Euro 2024: Who are the Best Third-Place Teams Advancing to the Knockout Stage?
As Euro 2024 approaches the knockout stages, the competition is heating up, and the best third-place teams will soon be determined. With the tournament’s expansion from 16 to 24 teams, more teams will progress from the group stage, but only four third-place teams will join the 12 top-two qualifiers in the last 16.
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How Do Third-Place Teams Qualify? Euro 2024
The third-place teams are ranked in a table, with the best-performing teams advancing to the knockout stage. The ranking is based on the following factors, in order:
- Points
- Goal difference
- Goals scored
- Wins
- Disciplinary points (based on yellow cards and red cards)
- European Qualifiers ranking
Current Third-Place Teams Ranking Table
Here is the current ranking table, updated as of June 25, 2024:
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | Slovakia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Slovenia | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Hungary | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 3 |
| 5 | Croatia | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -3 | 2 |
| 6 | Czech Republic | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
Who’s in a Strong Position?
Netherlands and Slovenia have completed their group stage and are likely to qualify as two of the four best third-place teams. Hungary, however, may struggle due to their goal difference of minus three. Croatia, unfortunately, have been eliminated after England failed to win their final group fixture.
The final third-place ranking will be officially confirmed once all the groups are concluded and the third-placed teams are decided. Stay tuned for updates!
