EM 2021: Who will progress if several teams are tied?

On the last day of the European Championship group stage, complicated situations can arise again. The German team could also be affected.

Two game days have been completed at the European Football Championship, now the groups are turning onto the home straight. That also means: slide rule out! For the answer to the question of who will make it to the round of 16, some constellations may require a bit of mathematical skill.

That could also affect the German national team. If the DFB-Elf wins the last group game against Hungary and Portugal would win against France at the same time, Portuguese and German countries would be tied with six points each in the final table. In that case, the procedure would be relatively straightforward: Germany would be ahead of the game due to the 4-2 win in the direct duel – and it would only be about first and second place anyway. Germany would then be group winners.

In principle, the first and second placed in each group advance. Since Uefa increased the European Championship to 24 teams in 2016, the four best thirds in the group have also bought tickets for the round of 16. Thus, only eight of the 24 teams are eliminated after the group stage. But who gets preference in the event of a tie and who is left behind?

EM 2021: The direct comparison counts

In accordance with UEFA regulations, the round of 16 teams are calculated based on the following criteria in such a team with the same number of points:

a) Points from the direct comparison

b) Goal difference from the direct comparison

c) Goals scored from the direct comparison

d) If after applying criteria a) to c) several teams still occupy the same place, criteria a) to c) are reapplied

e) Goal difference from all group matches

f) Number of goals scored in all group matches

g) Number of wins in all group matches

h) Fair play table at the European Championships (three points for a dismissal, one point for a yellow card)

i) Uefa coefficient after qualifying for the European Championship

The Uefa coefficient is calculated on the basis of all qualifying and European Championship or World Cup finals for a national team. There are points for wins, draws and goals as well as deductions for goals conceded.

Even group penalties are possible

The Uefa regulations, however, provide for one special feature: If two teams play a tie in the last group match and they are then in the table with the same point and goal difference as well as the same goal difference, a winner will be determined directly in the penalty shoot-out. However, this has never happened before.

It could get complicated for the DFB if ​​the German team – for example if they lost to Hungary – only finished third in Group F and were tied with one of the two worst thirds in the group. In the remote duel of the third party, the following criteria then count:

  • Points
  • Goal difference
  • Goals scored
  • Siege
  • Fair-Play-Tabelle
  • UEFA coefficient after qualifying for the European Championship

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