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| Photo: Goal |
Euro 2020 Round of 16 rule
There are six groups with four teams each atEuro 2020. All six group winners and six runner-ups qualify automatically for the Round of 16. The remaining four spots will be filled by the four best teams out of the six third-placed teams.
In order, this is how the four-best third-placed teams are decided, according to UEFA:
– 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 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
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| Photo: Goal |
How will the group standings be determined at Euro 2020?
At Euro 2020, in case multiple teams in a group are level on points, head-to-head record will be used to break the tie, according to Goal. If the teams are still level, goal difference will come into play. Here are all the different tie-breaking scenarios at the Euros:
– Higher number of points obtained in the matches played between the teams in question (or head-to-head record)
– Superior goal difference resulting from the matches played between the teams in question (in case of 3 or more teams finishing level on points)
– Higher number of goals scored in the matches played between the teams in question (in case of 3 or more teams finishing level on points)
If some of the teams still have an equal ranking after this, the same criteria 1 to 3 are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the teams who are still level to determine their final rankings.
For example, if the above criteria are used for three teams level on points and after using it, two are still level, the same criteria will be looked at again with the matches between the two teams taken into account.
If the teams are still level, then the following criteria are applied:
– Superior goal difference in all group matches
– Higher number of goals scored in all group matches
– Higher number of wins in all group matches
– Penalty Shootout
– Lower disciplinary points total in all group matches (1 point for a single yellow card, 3 points for a red card as a consequence of two yellow cards, 3 points for a direct red card, 4 points for a yellow card followed by a direct red card)
– Higher position in the European Qualifiers overall ranking.
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| Current third-placed ranking. (Photo: Goal) |
Will Penalty Shootouts be used to determine Euro 2020 group stage rankings?
If on the last round of the group stage, two teams are facing each other and each has the same number of points, as well as the same number of goals scored and conceded, and the score finishes level in their match, their ranking is determined by a penalty shoot-out. (This criterion is not used if more than two teams have the same number of points).
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| Photo: Sky Sports |
What each team needs to enter Round of 16
So far, only four teams have so far clinched qualifications for the Round of 16 – Italy, Wales, Belgium, and the Netherlands. 12 remaining spots in the Round of 16 are still up for grabs with numerous giants still fighting it out to make it out of the group stages. England and Spain are yet to seal qualification from their groups while Portugal, Germany, and France are locked in an epic battle in Group F aka the group of death.
Group A
After securing their progression as group runners-up, Wales will play in Amsterdam on Saturday night. They will face the runners-up from Group B – which could be Finland, Denmark, Russia or Belgium.
Group A winners Italy will play at Wembley on Saturday, and they will be up against the runners-up from Group C – which will be either Ukraine or Austria.
Switzerland, with four points, should still progress as one of the four best third-placed teams. That will be confirmed either on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Group B
Belgium is through to the knockout stages after beating Denmark 2-1 and will top the section with a draw in their final group game against Finland on Monday, according to Sky Sports.
Meanwhile, Finland and Russia are locked together on three points, while Denmark is bottom of the table having lost their opening two games. All of which means Russia will be through with a win against Denmark, or with a draw if Finland fails to beat Belgium. Meanwhile, Finland will progress with a win, or a draw if Russia loses to Denmark.
And finally, Denmark can finish second if they beat Russia and Finland lose against Belgium, but it will all depend on the goals scored in these two matches.
Group C
Netherlands have booked their last-16 place as Group C winners after beating Austria 2-0 on Thursday, while North Macedonia have become the first side to be eliminated from the tournament after their 2-1 loss to Ukraine.
Whoever wins the final group game on Monday – Austria or Ukraine – will finish in second place, while the latter would secure the runners-up berth with a draw in that clash in Bucharest.
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| Photo: Sky Sports |
Group D
While England’s current haul of four points should see them progress as one of the four best-placed third-placed teams even if they lose to the Czech Republic on Tuesday, they need at least a draw to be absolutely sure of progressing and only a victory will be enough for them to go through as group winners. A draw for the Czech Republic would, meanwhile, ensure they progress as group winners and face a potential meeting with one of Portugal, Germany, France, or Hungary.
As for Scotland, nothing less than a victory over Croatia will be sufficient for them to have any hope of making it through to the last 16. If Scotland wins and England and the Czechs draw, Scotland should go through as one of the four third-placed teams.
Group E
Sweden is all but through to the last 16 with their four points following the win over Slovakia on Friday.
Slovakia stunned Poland in their tournament opener, but stay on three points going into their final game against Spain. A point should be enough to reach the last 16, but a defeat would leave their progression up in the air.
Meanwhile, Spain still has plenty of work to do after their 0-0 draw with Sweden in the opener and subsequent 1-1 draw with Poland.
Poland kept their tournament alive with that result – and all four teams are still able to finish in the top two on the final day.
Group F
Germany moved second in the group with their thumping win over Portugal, who missed the chance to book their last-16 spot. However, France’s draw with Hungary earlier on Saturday has left all to play for in Group F in the final round of matches.
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The knockout stage starts with the Round of 16 running June 26-29. That’s followed by the quarterfinals July 2 and 3, the semifinals July 6 and 7, and the Final is July 11, according to Draft Kings Nation. |
