Euro 2024 pots revealed: England handed pot one berth but could face nightmare draw with defending champions Italy potentially dropping into pot four
- England will avoid some of Europe’s biggest countries as they move into Pot 1
- However, a potential ‘group of death’ could see them face off against Italy and the Netherlands
- Trent and Bellingham can play together, but not get in each other’s way – IAKO
England’s reward for winning the European Championship qualifying group could be a tricky draw involving defending champions Italy and the Netherlands.
Gareth Southgate’s side have secured a place in pot one ahead of the draw for next summer’s tournament in Germany, which will take place in Hamburg on Saturday, December 2.
It means they will avoid group stage matches against hosts Portugal, France, Spain and Belgium.
However, there are some countries that have qualified, but whose pots are yet to be determined due to the matches taking place tonight.
Defending champions Italy could find themselves in pot four if Croatia beat Armenia at home, or if Zlatko Dalic’s side pick up a point and Wales fail to beat Turkey.
England could face Italy again at the 2024 European Championship, with Gareth Southgate’s side entering the first pot, while Italy will find out on Tuesday evening whether they will end up in the third of the fourth pot.
England will avoid some of Europe’s biggest nations in the group but could still face a tricky draw
Italy could be one of the six lowest-ranked countries despite being the defending champions
Italy could have secured a place in pot three if they had defeated Ukraine on Monday, but a goalless draw has now left them out of their hands.
If they end up in pot four, it means the highest-placed teams, including England, could face a potential ‘Group of Death’ involving the Netherlands – who are in pot three – and Italy.
Pot two currently consists of Hungary, Denmark and Albania, who won their respective qualifying groups, as well as Austria, who finished just one point behind Belgium.
They are joined by two teams from Croatia, Turkey, Romania and Switzerland.
In Group D, the higher finisher from Turkey and Croatia will go to pot two, while the other team will go to pot three. However, if Croatia lose and Wales beat Turkey, Rob Page’s side will go to pot four and Italy to pot three.
Meanwhile, Romania host Switzerland tonight, and whoever finishes first in Group I will move into pot two, while the other team will move into pot four.
England could face Scotland in a Euro 2020 rematch, with Steve Clarke’s side in pot three alongside Slovenia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.
England could meet Scotland in a Euro 2020 rematch with Steve Clarke’s side in pot three
The Netherlands will be the team that teams currently want to avoid from the third pot
Wales would move into the bottom-placed pot if they could overtake Croatia and qualify automatically on Tuesday evening
Serbia are the only team currently confirmed for pot four, although they will be joined by the three teams who qualify through the play-offs, and two other countries who will join them tonight.
Countries that have already qualified for the play-offs include Georgia, Greece, Ukraine, Poland, Estonia, Finland, Kazakhstan, Israel, Luxembourg, Iceland and Bosnia.
Some of those countries qualified for the play-offs thanks to their Nations League campaigns, with Estonia making the cut despite picking up just one point from eight games in their Euro 2024 qualifying group.
They will be joined in the play-offs by the third-place finishers in Group D, Croatia and Wales.