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Euro 2024 group permutations and third-place standings explained

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Euro 2024 group permutations and third-place standings explained

Euro 2024 arrives at the final round of the group stage to decide who will go through to the knockouts. As well as the top two teams in each of the six groups, the four best third-placed teams will also progress to make up the last-16, with the remaining eight nations cut from the tournament.

Next up is Group C and Group D, following two dramatic conclusions to the other groups. Hungary claimed third place in Group A and sent Scotland home in the 100th minute, and the drama was matched in Group B as Italy broke Croatia hearts in the 98th minute, as the holders reached the last-16.

England are already through in Group C, while France and Netherlands are also into the last-16 in Group D, but there will be a fight for top spot in both groups as well as a scramble to finish runner-up.

In the past two editions of the European Championship where the 24-team format has been used, four points has always been enough as a third-placed team to progress to the last-16. While three points has occasionally been sufficient, it does not guarantee a place in the next round. Two points was not enough to finish as one of the four best third-placed teams at Euro 2016 or Euro 2020, but there is a way in which it may be possible at Euro 2024.

There are certain to be plenty of twists and turns in store as the final round of fixtures are played out, with both matches in each of the groups kicking off simultaneously across the next four evenings. Here’s how the groups are looking, as well as the all-important permutations and the ranking of the third-placed teams at Euro 2024. Jump to the bottom for Uefa’s very own tiebreaker rules!

Group C

Permutations

England: Gareth Southgate’s side are through to the last-16 with a game to spare, as four points now confirms that England will finish as one of the four best third-placed teams even if they lose to Slovenia. England will top the group if they beat Slovenia. If England draw, Denmark would have the chance to leapfrog them on goal difference if they beat Serbia. Slovenia and Denmark can both finish above England but Serbia cannot due to the head-to-head.

Denmark: A victory over Serbia books their place in the last-16. A draw is enough for second if England beat Slovenia, while if Denmark and Slovenia both draw, second place would come down to goals scored.

Slovenia: Similar to the above, Slovenia will go through if they beat England, but a draw would only be enough to guarantee second if Denmark draw as well and Slovenia possess the advantage on goals scored. If Slovenia draw against England, and Serbia fail to beat Denmark, they will knock out Croatia.

Serbia: Must beat Denmark, with any other result insufficient to go through. If Serbia win and Slovenia don’t beat England, they will go through as runner-up.

Results so far and remaining fixtures

Stuttgart: Slovenia 1-1 Denmark

Gelsenkirchen: Serbia 0-1 England

Munich: Slovenia 1-1 Serbia

Frankfurt: Denmark 1-1 England

June 25, Cologne: England v Slovenia (2000)

June 25, Munich: Denmark v Serbia (2000)

Group D

Permutations

Austria: In a wild end to Group D, Austria beat the Netherlands while France dropped points against France. Austria top the group and will play the runner-up of Group F in the last-16.

France: That was not in the script. Kylian Mbappe returned, but couldn’t help France to a win as Les Bleus stuttered to five points and just second place in Group D.

Netherlands: Already through to the last-16 before kick-off, the Dutch blew a chance to progress a group winners and could now face a tough last-16 tie.

Poland: Defeats to the Netherlands and Austria meant Poland were already out before their final game, but they restored some pride to claim a point against France.

Results

Hamburg: Poland 1-2 Netherlands

Dusseldorf: Austria 0-1 France

Berlin: Poland 1-3 Austria

Leipzig: Netherlands 0-0 France

Berlin: Netherlands 2-3 Austria

Dortmund: France 1-1 Poland

Group E

Permutations

With all four teams in the group level on three points going into the final round, it’s all to play for in a wide-open Group E. In one way, it’s simple for the four teams involved: win and you’re in the last-16.

Romania: Will go through with a win. If Romania draw against Slovakia, both teams go through on four points. If Romania draw and there’s a winner in the game between Belgium and Ukraine, then Romania would finish second on goal difference. If both games finish as a draw, it would go down to goals scored again, so a 2-2 for Romania would be better than a 1-1 for Belgium, for example. If Romania lose and the other game is a draw, then Romania would finish fourth and would be out. If Romania lose but there’s a winner in the other game between Belgium and Ukraine, they would finish third if the loser is Ukraine and fourth if the loser is Belgium.

Belgium: Similar to the above, with some variations. Belgium will go through with a win against Ukraine, and top the group if the other game is a draw or if Romania defeat Slovakia. Belgium would go through if both games finish as a draw, and they would finish second with a draw and there’s a winner in the other game between Romania and Slovakia. If Belgium lose, they would finish third if Slovakia win, and fourth if Romania win.

Slovakia: Can go through with a win or draw against Romania. Slovakia finish third with a draw, while they would also finish third if they and Belgium both lose. Slovakia would finish fourth if they lose and Belgium win.

Ukraine: Can go through with a win against Belgium. A draw would be enough to finish third on four points, but only if there is a winner in the other game between Romania and Slovakia. If all four teams finish on four points, then Ukraine would go out on goal difference. A defeat would only be good enough for third if Romania beat Slovakia.

