UEFA EURO 2024: Best third-placed teams
Sunday, June 23, 2024
The UEFA EURO 2024 tournament is heating up as teams battle to secure a spot in the round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams. While the top two teams in each group automatically advance to the knockout stage, the remaining spots are highly coveted by the third-placed teams.
How the four best third-placed teams are decided:
To determine the four best third-placed teams, UEFA applies specific criteria in the following order:
- Higher number of points
- Superior goal difference
- Higher number of goals scored
- Higher number of wins
- Lower disciplinary points total based on yellow and red cards
- Position in the overall European Qualifiers rankings
Once the four best third-placed teams are identified, the regulations outline the allocation of these teams to the round of 16 matches.
Who needs what to go through:
Here are the upcoming round of 16 ties for the third-place qualifiers:
- Sunday 30 June: 1C vs 3D/E/F (Gelsenkirchen, 18:00) and Spain vs 3A/D/E/F (Cologne, 21:00)
- Monday 1 July: Portugal vs 3A/B/C (Frankfurt, 21:00)
- Tuesday 2 July: 1E vs 3A/B/C/D (Munich, 18:00)
Current third-placed teams:
- Group A: Scotland
- Group B: Albania
- Group C: Slovenia
- Group D: Austria
- Group E: Slovakia
- Group F: Czechia
How have previous third-placed finishers fared?
The system of determining the best third-placed teams was first introduced during UEFA EURO 2016, with teams like Portugal finishing third in their groups. The journey of these teams showcases the unpredictability and excitement of the tournament.
