Euro 2024 last-16 permutations & third-place table: Who needs what to reach knockouts? (2024)

Published

22 June 2024

Every side has now played at least twice at Euro 2024 and the last-16 line-up is taking shape.

The top two teams in all six groups qualify automatically, joined by the four best third-placed teams.

As the final round of fixtures continues, BBC Sport tells you who needs what.

Scotland are out of Euro 2024 after finishing bottom of Group A following a last-gasp winner by Hungary in their final group-stage match.

Germany topped the group, while Switzerland progressed to the knockouts in second.

Hungary can still reach the last 16 as one of the four best third-placed sides, but they will need to wait for the rest of the group-stage games to be completed for their fate to be confirmed.

Spain were already through to the last 16 as group winners with a game to spare.

Italy joined them as runners-up thanks to Mattia Zaccagni's injury-time equaliser against Croatia.

Croatia, who had looked set to go through until that late leveller, still had a slim hope they could still end up as one of the best third-placed teams, but England only drawing with Slovenia on Tuesday put paid to that.

England advanced to the last 16 as group winners despite failing to beat Slovenia in their final group game.

The Three Lions won Group C despite a dour 0-0 draw on Tuesday, as Serbia and Denmark also played out a goalless stalemate.

Denmark finished second and advanced automatically while Slovenia came in third and did enough to qualify as one of the best third-place teams.

The Danes and Slovenians finished level on points, goal difference and goals scored - but Denmark went through because Slovenia picked up one more yellow card than them (7-6).

Serbia finished bottom of Group C as their tournament came to an end.

Austria leapfrogged France and the Netherlands and topped Group D with a 3-2 victory over the Dutch in their final group game.

They will play the Group F runner-up in the last 16, while France take on the Group E runner-up.

The Netherlands qualify as one of the best third-placed teams but will have to wait for the rest of the group stage to be completed before they find out their opponents.

Poland were already out before Tuesday's fixtures, becoming the first team to be eliminated from the competition following France's draw with the Netherlands on Friday.

Group E sees the unusual situation of everybody having three points after two games.

This is the first time in Euros history all four teams have been on the same amount of points after two games.

All four teams know a win on Wednesday would take them into the last 16 - but no team would be sure of top spot with a victory.

A point will be enough for Belgium, Romania and Slovakia - with the latter two playing each other.

If both games are drawn Ukraine would be out despite having four points as they would finish bottom on goal difference.

Matches remaining

Ukraine v Belgium (Wednesday, 17:00 BST)

Slovakia v Romania (Wednesday, 17:00 BST)

Portugal are through to the last 16 as group winners.

Turkey will also advance to the knockouts if they avoid defeat against the Czech Republic.

However, if the Czech Republic win that game, then they would be sure to go through, while Georgia can also advance if they beat Portugal. A combination of those two results would eliminate Turkey.

The Czechs and Georgia, who each have one point so far, would be relying on other group outcomes should either finish third on two points.

Matches remaining

Czech Republic v Turkey (Wednesday, 20:00 BST)

Georgia v Portugal (Wednesday, 20:00 BST)

The four best third-placed teams go into the last 16, with the bottom two going out.

At Euro 2016 and 2020, every team who finished on four points or three points with a goal difference that was not negative went through.

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