England Faces Slovakia: Southgate Eyes Quarter-Finals

England manager Gareth Southgate is “desperate to do well for my country” as the Three Lions prepare to face Slovakia in the Euro 2024 last 16. Despite winning Group C, England scored only twice in three games, facing heavy scrutiny. A win in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday would set up a quarter-final against Switzerland. Southgate emphasizes the importance of the team progressing and overcoming the fear of losing.

Phil Foden rejoins the squad after attending his child’s birth, but Luke Shaw remains unfit to start. Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo could play after his appearance against Slovenia. Jude Bellingham, who scored England’s winner against Serbia, turned 21 on Saturday. Southgate dismissed fitness concerns, noting Bellingham’s high-pressure performance capability.

Captain Harry Kane expressed confidence in Bellingham and the team’s readiness for the knockout stages. The match kicks off at 17:00 BST on ITV, with live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and text updates on the BBC Sport website and app. Slovakia, ranked 45th, surprised many by beating Belgium 1-0, then lost 2-1 to Ukraine and drew 1-1 with Romania to advance.

England’s path to the final avoids major teams like Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, and Belgium, who are all on the other side of the draw. This means the Three Lions could face potential semi-final opponents such as Austria, Romania, Turkey or the Netherlands, giving them a seemingly favorable route to the final.