Results so far and remaining fixtures

Munich: Romania 3-0 Ukraine

Frankfurt: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia

Dusseldorf: Slovakia 1-2 Ukraine

Cologne: Belgium 2-0 Romania

June 26, Frankfurt: Slovakia v Romania (1700)

June 26, Stuttgart: Ukraine v Belgium (1700)

Group F

Permutations

Portugal: Are through as group winners with a game to spare. Portugal will play one of the four best third-placed teams in Frankfurt on Monday 1 July in the last-16.

Turkey: A heavy defeat to Portugal was a blow to Turkey’s goal difference but they can advance with a win over Czech Republic. A draw should be fine, too, and will be good enough for second place if Georgia fail to beat Portugal. Turkey would be knocked out if they lose to Czech Republic and Georgia beat Portugal – but will finish third if they lose and Georgia fail to win. Goal difference would decide if it’s enough to advance.

Czechia: Have to beat Turkey to stand a chance of progress. If Czech Republic win and better Georgia’s result, they will finish second. If they draw or lose and Georgia win, they will be out. If they draw or lose and Georgia match their result, goal difference will decide who finishes third, but their points total is unlikely to be enough.

Georgia: They must beat Portugal, with two points unlikely to be enough. If Georgia and Czech Republic both win, it would go down to goal difference, with the Czechs currently one ahead. If Turkey win or draw, a Georgia win would only be enough for third. If Georgia lose but Czech Republic lose by more then they may finish third, but it is unlikely to be enough to go through.

Results so far and remaining fixtures

Dortmund: Turkey 3-1 Georgia

Leipzig: Portugal 2-1 Czechia

Hamburg: Georgia 1-1 Czechia

Dortmund: Turkey 0-3 Portugal

June 26, Hamburg: Czechia v Turkey (2000)

June 26, Gelsenkirchen: Georgia v Portugal (2000)

Group A

Germany: A late equaliser against Switzerland secured top spot in the group after victories over Scotland and Hungary. The hosts will face the runner-up of Group C in the last-16.

Switzerland: A point confirmed Switzerland’s place in the top two, and they will face the runner-up of Group B in the last-16.

Hungary: A dramatic winner against Scotland kept their hopes alive. Hungary finished third on three points, but with a goal difference of -3. They need results to go their way.

Scotland: The Tartan Army are going home after a late defeat to Hungary.

Results

Munich: Germany 5-1 Scotland

Cologne: Hungary 1-3 Switzerland

Stuttgart: Germany 2-0 Hungary

Cologne: Scotland 1-1 Switzerland

Frankfurt: Switzerland 1-1 Germany

Stuttgart: Scotland 0-1 Hungary

Hungary claimed third place with a late win, but will it be enough?
Hungary claimed third place with a late win, but will it be enough? (AP)

Group B

Spain: After beating Italy 1-0, Spain were already through as group winners. Spain finished with maximum points after beating Albania and will play one of the four best third-placed teams in Cologne on Sunday 30 June at 8pm.

Italy: On a dramatic night in Leipzig, the holders denied Croatia with a last-minute equaliser to advance to the last-16. They will face Switzerland.

Croatia: Luka Modric and company looked to be doing it again, until Mattia Zaccagni’s last-gasp goal knocked them out. Croatia needed to win but went from being in the last-16 to going home. Two points is highly unlikely to be enough to go through in third, Croatia now need Slovenia to lose heavily to England, with Denmark beating Serbia in Group C, and for Portugal to beat Georgia and Turkey to beat Czech Republic in Group F.

Albania: Albania had to beat Spain to have any chance of going through and are out following a 1-0 defeat.

Results

Berlin: Spain 3-0 Croatia

Dortmund: Italy 2-1 Albania

Hamburg: Croatia 2-2 Albania

Gelsenkirchen: Spain 1-0 Italy

Leipzig: Croatia 1-1 Italy

Dusseldorf: Albania 0-1 Spain

Ranking of third-placed teams

Tiebreaker rules

If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points on completion of the final tournament group stage, the following criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine their rankings:

  1. higher number of points obtained in the matches played among the teams in question;
  2. superior goal difference resulting from the matches played among the teams in question;
  3. higher number of goals scored in the matches played among the teams in question;
  4. if, after having applied criteria a) to c), teams still have an equal ranking, criteria a) to c) are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the remaining teams to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria e) to h) apply in the order given to the two or more teams still equal:
  5. superior goal difference in all group matches;
  6. higher number of goals scored in all group matches;
  7. lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received by players and team officials in all group matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points);
  8. position in the overall European Qualifiers rankings, or if Germany, the host association team, is involved in the comparison, drawing of lots.

To determine the four best third-placed teams, the following criteria are applied, in the order given:

  1. higher number of points;
  2. superior goal difference;
  3. higher number of goals scored;
  4. higher number of wins;
  5. lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received by players and team officials in all group matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points);
  6. position in the overall European Qualifiers rankings, or if Germany, the host association team, is involved in the comparison, drawing of lots.
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