Euro 2024’s Last 16 Draw Has Unusual Disparity as England Handed ‘Easy’ Route to Final

• The two halves of the Euro 2024 last 16 draw have a telling difference between them in terms of the involved teams' pedigree
• One half consists of several heavyweights, who are likely to clash at some point in the run-up to the final
• The other side of the draw has the likes of the Netherlands, England, Turkey, Switzerland and defending champions Italy

The Euro 2024 knockout stages has an unusual disparity between the two halves of the draw.

After a group stage that was fairly underwhelming from an entertainment point of view, football fans will go two days without European Championship action before the last 16 kicks off on Saturday, June 29.

Despite all the tournament’s favourites still present in the competition, there has been an obvious gulf in the quality of the football on display since the first game.

Best European Football team: Which is the best European Squad for the upcoming World Cup and why?

Football

Teams like England, Belgium and France (to some extent) are under the critical eye of fans and pundits to put up a proper show as the competition enters its most competitive stage.

Euro 2024 last 16 fixtures

After the conclusion of the last round of group games, each of the qualified teams learnt of their opponents in the next round.

Here is the fixture lineup for a chance to make it to the last eight of the Euro 2024:

• Spain v Georgia
• Germany v Denmark
• Portugal v Slovenia
• France v Belgium
• Romania v Netherlands
• Austria v Turkey
• England v Slovakia
• Switzerland v Italy

How third-placed teams affect knockout bracket

Unlike the World Cup, which has had 32 teams since 1998, a 24-team tournament such as the Euros has a unique way of deciding knockout fixtures.

With four group winners set to play a third-place team, the other two group winners will play the runners-up. The other four runners-up will play each other.

Euro 2024: 7 must-watch games in the group stage including Spain vs Italy

Football

As cited on the UEFA website, England happens to be one of two group winners who cannot face a fellow group winner until the semi-final, at least.

Analysing the two halves of the draw

As a result of topping Group C, England was lucky to avoid teams like Portugal, Spain and France, who are all in one half of the draw.

One disappointing reality is that only one team, among Spain, Germany, Portugal and France, can possibly reach the Euro 2024 final.

The earliest the giants can meet is in the quarter-final, with Spain likely to encounter Germany if La Roja beats Georgia and the hosts overcome Denmark in the last 16, per BBC.

On the other hand, England is arguably the best team in the other half of the draw, with Italy being the only other genuine threat.

The two nations could clash in the quarter-finals if they both beat their last 16 opponents in what would be a repeat of the 2020 final of the tournament.

How underdogs have fared in previous Euro tournaments

Football

How Group E was decided

Sports Brief also explained how Group E of the Euro 2024 was decided after Romania, Belgium, Slovakia, and Ukraine finished level on points.

After the goalless draw against Belgium, Ukraine finished with the lowest goal difference (-2) in the group and thus placed fourth.

The knock-out bracket offers only an opportunity to the best third-placed teams - teams that are placed last in a group are eliminated.