yet end up in this group, which would definitely make it the toughest in the tournament – and do little to help Netherlands emulate national heroes Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard, who won the Euros the last time it was staged in Germany.
