How many third-place teams qualify for the Euro 2024 knockout stages?

The European Championship has recently grown in size and quality to unprecedented levels.

Since Euro 2016, the tournament has grown from 16 to 24 teams, giving smaller countries a better chance of reaching the competition's finals, as illustrated by first-time qualifiers Georgia in 2024.

However, the knockout stages have become more accessible to participants. Instead of the top two sides automatically qualifying from the group stage and all remaining sides returning home, a number of third-placed teams at the Euros now reach the last 16.

The top two finishers in each group go to the knockout stages, just as they did before the Euros expanded. The leading and second-place teams in each of the six groups will automatically advance to the Euro 2024 round of 16.

However, finishing outside of the top two does not mean the end for participating nations. In actuality, the four best performing third-placed teams in the group stages will advance to the round of 16, despite facing some difficult opponents.

To break it down even further, 12 teams automatically qualify for the round of 16 by finishing in the top two of their group, while four more teams finish in third place.

How are the teams in third place eligible?

The top four teams in the third division go to the knockout stages, but how is performance determined?

The final 16 will include the four teams with the highest points who finish third. Goal differential, followed by the quantity of goals scored and ultimately the number of victories, is used to differentiate two teams if, after all three games, their points totals are equal.

Discipline history will be the deciding factor between the two third-place teams, if they are still tied. The nation with the lowest total will advance. Yellow cards are for one point, while red cards are worth three.

The head-to-head record is not taken into account when assessing qualifying.

Which groups have a good chance of making it to third place?

The teams that qualify through a third-place finish will remain unclear until the last round of group stage matches is over. Even though they did not place in the top two, a number of teams are currently vying for a position in the round of 16.

Scotland is one of those in Group A, and if they defeat Hungary in their last group stage game, they have a great chance of qualifying. Hungary might also win and finish with three points, but that would not ensure them of moving on.

In other news, the 2022 World Cup semifinalist Croatia's draw with Albania may force them to rely on finishing in third place to advance from Group B. Their last game is against Italy, and Albania's last group game is against Spain, where they will compete for the same slot.

It will be difficult for any team that lost their first game to place in the top two, although finishing third might save them.

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