The Independent
·26 June 2024
England to face Slovakia in first knockout stage at Euro 2024
![Article image:England to face Slovakia in first knockout stage at Euro 2024](https://image-service.onefootball.com/transform?w=280&h=210&dpr=2&image=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.independent.co.uk%2F2024%2F06%2F26%2F22%2F18618ea2ee4a2f39855ddb2142f25530Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE5NTIxMTg3-2.76598544.jpg%3Fquality%3D75%26width%3D1200%26auto%3Dwebp)
The Independent
·26 June 2024
Gareth Southgate’s side topped Group C despite recording underwhelming draws against Denmark and Slovenia after winning their opener against Serbia.
That 1-0 triumph came in Gelsenkirchen, where the Euro 2020 runners-up will return this weekend to take on Francesco Calzona’s side.
Slovakia finished among the four best third-placed sides and were confirmed as England’s opponents upon the conclusion of the group stage on Wednesday night.
Ondrej Duda’s equaliser against Romania clinched Slovakia’s progression (Arne Dedert/AP) (AP)
Calzona’s team finished on four points in Group E, where a 1-0 win against Belgium and 2-1 defeat to Ukraine was followed by Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Romania.
Slovakia are 45th in the FIFA world rankings – 40 spots below England.
England won 2-1 at Wembley in the last meeting between the sides in September 2017 during qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
The reverse fixture, in September 2016, was a 1-0 England victory in Sam Allardyce’s only game in charge of the national team.