Euro 2024 group permutations and third-place standings explained
Euro 2024 final group standings and the ranking of the third-placed teams as the knockout stage draw is confirmed
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The Euro 2024 group stage is over, with the path to the Berlin final now set for the 16 teams who are through to the knockouts. As well as the top two teams in each of the six groups, the four best third-placed teams have also progressed to make up the last-16, with the remaining eight nations cut from the tournament.
England know they will face Slovakia in the last-16 after Gareth Southgate’s side topped Group C. Slovakia were one of the four best third-placed teams, having finished third in Group E despite all four teams finishing on four points. Slovenia and Georgia also celebrated historic qualifications to the knockout rounds.
There were plenty of twists and turns in store as the final round of fixtures played out, with both matches in each of the groups kicking off simultaneously. Here’s how the final group standings are looking, as well as the final ranking of the third-placed teams at Euro 2024.
Group A
Germany: A late equaliser against Switzerland secured top spot in the group after victories over Scotland and Hungary. The hosts will face Denmark in the last-16.
Switzerland: A point confirmed Switzerland’s place in the top two, and they will face Italy in the last-16.
Hungary: A dramatic winner against Scotland kept their hopes alive, but Hungary are out after Georgia’s victory over Portugal.
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
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. Slovenia’s point against England knocked Croatia out.
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
Group C
Permutations
England: Despite a 0-0 draw with Slovenia, England are through as group winners and will play one of the four best third-placed teams in the last-16 on Saturday 30 June in Gelsenkirchen.
Denmark: A 0-0 draw was enough for second after England beat Slovenia and they will play hosts Germany next. Remarkably, Denmark and Slovenia finished with identical records (including disciplinary standings) so Denmark went through due to their better position in the overall European Qualifiers rankings.
Slovenia: They celebrated qualification to the last-16 wildly after drawing 0-0 with England, a result that ensured they stayed above Serbia. Four points is enough to go through as one of the four-best third placed teams.
Serbia: Had to beat Denmark and go out with a 0-0 draw.
Results
Stuttgart: Slovenia 1-1 Denmark
Gelsenkirchen: Serbia 0-1 England
Munich: Slovenia 1-1 Serbia
Frankfurt: Denmark 1-1 England
Cologne: England 0-0 Slovenia
Munich: Denmark 0-0 Serbia
Group D
Permutations
Austria: In a wild end to Group D, Austria beat the Netherlands while France dropped points against Poland. 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, falling into the tougher side of the draw.
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
Romania: With all four teams finishing on four points in a remarkable Group E, Romania top the group on goals scored after a 1-1 draw with Slovakia, as Belgium and Ukraine played out a 0-0 draw. Romania and Slovakia were both guaranteed to go through if they drew. Romania are the biggest surprise group winner of Euro 2024 and will be a third-placed team in the last-16.
Belgium: Despite beating Romania, Belgium finish second in the group on goals scored because all four teams ended with the same points. A win would have put Belgium top, but they drew 0-0 with Ukraine and will play France in the last-16.
Slovakia: Knew a draw against Romania would be enough to secure last-16 progress, as both teams played out a 1-1. Will play a group winner in the last-16.
Ukraine: Had to beat Belgium, after Romania and Slovakia finished as a draw. A 0-0 draw sends Ukraine home on goal difference across the three group games - they become the first team in European Championship history to exit in the group stage on four points.
Results
Munich: Romania 3-0 Ukraine
Frankfurt: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
Dusseldorf: Slovakia 1-2 Ukraine
Cologne: Belgium 2-0 Romania
Frankfurt: Slovakia 1-1 Romania
Stuttgart: Ukraine 0-0 Belgium
Group F
Permutations
Portugal: Knew they had won Group F regardless of their result against Georgia. They will play Slovenia in the last-16.
Turkey: A win against Czech Republic ensured they finished runner-up, setting up a last-16 tie against Austria.
Georgia: Claimed a historic place in the knockout stages thanks to a stunning win over Portugal. No other result would have been good enough.
Czechia: Had to beat Turkey to go through, but were beaten 2-1 with 10 men.
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
Hamburg: Czechia 1-2 Turkey
Gelsenkirchen: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
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:
- higher number of points obtained in the matches played among the teams in question;
- superior goal difference resulting from the matches played among the teams in question;
- higher number of goals scored in the matches played among the teams in question;
- 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:
- superior goal difference in all group matches;
- higher number of goals scored in all group matches;
- 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);
- 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:
- higher number of points;
- superior goal difference;
- higher number of goals scored;
- higher number of wins;
- 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);
- 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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