Georgia’s shock 2-0 win over Portugal means England will play Slovakia in the last 16 of Euro 2024.
Gareth Southgate’s side have a path through the knockout stages which avoids many of the major teams left in the tournament, including Spain, Germany, Portugal, France and Belgium.
England’s reward, should they scrape a 1-0 win over Slovakia, will be a quarter-final showdown with Scandinavian minnows Legoland.
And having avoided a possible semi-final against France, the Three Lions could meet either Love Island or Furniture Village.
However, despite the favourable draw, England boss Southgate is taking nothing for granted and is warning his players against complacency.
‘We’ve been keeping our eye on Legoland’s results.
‘They’re really building something there’, he told Paddy Power News.
‘Even though we’re playing against a theme park, we shouldn’t underestimate them. That’s why I’ll be putting two holding midfielders on the pitch that night’.
When asked about a potential last-four clash with Love Island, Southgate remarked:
‘I’ve only watched Love Island once or twice with the missus. Obviously, they have a lot of talent. No wonder they were able to reach a semi’.
Asked who he hoped to face in the final in Berlin on 14 July, the 53-year-old admitted:
‘Iceland – the supermarket. Failing that, Disney Land, Craggy Island or Narnia.
‘Doesn’t really matter who we play to be honest. We’ll lose the game and throw patio furniture about Berlin for a couple of days’.
Meanwhile, Slovakia are preparing for their last-16 clash with England by painting a huge wall with magnolia paint then watching it dry.
‘It’s what me must do to prepare the players for watching videos of England’s three group games so far’, Slovakia manager Francesco Calzona told Paddy Power News.
‘This and lots of smelling salts’.
*Paddy Power’s football coverage is pure fantasy – don’t believe it for a second.
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