England’s potential Euro 2020 group of death includes France and Portugal

England could potentially face France and Portugal in the group stages of Euro 2020.

The Three Lions qualified for next summer’s tournament with a 7-0 win over Montenegro last week, before ensuring a top seed place with a 4-0 victory in Kosovo.

However, England could still find themselves in a ‘group of death’ scenario when the finals get under way next summer.

The top ten qualifying group winners take the first ten positions in the draw, followed by the group runners-up, with all countries ranked by points, goal difference and goals scored.

The final four positions in the draw will be occupied by the winners of the Nations League play-offs in March.

However, there will be just six groups at Euro 2020 which means only the top six ranked teams can be seeded in Pot One.

Italy, England, Belgium, Spain and Ukraine have already booked their place in the premier Pot, having ranked first to fifth throughout the qualifying campaign, while Germany can overtake France to become the final Pot One seed if they secure a draw against Northern Ireland this evening.

Poland can similarly move into sixth in the overall rankings, but they must beat Slovenia by nine clear goals tonight and hope Germany lose, while a German draw would require the Poles to net 12 times without reply.

This is remarkably unlikely so Germany will be backed to claim their place in Pot One, which will drop France down to Pot Two, where they will be joined by Russia, Croatia, Switzerland and Portugal.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s reigning European Champions could be knocked down to Pot Three, however, if the Netherlands beat Estonia at home on Tuesday evening. This would promote the Dutch to Pot Two and leave Portugal in Pot Three with Turkey, Denmark and Sweden, with Hungary capable of getting into the same Pot if they secure a defeat of Wales.

Pot Four has only one confirmed team so far, with tournament debutants Finland in there, while the four Nations League play-off winners are all confirmed to be in the same Pot.

Due to the make up of the Pots, England are facing a possible ‘group of death’ which includes France and Portugal, as well as one of the play-off winners such as Iceland, Bosnia or Serbia – the highest ranked team in qualifying who failed to secure their place at Euro 2020 via the traditional qualifying campaign.

A best-case scenario for the Three Lions could see Russia, Hungary and Finland in their group, which would be a very favourable draw for Gareth Southgate’s side.

The Euro 2020 draw will take place on November 30 with the first matches of the tournament getting under way on June 12 next summer.