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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Samuel Meade

England qualify for Euro 2020 knockout stages before final group game

England have qualified for the last 16 of Euro 2020 24 hours before playing their final Group D game against the Czech Republic.

The Three Lions have picked up four points from their two games thus far - beating Croatia and drawing with Scotland.

But results on Monday night mean England will at least advance to the knockout stages courtesy of the best third place system.

Four of the six third place finishers will make the last 16 and Gareth Southgate knows that his side will at worst qualify as one of them - although he will hope for better tomorrow.

Austria beat Ukraine in the 5pm kick-offs meaning Group B's third place side, Ukraine, are sitting on three points.

Then three hours later Belgium beat Finland and Denmark saw off Russia meaning the the third place finishers in Group B also finished with three points - one less than England's total.

With Croatia and Scotland squaring off tomorrow night the lowest England can finish is third with a total of four points.

Several avenues are still open to the Three Lions depending on whether they win, lose or draw at Wembley on Tuesday night.

Topping the group is likely to see them face either France, Germany or Portugal in the last 16.

Southgate's side have been rather underwhelming in the tournament thus far with their goalless draw against Scotland drawing particular criticism.

The England boss though is not concerned by their performances and is equally relaxed about the form of his striker, Harry Kane.

How far will England go at Euro 2020? Have your say below.

The Tottenham forward is yet to score and has been largely anonymous, but Gary Neville insists the striker is undroppable.

"I said last week I felt he was undroppable and I still maintain that," he told Sky Sports.

"I think that if Harry Kane had someone behind him who was even close to him that could go into the team, then you'd say maybe you could look at a change. But you wouldn't change Kane quickly, or easily for that matter.

"I think he'll break all England's records. You don't just drop your captain and your main goalscorer after two matches.

"But I think the energy, urgency and intensity in England's performance has got to improve for Kane to do well in this tournament.

"In the first game, we felt that was a controlled performance and everyone was really happy with that.

"But against Scotland, it was a massive drop off. I don't care who you are - as a centre-forward, you would have struggled in that game."

Southgate has also said he expects Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson to return and play some part on Tuesday night.

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