As the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany progresses towards its climax, football fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating the final showdown. With the semi-finals concluded, the focus shifts to the ultimate match that will crown the European champion in Berlin. However, for those wondering about the Euro 2024 Third Place Standings, there’s a key aspect of the tournament format to understand: unlike some other major international football competitions, Euro 2024 does not feature a third-place playoff match. This means that the teams that lose in the semi-finals, just like those eliminated in earlier stages, conclude their journey at this point.
Why Euro 2024 Skips the Third-Place Playoff
The decision to forgo the third-place play-off in the European Championship was made by UEFA decades ago, with the last such game taking place in 1980. That year, Czechoslovakia and hosts Italy contested for third place, resulting in a dramatic penalty shootout victory for Czechoslovakia after a 1-1 draw.
The rationale behind eliminating the euro 2024 third place standings match, and indeed for all subsequent European Championships after 1980, stemmed from a lack of public and broadcaster interest. Both stadium attendance and television viewership for the third-place game were significantly lower compared to other tournament matches, leading UEFA to conclude that it was no longer a valuable addition to the competition format.
The History of Bronze Medals and Third Place at the Euros
While there’s no euro 2024 third place standings game, it’s interesting to note the history of recognizing third-place finishers in the tournament. Until the third-place playoff was discontinued in 1980, bronze medals were indeed awarded to the victor of that match.
Even after the game was scrapped, UEFA briefly revived the tradition of awarding bronze medals in 2008 and 2012. In 2008, Turkey and Russia, the semi-final losers, received these medals. This gesture was repeated at Euro 2012, with Germany and Portugal being the recipients. However, this practice was short-lived. Since Euro 2016, UEFA has ceased awarding bronze medals altogether, further solidifying the focus on the top two teams and the championship final.
Third Place in Copa America and Other Tournaments
It’s worth noting that the absence of a euro 2024 third place standings match contrasts with other prominent international tournaments. For instance, the Copa America does include a third-place playoff game. In fact, the two losing semi-finalists in the recent Copa America were scheduled to compete for third place. In the previous Copa America tournament in 2021, Colombia secured third place by defeating Peru. The FIFA World Cup also retains its third-place play-off, demonstrating that opinions vary among football governing bodies regarding the value and relevance of this particular match.
Euro 2024: All Eyes on the Final
With no euro 2024 third place standings to consider, the entire focus of the tournament is now squarely on the final match. Spain secured their place in the Berlin final by defeating France in a compelling semi-final clash. Goals from Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo sealed a 2-1 victory for Spain over France in Munich.
Their opponents in the final will be England, who triumphed over the Netherlands thanks to a dramatic 90th-minute winner from Ollie Watkins in Dortmund. As the anticipation builds for the final, it’s clear that while the concept of euro 2024 third place standings is non-existent, the excitement for the championship decider is at fever pitch.
