The UEFA Euro 2024 tournament is electrifying football fans worldwide, delivering a spectacle of thrilling matches, unexpected upsets, and unforgettable goals. As the group stage progresses towards its climax on June 26th, the stakes are higher than ever for the 24 competing nations. Eight teams will face elimination, while the remaining sixteen will advance to the coveted knockout rounds.
Securing a spot in the knockout stage is the primary goal for every team. The pathway is straightforward for the top finishers: the top two teams from each of the six groups automatically qualify. Adding to the drama, the four best third-placed teams will also earn their passage to the round of 16, creating intense competition and keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
When teams are tied on points, the Euro 2024 regulations prioritize head-to-head results to determine group rankings, a departure from the overall goal difference tiebreaker used in the World Cup. If teams remain inseparable after considering head-to-head points, the next tiebreaker is the goal difference across all group matches. This intricate system adds layers of strategic importance to every game.
The knockout stage is set to ignite from June 29th to July 2nd with the round of 16 clashes. The quarter-finals will follow on July 5th and 6th, setting the stage for the semi-finals on July 9th and 10th. The grand finale, where the Euro 2024 champion will be crowned, will take place in Berlin on Sunday, July 14th.
Let’s delve into a detailed analysis of each group’s current standings and explore the potential scenarios unfolding in Euro 2024. We will provide regular updates as the tournament progresses, ensuring you stay informed about all the crucial developments.
Euro 2024 Group A Table: Germany and Switzerland in Pole Position
Host nation Germany has made a powerful statement, securing their place in the knockout stage with dominant victories. They began their campaign by overpowering Scotland 5-1 in a spectacular opening match in Munich and followed up with a convincing 2-0 win against Hungary in Stuttgart. Germany’s flawless performance has established them as firm favorites in Group A.
Switzerland is currently positioned second in the group, following a solid 3-1 victory over Hungary on June 15th and a 1-1 draw against Scotland on June 19th. Their consistent performance puts them in a strong position to advance.
The stakes are high for the remaining teams. The winner of Group A is slated to face the runner-up of Group C in a highly anticipated round-of-16 match in Dortmund on June 29th. Meanwhile, the team finishing second in Group A will confront the runner-up from Group B in Berlin on the same day, promising a day of thrilling knockout football.
| Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Germany (Q) | 2 | 6 |
| Switzerland | 2 | 4 |
| Scotland | 2 | 1 |
| Hungary | 2 | 0 |
Euro 2024 Group B Table: Spain Seizes Control in the ‘Group of Death’
Group B, widely labeled the ‘group of death’, has lived up to its billing with intense competition. Spain has emerged as the group leader, clinching the top spot and knockout qualification with a decisive 1-0 victory over Italy. This high-stakes match showcased Spain’s tactical prowess and solidified their status as a major contender in the tournament.
[
GO DEEPER
Spain defeated Italy 1-0, with an own goal deciding the ‘European Clasico’.](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5572867/2024/06/20/spain-italy-euro2024-result-analysis-yamal-williams/)
Italy now faces a critical final group game against Croatia. A draw would secure Italy’s advancement, while a defeat would allow Croatia to overtake them on points. The pressure is mounting on the Italian side as they strive to maintain their Euro 2024 journey.
Albania also remains in contention. If they manage to defeat Spain, they would also reach four points. Should both Albania and Croatia end up with four points, and Italy is eliminated, goal difference across all group matches would be the decisive factor to separate Albania and Croatia, given their 2-2 draw earlier in the tournament. The other team in this scenario might still qualify as one of the best third-placed teams, adding another layer of complexity to Group B.
Group B 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. Despite this early setback, Italy demonstrated resilience, securing a 2-1 victory with first-half goals from Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella.
Earlier on the same day, Spain delivered a commanding performance against 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Croatia, winning 3-0. Goals from Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz, and Dani Carvajal sealed a dominant victory for Spain. Morata’s goal marked his seventh in European Championship history, placing him among the tournament’s all-time top 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 narrowly missed a victory against Albania on June 19th, initially leading 2-1 thanks to an Andrej Kramaric goal and a Klaus Gjasula own goal. However, in a dramatic turn of events, Gjasula redeemed himself by scoring at the right end in the fifth minute of added time, securing a 2-2 draw for Albania.
Looking ahead, the Group B winner will play a third-placed team on June 30th in Cologne. The runner-up will compete in the very first knockout stage match in Berlin on June 29th against the second-placed team from Group A.
| Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2 | 6 |
| Italy | 2 | 3 |
| Albania | 2 | 1 |
| Croatia | 2 | 1 |
Euro 2024 Group C Table: England Leads but Faces Tight Competition
England’s 1-1 draw with Denmark has secured them at least a third-place finish in Group C, accumulating four points from their first two games. Denmark and Slovenia are currently level in second place with identical records, having drawn their head-to-head match. The group remains tightly contested, with every match carrying significant weight.
