Euro 2024: What every team needs to go through
The group stage at Euro 2024 is starting to take shape after the first round of matches.
Who could book their progress in the second set of matches? Who has work to do? We run through all six groups and set out the permutations.
The top two teams in each group go through to the round of 16, along with the four best runners-up. The third-placed scenarios can be found at the bottom of the article.
This article will be updated after each group stage fixture.
QUALIFIED (1/16): Germany
TIEBREAKERS:
If teams are equal on points, they will be separated by the following criteria:
1. Head-to-head points
2. Head-to-head goal difference
3. Head-to-head goals scored
If three teams are level on points, a mini-league is created only involving the results of the matches between the teams in question.
4. If after applying stages 1-3 some teams are still level, it is reapplied just to those teams. For instance, England, Slovenia and Serbia are level on points; after applying 1-3, England are first but Slovenia and Serbia cannot be separated in the three-team mini-league. The direct head-to-head between Slovenia and Serbia would determine second place.
If teams still cannot be separated, the following are applied:
5. Group goal difference
6. Group goals scored
7. Penalty shootout, if the two teams are playing each other on the final matchday
8. If they don’t play each other, lower disciplinary points (1 point yellow, 3 points red via two yellows, 3 points direct red, 4 points yellow followed by direct red)
9. European qualifiers overall ranking, unless Germany are involved. If Germany are involved, then it would be a random drawing of lots.
Group A
Results:
Germany 5-1 Scotland
Hungary 1-3 Switzerland
Germany 2-0 Hungary
Remaining fixtures:
June 19
Scotland vs. Switzerland
June 23
Switzerland vs. Germany
Scotland vs. Hungary
Germany: Germany are through, and they will claim a place in the top two if Switzerland win/draw.
Switzerland: Go through with a win over Scotland.
Hungary: Won’t be able to finish in the top two if Switzerland win/draw against Scotland. Would remain in the hunt for a best-third place position.
Scotland: Can’t take an automatic place if they lose to the Swiss. But there would be a last-day showdown with Hungary for third.
Group B
Results:
Spain 3-0 Croatia
Italy 2-1 Albania
Croatia 2-2 Albania
Remaining fixtures:
June 20
Spain vs. Italy
June 24
Albania vs. Spain
Croatia vs. Italy
Spain: Spain will qualify as group winners with a victory over Italy.
Italy: Italy will be through as group winners with a win over Spain.
Albania: Cannot qualify or be eliminated on matchday 2.
Croatia: Cannot qualify or be eliminated on matchday 2.
Group C
Results:
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark
Serbia 0-1 England
Remaining fixtures:
June 20
Slovenia vs. Serbia
Denmark vs. England
June 25
England vs. Slovenia
Denmark vs. Serbia
England: Will qualify with a victory over Denmark, which will be as group winners if Serbia win/draw in the earlier match.
Denmark: Cannot qualify or be ruled out of the top two on matchday two.
Slovenia: As with Denmark, nothing can be decided from their match vs. Serbia.
Serbia: Will be unable to finish in the top two if they lose to Slovenia, and eliminated completely if Denmark then beat England.
Group D
Results:
Poland 1-2 Netherlands
Austria 0-1 France
Remaining fixtures:
June 21
Poland vs. Austria
Netherlands vs. France
June 25
France vs. Poland
Netherlands vs. Austria
Netherlands: Netherlands will qualify with a win, which will be as group winners if Poland win/draw in the earlier match on Friday.
France: France will be through with a win, which will be as group winners if Austria win/draw in the first fixture.
Poland: Cannot finish in the top two if they lose to Austria and France then win/draw.
Austria: Will not be able to finish in the top two if they are beaten by Poland and Netherlands win/draw.
Group E
Results:
Romania 3-0 Ukraine
Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
Remaining fixtures:
June 21
Slovakia vs. Ukraine
June 22
Belgium vs. Romania
June 26
Ukraine vs. Belgium
Slovakia vs. Romania
Romania: Romania can seal qualification with a win over Belgium, which will be in the top two if Slovakia get a win/draw against Ukraine, .
Slovakia: If Slovakia can get a victory against Ukraine they are through, and that will be in the top two if Romania win/draw against Belgium.
Belgium: Won’t be able to finish in the top two if Slovakia win/draw against Ukraine and then Belgium lose to Romania. Would remain in the hunt to go through in third.
Ukraine: Can’t take an automatic place if they lose to Slovakia and Romania then win/draw against Belgium. But there would be a final-match showdown with Belgium for third.
Group F
Results:
Turkey 3-1 Georgia
Portugal 2-1 Czechia
Remaining fixtures:
June 22
Georgia vs. Czechia
Turkey vs. Portugal
June 26
Czechia vs. Turkey
Georgia vs. Portugal
Turkey: Turkey will be through with a win, which will be as group winners if Georgia win/draw in the first game.
Portugal: Portugal will qualify with a victory, which will be as group winners if Czechia win/draw against Georgia.
Czechia: Will be eliminated if they are beaten by Georgia and Turkey win/draw.
Georgia: Will be out if they lose to Czechia and Portugal then win/draw.
Ranking of best third-placed teams
The four best runners-up will go through to the round of 16.
This format has been in place for two previous editions, and both times four points secured progress. At Euro 2020, Ukraine sneaked through on three points. At Euro 2016, both Northern Ireland and eventual winners Portugal made it on three points.
It’s still very early days to determine how many points will be required.
The third-place ranking is determined first by:
1. Points
2. Goal difference
3. Goals scored
4. Wins
5. Lower disciplinary points
6. European qualifiers overall ranking, unless Germany are involved. If Germany are involved, random draw.
While this is the current top six, the ranking can flip around very quickly by another team leaping into third place in a group, or dropping down into it.
