There are many uncertainties ahead of the knockout rounds ahead of the final day of group play on Wednesday at Euro 2024.
The tournament consists of 24 teams in six groups of four and 16 teams advance to the knockout rounds. The top two teams from each group qualify automatically and the last four places are reserved for the four best third places in the groups.
We know that the Netherlands will definitely advance to the knockout stages, despite a 3-2 defeat against Austria on Tuesday. The results of the Group C matches – two disappointing 0-0 draws – saw Denmark and Slovenia finish with three points each. The Dutch earned four points in Group D and have the most points of all the teams in third place with two groups to play.
The third-place team from Group E also has a great chance of advancing. Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine each have three points from the first two rounds. Belgium plays against Ukraine and Slovakia plays against Romania on Wednesday.
In Group F, Portugal has already won the group with two wins in two matches. Türkiye is second with three points, while the Czech Republic and Georgia each have one point. Portugal plays against the Czech Republic and Türkiye against Georgia on Wednesday afternoon.
Germany won Group A with seven points and Switzerland finished second with five points. In Group B, Spain won all nine points, while Italy finished second in the group on Monday afternoon thanks to a last-gasp goal to draw against Croatia. Italy plays against Switzerland in the round of 16.
Despite a dull draw against Slovenia on Tuesday, England won Group C by five points and will also play a third-place team, while Denmark and Slovenia were level on three points, equal goal difference, two goals allowed and two goals scored.
Denmark moved up as a team in second place thanks to one fewer yellow card over the three matches than Slovenia. But Slovenia’s neutral goal difference means they are in a good position to advance.
How the games against third-place teams are determined
Here’s how the four third-place teams, who have played all three group matches, will face off on Wednesday.
1. Netherlands, 4 points
2. Slovenia, 3 points (0 goal difference)
3. Hungary, 3 points (-3)
4. Croatia, 2 points (-3)
Croatia cannot progress because every team in Group E already has three points. Both Romania and Belgium have a goal difference of +1 in that group, Slovakia’s goal difference is 0 and Ukraine is -2.
Before the tournament, UEFA ranked the four teams in third place via a predetermined order. Since Croatia has already been eliminated, five different combinations are still alive pending the outcome of Wednesday’s matches. If Hungary progresses, it will play against Portugal. The Netherlands, meanwhile, could play England or the winner of Group E, depending on how Wednesday goes.
In Group F, Türkiye is on three points on -1 goal difference, while the Czech Republic is on -1 on 1 point and Georgia is on -2 on 1 point. Thanks to the draw in Group C, Türkiye will qualify for the knockout rounds with a win, draw or loss by one goal against Georgia. Both the Czech Republic and Georgia need to win their matches to qualify for second or third place.
Simply put, we won’t know the combination of the four third-place teams advancing to the knockout rounds until all of group play is completed on Wednesday. And the four first-place teams that will play the third-place teams also won’t know their opponents until Group F play concludes.
