- The draw for the group stage of the 2024 European Championship will take place on Saturday, December 2
- England will be one of the top six seeds after their qualifying match
- Trent and Bellingham can play together, but not get in each other’s way – IAKO
The potentially easiest group for England to get involved in next summer’s Euro 2024 has been revealed.
Gareth Southgate’s side comfortably qualified for their eighth consecutive major tournament last month after beating Italy 3-1 at Wembley.
Last week they played two more qualifying matches for the 2024 European Championship, beating Malta 2-0 last Friday and drawing 1-1 against North Macedonia on Monday evening. They are now all set for the draw for the group stage of the tournament on December 2.
In addition to host nation Germany, 19 other teams have also automatically qualified for the tournament, with the final three places to be determined during the play-offs taking place in March 2024.
The Three Lions will be top seeds next summer because of their qualifying performances and Sky Sports has calculated it their potentially friendliest opponents in the group stage, based on the teams that have already secured their place in Germany.
England’s potentially easiest draw in the group stages of next summer’s Euro 2024 has been announced
They reached their eighth major tournament in a row after an unbeaten qualifying campaign
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With the current state of play, Mail Sport reported how a nightmare draw for England – who are one of the top six players in the six groups – will see them face games against the Netherlands, Croatia and Denmark.
However, on the contrary England’s potentially easiest draw would see them face Albania, Slovenia and Serbia.
Albania reached only their second ever major tournament after impressively topping a qualifying group that included the Czech Republic and Poland, but they are ranked 59th in the world.
Their only previous appearance on the big stage was Euro 2016, when they crashed out in the group stages.
Meanwhile, Slovenia fell only behind Denmark in qualifying thanks to their head-to-head record after winning seven of their 10 matches.
However, they are still ranked 54th in the world and barring RB Leipzig wonderkid Benjamin Sesko, they lack star names.
Elsewhere, Serbia regularly plays in major tournaments but has not reached any competition since Euro 2000.
Despite relatively high expectations for the team at last year’s World Cup, they ultimately finished bottom of a group with Brazil, Switzerland and Cameroon, taking just one point in a hectic 3-3 draw against Central Africa.
Their potentially easiest draw, based on the teams who have currently qualified, includes Albania (pictured) – who reached only their second major tournament – Serbia and Slovenia
Slovenia and RB Leipzig wonderkid Benjamin Sesko would pose the biggest threat to England
Serbia is a solid team, but has not reached the knockout stages of a tournament since 2000
Nevertheless, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Co would be the highest ranked of the English opposition at 29th in the world.
In total, these three potential opponents would have a combined world ranking of 142.
This would be 106 places more than the potentially toughest group the Three Lions could face.
It should be noted that with the remaining qualifiers taking place on Tuesday evening, plus the play-off rounds in March, this is all still subject to change, but there is potentially a huge difference in the caliber of England’s opposition depending on next month’s draw .