Euro 2024 is here and it is set to be another exciting feast of football over the summer.
Taking place in Germany, 24 of Europe's best teams will battle it out to lift the famous trophy on July 14 in Berlin.
But first, the group stage needs to be navigated with all the competing teams separated into six groups of four.
How do teams qualify for the Round of 16?
As is the standard procedure, the top two teams will qualify for the knockout stages, and this year, the four best third-placed teams will also earn a place in the Round of 16.
However, where there could be some difficulty is if a number of teams in each group finish the group stage on the same number of points and with the same goal difference.
Below are the official UEFA European Football Championship regulations when it comes to how teams are ranked during the group stage if there are teams level with the same number points and goal difference.
- A. Higher number of points obtained in the matches played among the teams in question
- B. Superior goal difference resulting from the matches played among the teams in question
- C. Higher number of goals scored in the matches played among the teams in question
- D. If, after having applied criteria A) to C), teams still have an equal ranking, criteria A) to C) are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the remaining teams to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria E) to H) apply in the order given to the two or more teams still equal
- E. Superior goal difference in all group matches
- F. Higher number of goals scored in all group matches
- G. Lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received by players and team officials in all group matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points)
- H. Position in the overall European Qualifiers rankings (see Article 23), or if Germany, the host association team, is involved in the comparison, drawing of lots