With the first two rounds of the Euro 2024 group stage now completed, Sports Mole looks at what every team – including England and Scotland – need to do to progress into the last 16.
The final round of group games at Euro 2024 is now underway, with Group A having concluded in dramatic fashion as Hungary kept their last 16 dreams just about alive at the expense of Scotland.
Germany and Switzerland were the automatic qualifiers from that group, and over the next three days the other 14 teams will be confirmed – including the four best third-placed nations.
A couple of those remaining spots have already been filled with a game to spare, affording certain teams the luxury of taking things easy in their final group match before attacking the knockout rounds with their main stars potentially having had a rest.
However, for others there is plenty of work still to do if they are to make it beyond the group stage, and only one match left to do it.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up what every team needs to qualify from their group at Euro 2024.
GROUP A
Qualified: Germany, Switzerland
Eliminated: Scotland
Scotland realistically needed to beat Hungary on the final matchday of Group A to stand a chance of reaching the knockout rounds of a major tournament for the first time in their history, but they fell short in Stuttgart and ultimately finished bottom of the pile.
Hungary’s heart-breaking 100th-minute winner rubber-stamped Scotland’s early exit from the competition, making it 12 major tournaments and 12 group-stage exits for the Tartan Army.
On the flip side, the goal did throw Hungary’s name back into the hat for one of the best third-place spots, moving up to three points with their first points of the tournament.
However, their poor goal difference of minus three could come back to bite them, and now they face a nervous waiting game to see whether they will qualify.
Germany had already secured their place in the last 16 before the final matchday, but they needed a 92nd-minute equaliser to cling on to top spot, denying Switzerland in the process.
The 1-1 draw was enough to see Switzerland join the hosts in the knockout rounds, though, as they finished in second place on five points.
GROUP B
Already qualified: Spain
Already eliminated: None
Remaining fixtures
Croatia vs. Italy (Monday, June 24 | 8pm)
Albania vs. Spain (Monday, June 24 | 8pm)
What do Italy and Croatia need to reach the last 16?
GROUP C
Already qualified: None
Already eliminated: None
Remaining fixtures
England vs. Slovenia (Tuesday, June 25 | 8pm)
Denmark vs. Serbia (Tuesday, June 25 | 8pm)
What do England need to reach last 16?
GROUP D
Already qualified: None
Already eliminated: Poland
Remaining fixtures
Netherlands vs. Austria (Tuesday, June 25 | 5pm)
France vs. Poland (Tuesday, June 25 | 5pm)
What do France, Netherlands need to reach last 16?
GROUP E
Already qualified: None
Already eliminated: None
Remaining fixtures
Ukraine vs. Belgium (Wednesday, June 26 | 5pm)
Slovakia vs. Romania (Wednesday, June 26 | 5pm)
What to Belgium need to reach the last 16?
GROUP F
Already qualified: Portugal
Already eliminated: None
Remaining fixtures
Czech Republic vs. Turkey (Wednesday, June 26 | 8pm)
Georgia vs. Portugal (Wednesday, June 26 | 8pm)
What do Turkey need to reach last 16?
Who are the best-ranked third-placed teams at Euro 2024?
Hungary’s dramatic 100th-minute winner against Scotland kept their hopes of sneaking into the last 16 just about alive, ending their Group A campaign on three points.
That is the same number as two other third-placed teams right now, and would be enough to book a knockout berth as things stand, although every other third-placed team still has one more match to improve their tally.
Hungary’s goal difference could also harm them; they are still behind Austria and Slovakia in the third-placed qualification stakes despite having played a game more, while Slovenia are just a point behind.
Albania and Czech Republic are then level on one point and level on goal difference – neither would progress as things stand, but they too have a game in hand to change that, victory in which would lift them above Hungary.
1. Austria (3pts | +1 GD)
2. Slovakia (3pts | 0 GD)
3. Hungary (3pts | -3 GD)
4. Slovenia (2pts | 0 GD)
5. Albania (1pt | -1 GD)
6. Czech Republic (1pt | -1 GD)
Click here to see all of the projected Euro 2024 last 16 and quarter-final ties as things stand.
What are the Euro 2024 tie-breakers?
The number of points gained are, of course, the first port of call when it comes to deciding positions in the group tables, but beyond that things get a little more complicated with relatively few matches taking place.
If points are level, it then goes to head-to-head results between any teams involved, and then head-to-head goal difference and head-to-head goals scored.
In the case of draws between two teams, all of those tie-breakers are often level, so it then goes down to overall goal difference, and overall goals scored after that.
If two or more teams are still tied after all of that, the next deciding factor is their disciplinary total. This is calculated using a points system, where a red card is worth three points, a yellow is worth one, and two yellows in a game is worth three. The team with the lowest disciplinary points tally would progress.
In the unlikely event that things are still evenly tied, the ultimate deciding factor would then be their ranking in qualifiers for Euro 2024.
1. Points
2. Head-to-head results between team or teams
3. Head-to-head goal difference
4. Head-to-head goals scored
5. Overall goal difference
6. Overall goals scored
7. Lowest disciplinary points total
8. Ranking in qualifiers