(Football news) In addition to the four best third-place teams making it through the group stage, the top two teams in each of the six groups automatically progress to the round of 16.
Let’s examine the final Euro 2024 group standings to see which countries advanced to the knockout stages. This includes the top three-placed teams, confirmed last-16 matches, and anticipated quarterfinal matches.
Who qualified from Group A?
Germany, Switzerland
Germany became the first team to qualify for the last 16 of Euro 2024 after following up their thumping 5-1 win over Scotland with a 2-0 victory against Hungary in their second Group A clash on June 19.
Die Mannschaft simply needed to avoid defeat against Switzerland on the final matchday to guarantee their status as group winners, although that was under severe threat by Dan Ndoye’s strike before Niclas Fullkrug made himself the hero of the hour in second-half injury time.
As a result, Julian Nagelsmann’s men head to the last 16 in first place with their unbeaten record intact – boasting seven points compared to five for Switzerland, who finished two better off than Hungary in third slot.
The Magyars also left it incredibly late to eliminate Scotland via a 1-0 triumph on Sunday, but it was ultimately not enough to claim on of the four best third-placed spots up for grabs, and they along with the Tartan Army have failed to advance from the group stage.
Who qualified from Group B?
Spain, Italy
Spain have progressed to the last 16 with a perfect record, following up a 3-0 victory over Croatia with back-to-back 1-0 successes over Italy and Albania, beating the latter on Monday night courtesy of a first-half strike from Ferran Torres.
Luis de la Fuente’s side finish top of the group with a maximum nine points, five clear of second-placed Italy, who scored a dramatic 98th-minute equaliser to rescue a precious point in a 1-1 draw with Croatia to advance automatically to the last 16.
Croatia, meanwhile, finished third with only two points and have failed to qualify for the knockout rounds of a major tournament for the first time since the 2014 World Cup.
As for Albania, they sit at the foot of Group B and have also been knocked out of Euro 2024 after picking up just one point across their three group fixtures.
Who qualified from Group C?
England, Denmark, Slovenia
Thanks to Spain beating Albania in their final Group B fixture, England sealed qualification for the last 16 and were guaranteed to secure at least one of the four best third-placed spots ahead of their final Group C games.
The Three Lions simply needed to avoid defeat against Slovenia and hope that Denmark did not beat Serbia on the final matchday to top the group, two scenarios which came to fruition in drab goalless draws across the board.
However, those results meant that Denmark sneaked through in second and Slovenia were confirmed as one of the best third-placed sides, triggering wild celebrations from their elated players.
Who qualified from Group D?
Austria, France, Netherlands
Just like England, both the Netherlands and France qualified for the last 16 courtesy of Spain’s Group B win over Albania, but the two European giants still had top spot to fight for on matchday three.
In a surprise turn of events, though, it was Austria who pipped both sides to the post with a sensational 3-2 beating of the Netherlands, thereby topping the group with six points and forcing the Dutch to accept a third-placed ranking.
Meanwhile, France’s 1-1 draw with already-eliminated Poland meant that the 2018 world champions had to settle for second, despite going through the group phase unbeaten.
Who qualified from Group E?
Romania, Belgium, Slovakia
For the first time in European Championship history, all four nations within the same group have finished on the same points, as Group E quartet Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine collected four points each from their three games.
Romania have surprised many by securing top spot, finishing just above Belgium in second place, while Slovakia – who played out a 1-1 draw with Romania on matchday three – have also qualified for the last 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams.
As for Ukraine, they became the first nation in Euros history to finish bottom of a group, and subsequently crash out of the tournament, while earning as many as four points, after drawing 0-0 draw with Belgium in their final group game.
Who qualified from Group F?
Portugal, Turkey, Georgia
Portugal entered their final Group F fixture having already secured top spot and subsequently made wholesale changes for their encounter with major tournament debutants Georgia, who deservedly claimed a historic 2-0 victory to finish third and qualify for the last 16.
Both Portugal and Georgia are joined in the knockout rounds by Turkey, who beat Czech Republic 2-1 on matchday three to secure second place and eliminate Jaroslav Silhavy’s side from the tournament.
June 29: Switzerland vs. Italy (5pm BST | Olympiastadion, Berlin)
June 29: Germany vs. Denmark (8pm BST | Westfalenstadion, Dortmund)
June 30: England vs. Slovakia (5pm BST | Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen)
June 30: Spain vs. Georgia (8pm BST | RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne)
July 1: France vs. Belgium (5pm BST | Merkur Spiel-Arena, Dusseldorf)
July 1: Portugal vs. Slovenia (8pm BST | Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt)
July 2: Romania vs. Netherlands (5pm BST | Allianz Arena, Munich)
July 2: Austria vs. Turkey (8pm BST | Red Bull Arena, Leipzig)
The first last-16 tie was officially confirmed a few days ago, with Group A runners-up Switzerland to face holders and Group B runners-up Italy in Berlin on Saturday.
Later that evening, hosts Germany – winners of Group A – will do battle with Group C runners-up Denmark, while Sunday’s action will begin with Group C winners England taking on Group E’s third-placed nation Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen.
After Group B victors Spain meet Georgia, the third-placed team of Group F, France and Belgium, the runners-up of Groups D and E respectively, lock horns in Dusseldorf on Monday, before Group F winners Portugal face off against Group C’s third-placed side Slovenia.
The final day of quarter-final action will see Group E winners Romania take on the third-placed side of Group D, the Netherlands, before Group D victors Austria square off against Group F runners-up Turkey in Leipzig.
July 5: Spain or Georgia vs. Germany or Denmark (5pm BST | MHPArena, Stuttgart)
July 5: Portugal or Slovenia vs. France or Belgium (8pm BST | Volksparkstadion, Hamburg)
July 6: England or Slovakia vs. Switzerland or Italy (5pm BST | Merkur Spiel-Arena, Dusseldorf)
July 6: Romania or Netherlands vs. Austria or Turkey (5pm BST | Olympiastadion, Berlin)
Group winners Germany and Spain will both be fancied to advance from the last-16 stage, which would set up an intriguing quarter-final showdown between the pair of three-time Euros winners.
Portugal will be the favourites to progress from their last-16 tie with Slovenia and could set up a quarter-final encounter with France, whom they beat in the Euro 2016 final, if Les Bleus were to come out on top against Belgium.
If England were to win their last-16 tie, they could then be faced with a quarter-final encounter against Switzerland or Italy, the latter of whom beat the Three Lions in the Euro 2020 final on penalties.
Should Romania pull off an upset by beating the Netherlands, they would face either Austria or Turkey in the last eight – one of these four nations is guaranteed to reach the semi-finals.
Also read: Euro 2024 and which team have qualified and who will play who?
