How are Euro 2024 groups decided? Are they sorted by goal difference or head-to-head?

WITH Euro 2024 now underway, fans from across the continent are wondering if their nation will progress.

As the European Championship unfolds the points standings in each group will shift, ultimately deciding which teams will move on to the knockout rounds.

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But for countries winning their game is not the only deciding factor to proceed into the knockout stages.

Additional factors such as head-to-head, goal difference and goals scored come into play if teams end up level on points in their group.

How does the group stage work?

The Uefa Euro points system is clear and simple - rewarding teams based on their performance during matches.

• Win: A team earns 3 points for a victory.
• Draw: Both teams in a draw receive 1 point each.
• Loss: A losing team earns 0 points.

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Teams are ranked in their groups according to the number of points they have earned, and the top teams will progress to the knockout rounds.

What happens if teams are tied on points?

If two or more teams are level on points at the end of the group stage, the following criteria will be applied:

1. Higher number of points in games between the teams
2. Best goal difference from matches played between the teams
3. Higher number of goals scored from matches played between the teams
4. If still level, criteria 1-3 reapplied between teams who are still level
5. Superior goal difference in all group matches
6. Higher number of goals scored in group matches
7. If playing in the last round of a group stage two teams are tied in points, goal difference and goals scored and drew their match, their ranking is decided by penalty shootout, but this is NOT used if more than two teams have same number of points.
8. Lower disciplinary points in all group matches
9. Highest position in European Qualifiers overall ranking, unless comparison involves hosts Germany, in which case a drawing of lots will take place.

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Can third place qualify for the knockouts?

The format will be the same as for Euro 2020.

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The top two in each of the six final tournament groups will proceed to the round of 16 along with the four best third-placed finishers.

And this will be determined by points won, goal difference, goals scored, highest number of wins, lower number of disciplinary points and European Qualifiers overall ranking.

The tournament then enters into knockout football with a round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-final and final.

What are the groups?

Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland

Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania

Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England

Group D: Poland, Netherlands, Austria, France

Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine

Group F: Turkey, Georgia, Portugal, Czech Republic