Euro 2016 group stage permutations: What can happen on the final match day?

By Gerard Brand

Image: Who will make it through to the last 16 of Euro 2016?

As we head into the final match day in the Euro 2016 group stages, we run through what each side needs to qualify for the last 16.

Remember, the top two from each group go through to the last 16, while the four best third-place sides will make up the line-up for the first knockout stage, with the permutations as follows:

Image: England snatched a dramatic victory against Wales but must settle for second spot

In the event that two or more teams finish level on points within a group, the tie-breakers are as follows:

  1. Head-to-head points between the teams in question.
  2. Head-to-head goal difference between the teams in question.
  3. Head-to-head goals scored between the teams in question.
  4. Goal difference in all group games.
  5. Goals scored in all group games.
  6. If two teams are still level and play each other in the final group game, they will have a penalty shoot-out.
  7. Fair play record (three points for a red, one for a yellow).
  8. Drawing of lots.

In deciding the best third-place teams, the tie-breakers are:

  1. Points.
  2. Goal difference.
  3. Goals scored.
  4. Fair play record (three points for a red, one for a yellow).
  5. UEFA national team coefficient ranking.

So, how do things stand at present?

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Group A - France and Switzerland qualified, Albania remain in third place

Image: Dimitri Payet's France failed to find a way past Switzerland but both sides have qualified

Group A

Team Played W- D- L GF - GA GD Points
France 3 2-1-0 4-1 +3 7
Switzerland 3 1-1-0 2-1 +1 5
Albania 3 1-0-2 1-3 -2 3
Romania 3 0-1-2 2-4 -2 1

Group B - Wales and England qualified, Slovakia qualify in third place

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Image: Gareth Bale starred as Wales cruised past Russia to leagfrog England and qualify as group winners

Group B

Team Played W-D-L GF-GA GD Points
Wales 3 2-0-1 6-3 +3 6
England 3 1-2-0 3-2 +1 5
Slovakia 3 1-1-1 3-3 0 4
Russia 3 0-1-2 2-6 -4 1

Group C - Germany and Poland qualified, Northern Ireland qualify in third place

Group C

Team Played W-D-L GF-GA GD Points
Germany 3 2-1-0 3-0 +3 7
Poland 3 2-1-0 2-0 +2 7
Northern Ireland 3 1-0-2 2-2 0 3
Ukraine 3 0-0-3 0-5 -5 0

Group D - Croatia and Spain qualified, Turkey remain in third place

Group D

Team W D L GD Points
Croatia 2 1 0 +2 7
Spain 2 0 1 +3 6
Turkey 1 0 2 -2 3
Czech Rep 0 1 2 -3 1

Image: Croatia finished top of Group D

Group E

Wednesday 8pm: Italy v Republic of Ireland, Sweden v Belgium

Group E

Team Played W-D-L GF-GA GD Points
Italy 2 2-0-0 3-0 +3 6
Belgium 2 1-0-1 3-2 +1 3
Sweden 2 0-1-1 1-2 -1 1
Rep of Ireland 2 0-1-1 1-4 -3 1

Italy - have qualified for the last 16 and are group winners having already beaten Belgium, who are the only side that can match their points.

Belgium - will finish second if they draw against Sweden on Wednesday. They will finish third on three points if they lose, and could even finish fourth if they lose and Ireland beat Italy.

Image: Belgium boosted their chances of reaching the knockout stages with a 3-0 win over Republic of Ireland on Saturday

Sweden - will secure third place with a win, and if both Sweden and Ireland win, the two sides will be split by goal difference, then goals scored, then fair play and then the drawing of lots. Sweden are eliminated if they don't win the game.

Ireland - must win to have any chance of making the last 16. They will finish second if they win and Sweden win, but only if they are superior to Sweden on goal difference, then goals scored, then fair play, then the drawing of lots.

Group F

Wednesday 5pm: Iceland v Austria, Hungary v Portugal

Group F

Team Played W-D-L GF-GA GD Points
Hungary 2 1-1-0 3-1 +2 4
Iceland 2 0-2-0 2-2 0 2
Portugal 2 0-2-0 1-1 0 2
Austria 2 0-1-1 0-2 -2 1

Hungary - are guaranteed at least a third-place finish and qualification to the last 16 with their current four points. Hungary will finish top of Group F with a win over Portugal, or even with a draw if Iceland fail to beat Austria. They will finish second if they lose against Portugal and Iceland fail to win, and will finish third if they lose and Iceland win.

Iceland - will qualify as group winners if they beat Austria and Hungary lose against Portugal. If Iceland win and Hungary draw, Iceland would qualify in second place, and even in first place if they can overturn the goal difference on Hungary (Hungary currently +2; Iceland 0). If Iceland lose and Portugal win, they will finish fourth, but they could sneak into the last 16 with three points in third place even if they can only draw with Austria and Portugal see off Hungary.

Image: Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty in Portugal's 0-0 draw with Austria on Saturday

Portugal - need a win against Hungary on Wednesday to be certain of progression, and that will be as group winners if Iceland fail to beat Austria. If they win and Iceland win, Portugal must better Iceland's scoreline for goal difference superiority to finish top. With Portugal and Iceland currently level on points and with the same goal difference, separating the two for a possible second- or third-place finish would come down to goals scored (currently Portugal 1, Iceland 2), then fair play and then lots drawn.

Austria - can only finish in the top two if they beat Iceland and Portugal do not beat Hungary. If Portugal win, Austria cannot reach second place, but a win for them against Iceland would give them on four points in third, putting them in a strong position to qualify as one of the four best third-place sides.

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