England's Potential Group Stage Opponents and Euro 2024 Draw Pot

Despite a lackluster conclusion to their qualifying matches, England comfortably assured their spot in Euro 2024. The Three Lions effortlessly claimed the top position in Group C, winning six out of their eight matches. These victories include two consecutive triumphs against European champions Italy, a 7-0 defeat over North Macedonia, and easy wins over Ukraine and Malta.

However, England has always appeared impressive in major tournaments but often fails to perform when it matters most despite having plenty of skilled players. As the draw for Euro 2024 is approaching in December, it's worth considering who England might face in the tournament next summer.

The 2024 Euro tournament will consist of 24 countries, divided into six groups. Each group has four teams from each of the four pots, with the most accomplished teams, theoretically, in Pot 1.

Having displayed a commendable performance in the qualifiers, England was amongst the five group winners placed in Pot 1. The host country, Germany, will also join them in this elite group.

The top pot notably features Spain, Belgium, Portugal, and France, meaning England is assured to avoid facing these teams in the Euro 2024 group stage. The pots are determined by the team's performance during the Euro 2024 qualifiers.

England is certain not to go up against some of the toughest European teams at the group stage, but several other formidable contenders could pose a challenge for Gareth Southgate's squad. Pot 2 appears relatively weak with countries like Albania and Romania who have done well in qualifying despite having comparatively low FIFA rankings. Nonetheless, England could possibly revisit their clash with Denmark which they defeated in the Euro 2020 semi-finals.

Pot 3 offers a likely showdown between Scotland and England, a repeat of what transpired at the Euro 2020 group stage. The Netherlands and Croatia could also pose significant challenges, the latter having ousted Southgate's team from the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.

A replay of the Euro 2020 final between Italy and the Three Lions could also be on the cards. Southgate's team overcame Italy twice during the qualification for Euro 2024, but Southgate would probably prefer to abstain from facing them.

In the current scenario, England's group could potentially include three of the top ten teams as per global football rankings. This would be the case if the Three Lions were to face Denmark, the Netherlands, and Italy, an unfortunate event indeed. Italy, being the present European champions, finds themselves in Pot 4 owing to their mediocre results in qualification. It's no secret that the Italians are a formidable lot, as England can vouch after their loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final staged at Wembley.

Denmark gave England a run for their money in the Euro 2020 semi-finals, with Southgate's team managing to secure a victory riding on the controversial penalty won by Raheem Sterling during extra time.

England’s battles with the Netherlands have typically been disappointing, resulting in defeat in three of their last four encounters, with the most recent in the 2019 UEFA Nations League semi-finals after extra time.

Interestingly, amongst the potential members of this group, England would be the only team yet to win the European Championships, even though they're currently the highest-ranking team.

Of the teams currently guaranteed a place at Euro 2024, a group containing Albania, Slovenia and Serbia would be England's simplest route to the knockout stages based on rankings. However, it's worth noting that the Three Lions could potentially get a winner of a play-off with a lower ranking in Pot 4 than Serbia.

Despite impressive group stage showings, Albania and Slovenia would be unlikely to pose England too much threat. The Three Lions have won all six of their past meetings with Albania and are undefeated in as many games against Slovenia, only failing to win during a goalless draw in 2016.

They may be in Pot 4, but Serbia are comfortably the highest ranked team in this potential group. England have never faced the 29th-ranked side since they became a sovereign country, but that could change in Germany next year.