England's players arrived back at their base in Chantilly earlier today with their next Euro 2016 opponent still undecided.
With top spot in Group B having eluded Roy Hodgson’s men, they will now play the second-placed team from Group F at the Stade de Nice on Monday 27 June at 8pm BST.
All four teams in Group F could theoretically finish second, meaning Hodgson will be kept guessing until after the final whistle blows in the last two games – Iceland v Austria and Hungary v Portugal – on Wednesday evening.
Hungary currently lead the group with four points, ahead of Iceland in second, third-placed Portugal and table-footers Austria.
Who will #ENG face in the last 16 of #Euro2016?
— England (@England) June 21, 2016
Group F reaches its conclusion on Wednesday evening. pic.twitter.com/qZ7wP7DLky
The Group F permutations are delicately explained by UEFA.com:
- Hungary will top the group with a victory and will also qualify with a draw; in that case they could only be deprived of first position if Iceland win and overtake them on overall goal difference, then goals scored, then disciplinary, then coefficient. The only situation in which they could finish third is if they lose and Iceland win.
- Portugal will qualify with a win and could only miss out on first place if Iceland win and eclipse them on overall goal difference, then goals scored, then disciplinary (Portugal have a superior coefficient). A draw would only leave Portugal second if the other game is drawn and they are ahead of Iceland on goals scored, or then disciplinary, or then coefficient, where Portugal are superior. Portugal may still hope to proceed as one of the best third-placed sides with defeat if Iceland do not win. However, Portugal would need to finish ahead of the other team on two points on goal difference, goals scored, disciplinary; they are ahead of all on coefficient.
- Iceland would qualify with a victory. They could even top the group if the other match is drawn or Portugal win. In those two scenarios, they would be split with the other team on five points (Hungary or Portugal) on goal difference, then goals scored, then disciplinary; Hungary are ahead on coefficient. A draw would leave Iceland second if Hungary win or if the other game is drawn; in the second scenario, Portugal and Iceland would be separated on goals scored, disciplinary (Portugal have a superior coefficient); even then Iceland could progress as a best third-placed side. If Iceland lose, they still have a mathematical chance of advancing as a third-place team but only if they finish above Portugal on goal difference, goals scored or disciplinary.
- Austria will be second with a win unless Portugal also prevail, in which case Austria would end up behind Hungary on head-to-head and would hope to go through as one of the four best third-placed sides. A draw is not good enough for Austria due to their goal difference.
Roy Hodgson on England's draw with Slovakia and their knock-out hopes
Should England reach the quarter-finals, they will play at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Sunday 3 July at 8pm BST. Their opponents will be the winners of the fourth last-16 game, between hosts France and Republic of Ireland.
A place in the semi-finals would bring about a return to Marseille – where the Three Lions opened their finals campaign with a 1-1 draw against Russia – on Thursday 7 July at 8pm BST.
The final of Euro 2016 takes place at the Stade de France on Sunday 10 July, with a kick-off time of 8pm BST.
