The group stage of the European Championship is heading slowly but surely towards the decisive phase. The easiest way to the quarterfinals is to finish first or second in one of the six groups. However, four out of the six third placed teams will also proceed to the knockout stages. How do they decide which four of the third-placed countries progress? Which teams could be waiting for Germany if they top their group or if they qualify from third? DFB.de sheds some light on the different possibilities.
How are the four best third placed teams selected?
There are five different ways of deciding who the four best third-placed sides will be. The most important factor is the points tally from the three group matches. If there is a tie, it will go down to goal difference before moving to goals scored if the teams still cannot be separated. If these three methods are not enough to decide who should progress the fair play rankings will be used. These are created as follows: yellow cards are worth one minus point and red cards three. If a player gets sent off for a second bookable offence it is minus three points. When a player is given a straight red card following a yellow card earlier in the match four points will be deducted. If four teams can still not be selected the final method of separating them will be the UEFA international co-efficient ranking. The standings are calculated using the results from EURO 2012 and the 2014 World Cup, as well as the EURO 2016 qualifiers and group matches.
Which third-placed team could Germany face if they win the group?
If Joachim Löw’s side progress by winning their group they could play one of three third-placed sides in the last 16. Out of 15 possible combinations, nine end in Germany facing the third-placed team from Group B, in three they play against third in Group A or F. the only thing that’s clear is that the match will take place on Sunday, 26th June (18:00 CEST) in Lille.
Which group winners could Germany face if they finish third?
In the case that Germany progress as the best third placed side from Group C, it is highly probable that they will face the winner from Group A, which will be decided when the hosts France take on Switzerland on Sunday (21:00 CEST). The match against either of these two teams would be played on Sunday 26th June (15:00) in Lyon. There is only one scenario where it would be different and that is if the third placed teams from groups B, C, E and F qualify. If that happened the DFB team would play in Paris at the Parc de Princes against the winner of group B.
The simplest scenario to work out would be if Germany finished second in the group. It would mean second place in Group A would face Joachim Löw’s team in Saint-Etienne on Saturday, 25th June (15:00).
The group stage of the European Championship is heading slowly but surely towards the decisive phase. The easiest way to the quarterfinals is to finish first or second in one of the six groups. However, four out of the six third placed teams will also proceed to the knockout stages. How do they decide which four of the third-placed countries progress? Which teams could be waiting for Germany if they top their group or if they qualify from third? DFB.de sheds some light on the different possibilities.
How are the four best third placed teams selected?
There are five different ways of deciding who the four best third-placed sides will be. The most important factor is the points tally from the three group matches. If there is a tie, it will go down to goal difference before moving to goals scored if the teams still cannot be separated. If these three methods are not enough to decide who should progress the fair play rankings will be used. These are created as follows: yellow cards are worth one minus point and red cards three. If a player gets sent off for a second bookable offence it is minus three points. When a player is given a straight red card following a yellow card earlier in the match four points will be deducted. If four teams can still not be selected the final method of separating them will be the UEFA international co-efficient ranking. The standings are calculated using the results from EURO 2012 and the 2014 World Cup, as well as the EURO 2016 qualifiers and group matches.
Which third-placed team could Germany face if they win the group?
If Joachim Löw’s side progress by winning their group they could play one of three third-placed sides in the last 16. Out of 15 possible combinations, nine end in Germany facing the third-placed team from Group B, in three they play against third in Group A or F. the only thing that’s clear is that the match will take place on Sunday, 26th June (18:00 CEST) in Lille.
Which group winners could Germany face if they finish third?
In the case that Germany progress as the best third placed side from Group C, it is highly probable that they will face the winner from Group A, which will be decided when the hosts France take on Switzerland on Sunday (21:00 CEST). The match against either of these two teams would be played on Sunday 26th June (15:00) in Lyon. There is only one scenario where it would be different and that is if the third placed teams from groups B, C, E and F qualify. If that happened the DFB team would play in Paris at the Parc de Princes against the winner of group B.
The simplest scenario to work out would be if Germany finished second in the group. It would mean second place in Group A would face Joachim Löw’s team in Saint-Etienne on Saturday, 25th June (15:00).
