The UEFA EURO 2024 group stage has concluded, setting the stage for the highly anticipated round of 16. Football fans across Europe and beyond are eager to know which teams have advanced and how the groups unfolded. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Uefa Euro 2024 Groups, detailing which teams emerged as group winners, runners-up, and best third-placed teams, and which nations unfortunately saw their Euro 2024 journey end in the group stage.
Qualified Teams for Round of 16 from UEFA EURO 2024 Groups
The path to the round of 16 in UEFA EURO 2024 was competitive, with only the top two teams from each of the six groups, along with the four best third-placed teams, progressing to the knockout stage. Here’s a summary of the teams that successfully navigated the group phase:
Group Winners advancing to Round of 16:
- Austria
- England
- Germany
- Portugal
- Romania
- Spain
Group Runners-up advancing to Round of 16:
- Belgium
- Denmark
- France
- Italy
- Switzerland
- Türkiye
Best Third-Placed Teams advancing to Round of 16:
- Georgia
- Netherlands
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
Teams Eliminated in the UEFA EURO 2024 Groups:
- Albania
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Hungary
- Poland
- Scotland
- Serbia
- Ukraine
Let’s delve into each UEFA EURO 2024 group to see how the teams finished and secured their places in the next round, or faced elimination.
UEFA EURO 2024 Group Stage Standings: Detailed Breakdown
UEFA EURO 2024 Group A
Group A saw the host nation, Germany, dominate and advance as group winners, demonstrating their strong form early in the tournament. Switzerland also secured their spot in the round of 16 as group runners-up, showcasing their resilience and tactical prowess.
- Germany: Qualified as Group Winner
- Switzerland: Qualified as Group Runner-up
- Hungary: Eliminated
- Scotland: Eliminated
UEFA EURO 2024 Group B
Group B was topped by Spain, who displayed exceptional football and clinched the group winner position. Italy, the defending champions, fought hard to secure the runner-up spot, ensuring their continued presence in the tournament.
- Spain: Qualified as Group Winner
- Italy: Qualified as Group Runner-up
- Croatia: Eliminated
- Albania: Eliminated
UEFA EURO 2024 Group C
England led Group C as group winners, meeting expectations as one of the tournament favorites. Denmark also progressed to the round of 16 as group runners-up, edging out Slovenia on disciplinary points, highlighting the tight competition within this group. Slovenia, despite finishing third, advanced as one of the best third-placed teams, a testament to their performance.
- England: Qualified as Group Winner
- Denmark: Qualified as Group Runner-up
- Slovenia: Qualified as Best Third-Placed Team
- Serbia: Eliminated
UEFA EURO 2024 Group D
Austria emerged as the surprise winner of Group D, outperforming expectations and demonstrating significant improvement. France, a pre-tournament favorite, finished as group runners-up. Netherlands, despite a slightly underwhelming group stage, qualified as one of the best third-placed teams, keeping their Euro 2024 hopes alive.
- Austria: Qualified as Group Winner
- France: Qualified as Group Runner-up
- Netherlands: Qualified as Best Third-Placed Team
- Poland: Eliminated
UEFA EURO 2024 Group E
Romania topped Group E in a surprising turn of events, showcasing their competitive spirit. Belgium, despite being considered a strong contender, finished as group runners-up. Slovakia, finishing third, managed to secure a spot as one of the best third-placed teams, adding to the surprises of the group stage.
- Romania: Qualified as Group Winner
- Belgium: Qualified as Group Runner-up
- Slovakia: Qualified as Best Third-Placed Team
- Ukraine: Eliminated
UEFA EURO 2024 Group F
Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the charge, won Group F, living up to their status as a team to watch. Türkiye secured the runner-up position, marking a successful group stage campaign. Georgia, in their first ever major tournament, made history by qualifying for the round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams, an incredible achievement for the nation.
- Portugal: Qualified as Group Winner
- Türkiye: Qualified as Group Runner-up
- Georgia: Qualified as Best Third-Placed Team
- Czechia: Eliminated
Tie-Breaking Criteria in UEFA EURO 2024 Groups
Understanding how teams are ranked when level on points is crucial in the UEFA EURO 2024 groups. If two or more teams are equal on points after the group stage matches, UEFA applies a specific set of criteria to determine their rankings. These criteria are applied in the order listed below:
a. Higher number of points obtained in matches among tied teams.
b. Superior goal difference in matches among tied teams.
c. Higher number of goals scored in matches among tied teams.
d. If teams are still equally ranked after applying criteria a) to c), these criteria are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the remaining teams to determine their final rankings. If this doesn’t resolve the tie, criteria e) to i) are used.
e. Superior goal difference in all group matches.
f. Higher number of goals scored in all group matches.
g. Lower disciplinary points total across all group matches (Red card = 3 points, Yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards = 3 points).
h. Position in the overall European Qualifiers rankings.
i. Drawing of lots, if necessary, or if Germany (host nation) is involved in the comparison.
It’s important to note that penalty kicks as a tie-breaker scenario did not apply in any of the UEFA EURO 2024 groups.
Determining the Best Third-Placed Teams in UEFA EURO 2024
To decide the four best third-placed teams from the UEFA EURO 2024 groups, a separate set of criteria is applied, based on their performance across all group stage matches:
a. Higher number of points.
b. Superior goal difference.
c. Higher number of goals scored.
d. Higher number of wins.
e. Lower disciplinary points total (as per tie-breaker rule g above).
f. Position in the overall European Qualifiers rankings.
g. Drawing of lots, if necessary, or if Germany (host nation) is involved in the comparison.
These criteria ensured a fair and transparent method for selecting the best third-placed teams to proceed to the round of 16.
Conclusion: UEFA EURO 2024 Round of 16 is Set
The UEFA EURO 2024 groups stage provided thrilling matches and unexpected outcomes. With the round of 16 matchups now determined, anticipation is building for the knockout stage. Football fans are excited to see if their favorite teams can continue their journey towards the EURO 2024 final. The stage is set for more drama, excitement, and world-class football as the tournament progresses.
