Marc Guehi rejects the idea that England has a straightforward path to the final.

England defender Marc Guehi has emphasized that there is no advantageous side to the Euro 2024 draw as the knockout stages get underway this weekend. Gareth Southgate’s team will face Slovakia, ranked 45th by FIFA, in the last 16 on Sunday in Gelsenkirchen. If they emerge victorious, they will then face either Switzerland or defending champions Italy. The potential semi-final opponents include Austria, Turkey, Netherlands, or Romania.

Guehi stated in his press conference, “I think everyone has seen in this competition that there is not a favourable side of the draw. Every team, every opponent, is really tough to come up against. I think we need to remain calm. We have put pressure on ourselves, but we are calm and focused, and we need to continue to focus on one thing at a time.”

England’s draw had an element of luck, as they were initially set to face the Netherlands, but Georgia’s surprise victory over Portugal changed the course of events. Despite this stroke of fortune, England’s performances in Germany have been lackluster, with only one win in their three group games and criticism following dull draws with Denmark and Slovenia.

Slovakia, led by former Napoli boss Francesco Calzona, qualified from Group E as one of the best third-placed teams and shocked world No. 3 side Belgium with a 1-0 victory in their opening game. Guehi acknowledged the strength of their opponents, stating, “We all watch the games and know they are a very good side. It will be another tough match, tough opponent to deal with. But it’s important we just have to be ready for those challenges and match whatever intensity they bring.”

Manager Gareth Southgate has faced scrutiny at Euro 2024 due to uninspiring performances from a group of players who had strong seasons at club level. However, Guehi defended his manager, saying, “He has been fantastic. If you look at his record, it speaks for itself. Everyone is behind the manager, that is for sure. We have got a really close, tight-knit group focused on the next game.” Guehi expressed his gratitude towards Southgate for giving him his England debut and showing confidence in him.