Euro 2024: England Faces Netherlands in Round of 16 After Underwhelming Display

England Escapes Group Stage but Faces Tough Road Ahead

England advances to the Euro 2024 round of 16 as Group C winners despite a lackluster draw with Slovenia, facing a tough road ahead. They will meet the Netherlands in the next round, following a fortunate draw that saw top teams France, Spain, Germany, and Portugal move to the opposite side of the bracket.

England secured their spot in the Euro 2024 round of 16 as Group C winners, despite a lackluster performance in a draw with Slovenia in Cologne. While Gareth Southgate's team showed a slight improvement from their dismal display against Denmark, they still failed to live up to their pre-tournament favorites tag. Their performance was laborious, with only occasional flashes of flair, such as in the first half when Bukayo Saka's goal was disallowed for offside following a slick passing sequence.

For the second consecutive match, England faced genuine hostility from their fans, who vociferously supported them during the game but expressed their discontent at the final whistle. The crowd jeered during halftime, and when Southgate went to thank them at the end, they directed their frustration at him, throwing a few empty drink cups in his direction from the stands.

Conor Gallagher was substituted at halftime after failing to justify his inclusion, with teenage Manchester United player Kobbie Mainoo coming on to add more urgency to the team. England's lack of creativity was evident throughout, particularly in a group where no team scored more than one goal in a match for the first time in the competition's history. Slovenia advances as one of the top three teams after a scoreless tie with Serbia, while Denmark finishes second.

Read Also: Euro 2024: Denmark Secures Spot in Round of 16 with Draw Against Serbia

Despite the underwhelming performance, England had a fortunate night overall. Previous results saw the formidable quartet of France, Spain, Germany, and Portugal move to the opposite side of the draw. England will now face the Netherlands in the round of 16, although this could change after the penultimate round of games.

Adam Gnezda Čerin won man of the match.