Euro 2024 has captivated audiences with its thrilling matches, spectacular goals, and intense competition. As the group stage progresses towards its climax on June 26th, anticipation builds to see which 16 of the 24 participating nations will advance to the knockout rounds.
The qualification rules are straightforward yet create compelling drama. The top two teams from each of the six groups are guaranteed passage to the round of 16. They will be joined by the four best third-placed teams, adding an extra layer of intrigue and ensuring that even teams finishing third still have a chance to progress.
Tie-breakers in the group stage are determined first by points in head-to-head matches between tied teams, a departure from the overall goal difference used in the World Cup. If teams remain level, then overall goal difference across all group matches comes into play.
The knockout stage is set to commence on Saturday, June 29th, with round-of-16 matches running until Tuesday, July 2nd. The excitement will continue into the quarter-finals on July 5th and 6th, followed by the semi-finals on July 9th and 10th. The grand finale, the Euro 2024 final, will take place in Berlin on Sunday, July 14th.
Let’s delve into a group-by-group analysis to understand the current state of play, examining the Euro 2024 Results Table for each group and projecting potential knockout stage matchups as the tournament unfolds.
Group A: Germany and Switzerland Lead the Way
Hosts Germany have secured their place in the knockout stage with dominant performances. They opened their campaign with a resounding 5-1 victory over Scotland in Munich and followed it up with a 2-0 win against Hungary in Stuttgart.
Switzerland are currently in second place in Group A. Their 3-1 victory over Hungary on June 15th and a subsequent 1-1 draw with Scotland on June 19th have put them in a strong position to qualify.
The winner of Group A is slated to face the runner-up of Group C in Dortmund on June 29th. The team finishing second in Group A will play against the runner-up from Group B in Berlin on the same day.
| Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Germany (Q) | 2 | 6 |
| Switzerland | 2 | 4 |
| Scotland | 2 | 1 |
| Hungary | 2 | 0 |
Group B: Spain Clinch Top Spot in the ‘Group of Death’
Group B, often referred to as the ‘group of death’, has lived up to its billing. Spain have emerged as group winners, guaranteeing their knockout stage berth with a crucial 1-0 victory over Italy.
Italy now faces a critical final group game against Croatia. A draw would secure Italy’s advancement, while a loss could see Croatia overtake them on points. Albania also remains in contention; a win against Spain coupled with other results could create a tight race for qualification from Group B. Goal difference could become a decisive factor if Albania and Croatia both end up with four points, potentially at Italy’s expense.
This group witnessed a historic moment when Albania’s Nedim Bajrami scored the fastest goal in European Championship history, netting against Italy after just 23 seconds on June 15th. Italy, however, recovered to win 2-1, with goals from Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella.
Earlier, Spain demonstrated their dominance with a 3-0 victory over Croatia, featuring goals from Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz, and Dani Carvajal. Morata’s goal marked his seventh in European Championship history, placing him among the tournament’s all-time leading scorers, only behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Michel Platini.
| Player | Country | Goals | Tournaments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 14 | 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024 |
| Michel Platini | France | 9 | 1984 |
| Alan Shearer | England | 7 | 1992, 1996, 2000 |
| Alvaro Morata | Spain | 7 | 2016, 2020, 2024 |
| Antoine Griezmann | France | 7 | 2016, 2020, 2024 |
Croatia and Albania played out a dramatic 2-2 draw on June 19th. Andrej Kramaric and a Klaus Gjasula own goal initially put Croatia ahead, but Gjasula redeemed himself by scoring a late equalizer in added time, ensuring a point for Albania.
Spain will face a third-placed team in Cologne on June 30th in the round of 16. The Group B runner-up will play the Group A runner-up in Berlin on June 29th, kicking off the knockout stage.
| Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2 | 6 |
| Italy | 2 | 3 |
| Albania | 2 | 1 |
| Croatia | 2 | 1 |
Group C: England Edging Closer to Knockout Stage
England’s 1-1 draw with Denmark has put them in a favorable position in Group C, guaranteeing them at least a third-place finish with four points from their first two games. Denmark and Slovenia are level on points and goal difference, having drawn their match against each other.