[
GO DEEPER
England and Denmark drew 1-1, with Kane scoring but England struggling to maintain control.](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5572865/2024/06/20/england-denmark-euro-analysis-kane/)
Serbia earned a crucial point with a late equalizer against Slovenia in their June 20th match, keeping their hopes of qualification alive.
England currently tops Group C after their 1-0 victory against Serbia on June 16th. Gareth Southgate’s team knows that a draw against Slovenia in their final group match on June 25th will guarantee their place in the last 16. Simultaneously, Denmark will face Serbia in another decisive match.
[
GO DEEPER
England started Euro 2024 with a win, but faced familiar issues in controlling the game.](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5569247/2024/06/17/england-serbia-euro-2024-analysis/)
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 |
Euro 2024 Group D Table: France and Netherlands Vie for Top Spot
Group D’s initial matches were overshadowed by the injury to France’s star player, Kylian Mbappe, who suffered a broken nose. Mbappe was forced off the field in France’s 1-0 victory against Austria on June 18th after a collision with Austria’s Kevin Danso. Despite the injury, Mbappe, who was the Golden Boot winner at the 2022 World Cup, was present on the bench for their subsequent game against the Netherlands.
[
GO DEEPER
Kylian Mbappe’s broken nose and the challenges of playing football with a mask.](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5573611/2024/06/19/mbappe-nose-france-euro2024-mask/)
Mbappe played a crucial role in the win against Austria, initiating the play that led to Maximilian Wober’s own goal, securing France’s victory.
On June 16th, the Netherlands defeated Poland 2-1 in Hamburg, thanks to a late goal from substitute Wout Weghorst. The former Manchester United forward scored just two minutes after entering the game, sealing a dramatic win.
Poland suffered another setback with a 3-1 defeat to Austria on Friday, June 21st, followed by a 0-0 draw between the Netherlands and France in Leipzig. These results have confirmed Poland’s elimination from Euro 2024.
The winner of Group D 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 runner-up of Group E the day before in Dusseldorf.
| Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 2 | 4 |
| France | 2 | 4 |
| Austria | 2 | 3 |
| Poland (eliminated) | 2 | 0 |
Euro 2024 Group E Table: Slovakia’s Upset Shakes Up the Group
Group E delivered one of the biggest surprises of the tournament when Slovakia stunned Belgium with a 1-0 victory in Frankfurt on Monday, June 17th. This result is considered the biggest upset in European Championship history in terms of FIFA rankings. Earlier that day, Romania impressed with a 3-0 win against Ukraine, featuring a spectacular long-range goal from Nicolae Stanciu.
Ukraine rebounded strongly, defeating Slovakia on June 21st and securing a vital three points, lifting them from the bottom of the table to second place.
Belgium, hoping for Romelu Lukaku to find his scoring form, will face Romania on June 22nd in a crucial match to revive their Euro 2024 campaign.
[
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Romelu Lukaku, a Belgium legend, facing an unforgiving stage in tournament football.](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5564317/2024/06/18/romelu-lukaku-belgium-slovakia/)
The winner of Group E will face a third-placed team in Munich on July 2nd. The runner-up will play the runner-up of Group D the day before in Dusseldorf.
| Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Romania | 1 | 3 |
| Ukraine | 2 | 3 |
| Slovakia | 2 | 3 |
| Belgium | 1 | 0 |
Euro 2024 Group F Table: Thrilling Matches Kick Off Group F
The Group F match between Turkey and Georgia on June 18th has been hailed as one of the most captivating of Euro 2024 so far. Turkey emerged victorious with a 3-1 scoreline in a game filled with drama and stunning goals. Mert Muldur and Arda Guler scored sensational long-range goals for Turkey, while Georges Mikautadze scored Georgia’s historic first-ever Euro goal in between.
In the dying moments of the game, with Georgia pushing for an equalizer and even their goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili joining the attack, Turkey capitalized on an empty net. Kerem Akturkoglu secured the 3-1 victory, capping off a memorable match.
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GO DEEPER
Euro 2024’s best match highlights why it’s shaping up to be a brilliant tournament.](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5573742/2024/06/19/turkey-georgia-euro-2024-guler-kvaratskhelia-great-tournament/)
Later that night, Portugal narrowly defeated the Czech Republic with a last-gasp winner. This match also saw history made as 41-year-old Pepe became the oldest player to ever feature in the European Championship, and Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to participate in six editions of the tournament.
Portugal will next face Turkey on June 22nd, and Ronaldo will be eager to score and extend his record of scoring in six European Championships after failing to find the net against the Czech Republic. Earlier on the same day, Georgia and the Czech Republic will play a crucial match in Hamburg, knowing that defeat would leave them 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 winner of Group D the next day in Leipzig.
| Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 1 | 3 |
| Portugal | 1 | 3 |
| Czech Republic | 1 | 0 |
| Georgia | 1 | 0 |
Below is the bracket outlining the potential knockout stage matchups. We at EurodripUSA.net will continue to update this as Euro 2024 progresses, ensuring you have the latest information and analysis.
(Top photo: Denmark scores against England; Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images)
