With the first two rounds of the Euro 2024 group stage now completed, Sports Mole looks at what every team needs to do to progress into the last 16.
Half of the last 16 places at Euro 2024 have now been filled, although there is still plenty to be decided heading into the final two days of group games at the tournament.
After groups A and B concluded with remarkable late drama on Sunday and Monday, football fans will be treated to double-headers on Tuesday and Wednesday as the eight remaining matches take places across groups C, D, E and F.
Germany, Spain and Portugal have already secured top spot in their respective groups, while Switzerland and Italy go through as runners-up in groups A and B.
England, France and Netherlands are also guaranteed a place in the last 16 due to their four-point hauls from the first two games, although their exact placings in groups C and D will only be decided on Tuesday.
A host of other teams still have work to do to join those eight qualified teams in the next round, with Poland the only team already eliminated of the 16 still with a game remaining.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up what every team needs to qualify from their group at Euro 2024.
GROUP C
Already qualified: England
Already eliminated: None
Remaining fixtures
England vs. Slovenia (Tuesday, June 25 | 8pm)
Denmark vs. Serbia (Tuesday, June 25 | 8pm)
What do England need to win the group?
GROUP D
Already qualified: Netherlands, France
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?
What has already been decided?
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
Qualified: Spain, Italy
Eliminated: Albania
Spain were already through as group winners heading into the final matchday on Monday, and a much-changed side side off a late Albania rally to secure a 1-0 victory that sends them into the knockout rounds with a 100% record without conceding a goal throughout the groups.
There was far more drama behind them, though, with Italy scoring a incredible equaliser in the last minute of stoppage time to ensure that they nicked second place ahead of Croatia, who had been due to progress until that gut-wrenching strike.
Instead, Luka Modric and co must now wait to learn their fate as one of the third-placed teams, although that route is highly unlikely given that they only amassed two points and have a goal difference of minus three.
Indeed, they could officially be eliminated on Tuesday night depending on how the third-place table looks after the matches in groups C and D.
Albania, meanwhile, finished bottom of the pile as expected, although they more than held their own in the ‘Group of Death’, with both of their defeats coming by just a solitary goal.
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 that could still change over the final two days of group games.
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 and Czech Republic are both within striking distance.
Croatia’s heartbreaking late concession against Italy leaves them on course to crash out too; they would require Slovenia to lose heavily against England, and for both Czech Republic and Georgia to lose, to stand any chance of progressing.
1. Austria (3pts | +1 GD)
2. Slovakia (3pts | 0 GD)
3. Hungary (3pts | -3 GD)
4. Slovenia (2pts | 0 GD)
5. Croatia (2pts | -3 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