Serbia secured their first point with a late equalizer against Slovenia on June 20th, keeping their hopes alive.
England currently tops Group C following their 1-0 victory over Serbia on June 16th. A draw against Slovenia in their final group match on June 25th would confirm their place in the last 16. Denmark will face Serbia simultaneously in another crucial Group C fixture.
The winner of Group C will play a third-placed team in Gelsenkirchen on June 30th. The runner-up will face the winner of Group A (currently Germany) in Dortmund on June 29th.
| Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| England | 2 | 4 |
| Denmark | 2 | 2 |
| Slovenia | 2 | 2 |
| Serbia | 2 | 1 |
Group D: Mbappe’s Injury Headlines as Netherlands and France Vie for Top Spot
Group D’s initial headlines were dominated by Kylian Mbappe’s broken nose. France’s captain sustained the injury in a collision during their 1-0 win against Austria on June 18th. Despite the injury, Mbappe was on the bench for France’s subsequent match against the Netherlands.
Mbappe played a crucial role in the win against Austria, initiating the attack that led to Maximilian Wober’s own goal.
The Netherlands also started strong, defeating Poland 2-1 on June 16th, thanks to a late goal from substitute Wout Weghorst.
Poland suffered another defeat, losing 3-1 to Austria on June 21st, confirming their elimination from Euro 2024. The Netherlands and France played out a 0-0 draw in Leipzig, leaving them joint top of the group.
The Group D winner will play the runner-up of Group F in the round of 16 on July 2nd in Leipzig. The Group D runner-up will face the Group E runner-up on July 1st in Dusseldorf.
| Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 2 | 4 |
| France | 2 | 4 |
| Austria | 2 | 3 |
| Poland (eliminated) | 2 | 0 |
Group E: Slovakia’s Upset and Tight Race for Qualification
Group E produced the biggest upset of the first round when Slovakia defeated Belgium 1-0 on June 17th. This result is considered the biggest upset in European Championship history based on FIFA rankings. Earlier on the same day, Romania impressed with a 3-0 victory over Ukraine, featuring a stunning goal from Nicolae Stanciu.
Ukraine bounced back with a crucial win against Slovakia on June 21st, moving them up to second place in a tightly contested group.
Belgium, hoping for Romelu Lukaku to find his scoring form, will face Romania on June 22nd in a critical match to revive their Euro 2024 campaign.
The winner of Group E will play a third-placed team in Munich on July 2nd. The runner-up will face the Group D runner-up on July 1st in Dusseldorf.
| Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Romania | 1 | 3 |
| Ukraine | 2 | 3 |
| Slovakia | 2 | 3 |
| Belgium | 1 | 0 |
Group F: Thrilling Matches and Ronaldo’s Record
Group F has delivered arguably the most exciting match of Euro 2024 so far, with Turkey defeating Georgia 3-1 on June 18th. Turkey’s Mert Muldur and Arda Guler scored sensational long-range goals, while Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze also found the net in an action-packed encounter. Kerem Akturkoglu sealed the win for Turkey with a late goal into an empty net after Georgia pushed for an equalizer.
Portugal secured a late victory against the Czech Republic in their opening match. This game saw Pepe become the oldest player in European Championship history at 41, and Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to participate in six European Championship editions.
Portugal will next face Turkey on June 22nd, with Ronaldo aiming to score in a record sixth Euros. Georgia and the Czech Republic will play each other, both needing a win to avoid being on the brink of elimination.
The winner of Group F will play a third-placed team in Frankfurt on July 1st. The runner-up will face the Group D winner in Leipzig on July 2nd.
| Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 1 | 3 |
| Portugal | 1 | 3 |
| Czech Republic | 1 | 0 |
| Georgia | 1 | 0 |
Here is the bracket for the knockout stage, which will be updated as Euro 2024 progresses, reflecting the evolving Euro 2024 results table and team standings. Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament unfolds.
(Top photo: Denmark score against England; Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images)
