STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) – Euro 2024 enters the final group matchday with three teams having already secured their place in the last 16, but with only one side out of 24 eliminated from the tournament.
Final positions in the six groups are still up for grabs which determine potential opponents in the knockout stage.
There are four places available in the last 16 for the best third-place finishers, which could lead to a situation of one or more teams going through with two points while another could miss out despite getting four points but finishing fourth in their group.
If teams are level on points, they will be split on head-to-head record, goal difference, then goals scored, then disciplinary points, then their qualifying ranking.
Group A
– Germany are through and assured of a top two finish in the group. They can secure top spot if they do not lose to Switzerland.
– Switzerland can qualify for the last 16 if they do not lose to Germany or Scotland fail to beat Hungary. They can win the group if they beat Germany.
– Scotland will make it through with a win against Hungary and a Switzerland defeat by Germany, providing they overturn the goal difference disparity.
– Hungary must beat Scotland to have a chance of reaching the last 16 on one of the best third place finishers.
Group B
– Spain have reached the last 16 and will finish as group winners thanks to their win over second-placed Italy.
– Italy must avoid defeat by Croatia to finish as runners-up in the group. They will be out if they lose and Albania beat Spain.
– Albania can finish as runners-up if they beat Spain and Croatia beat Italy. They will be out if they lose and Croatia win.
– Croatia can also finish as group runners-up if they beat Italy and Albania do not win against Spain. Croatia will be out if they draw and Albania do not lose.
Group C
– England will be through if they do not lose to Slovenia or if Denmark fail to beat Serbia. England can top the group with a win or even a draw if Denmark do not win. England cannot finish lower than third.
– If Denmark beat Serbia they will be through. If the Danes and Slovenia both draw, they will finish second and third via goal difference etc. Denmark will be out if they lose and Slovenia do not.
– Slovenia can make the last 16 by beating England. They will top the group if they win and Denmark do not. If they win or draw and the result is matched by the Danes, they will be split on goal difference etc.
– Serbia can also qualify by beating Denmark and if Slovenia do not win against England. Serbia will be out if they lose or if they draw and Slovenia do not lose.
Group D
– The Netherlands will finish in the top two if they do not lose to Austria. They can top the group if they win and France fail to beat Poland. They can also win the group with a draw if France lose to Poland.
– France will qualify in the top two if they avoid defeat. If France and the Dutch have the same result, they will be split on goal difference etc.
– A win for Austria over the Dutch will give them a top two finish in the group. Austria can top the group if they win and France do not.
– Poland are already eliminated and cannot reach the last 16.
Group E
For the first time in European Championship history, all four teams – Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine – are level on three points after two games. All of them can finish in any position and each team can progress or be eliminated.
Group F
– Portugal have secured their place in the last 16 with top spot in the group.
– Turkey need to avoid losing against the Czech Republic to finish as group runners-up.
– Czech Republic can finish second and qualify by beating Turkey. A draw may be enough but they will go out if they lose.
– Georgia can progress as runners-up by beating Portugal and if Czech Republic also win against Turkey – they will also need to overturn the goal difference. They go home if they lose or if they draw and Turkey do not beat Czech Republic.
(Reporting by Christian Radnedge, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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