UEFA Euro 2012 Group Permutations

With the last set of group games to be played over the next four nights, 14 sides remain in contention for the quarter-finals. UEFA.com looks at the possible outcomes and tie-breakers.

With the last set of UEFA EURO 2012 group games to be played over the next four nights, 14 sides remain in contention for the eight quarter-final places, with only Sweden and the Republic of Ireland out. UEFA.com looks at what each nation needs to achieve to make the knockout phase.

The permutations below are for information only; the official calculations will be made by UEFA after the games finish according to article 8.07 & 8.08 of the Regulations of the UEFA European Championship, 2010–12 competition.*

Group A: Saturday
Greece (1pt) v Russia (4), Czech Republic (3) v Poland (2)

• Russia will be through with a draw, and could even afford a defeat by fewer than six goals if the other game finishes level.

• Greece will be through with a win, and out with a draw or loss.

• Czech Republic will advance with a win. They could even afford to draw unless Greece beat Russia by five goals or fewer.

• Poland will be through with a win, and out with a draw or loss.

Group B: Sunday
Denmark (3) v Germany (6), Portugal (3) v Netherlands (0)

• Germany are not quite through, but will be as group winners if they draw. They will be knocked out, though, if they lose to Denmark by any result other than a one-goal defeat in which Germany score at least two AND Portugal win.

• Denmark will progress with any win. A draw will only be good enough if Portugal lose. If Denmark lose they are out.

• Portugal will be through with victory unless Denmark win by a one-goal margin (other than 2-1 and 1-0). They will progress with a draw unless Denmark win. Portugal will also be through if they lose by a one-goal margin and Denmark are also beaten.

• The Netherlands must win by a two-goal margin and hope Denmark also lose.

Group C: Monday
Croatia (4) v Spain (4), Italy (2) v Republic of Ireland (0)

• Spain have the simplest task – a draw ensures qualification, a win ensures first place.

• Croatia will definitely qualify, as group winners, with victory. They will also be through with any draw other than 0-0 or 1-1. If their game is 0-0 and Italy win, Croatia are out. In the case of a 1-1 draw, they will only be through if Italy do not beat Ireland by 3-1 or better. Croatia can afford to lose if Italy do not win.

• Italy have to win and hope the other game does not finish in a high-scoring draw of 2-2 or more. If the other game finishes 1-1 they must win by 3-1 or better to finish above Croatia or better than 4-0 to top the group. If the other game finishes 0-0, an Italy win would take them through as group winners.

• Republic of Ireland are out but will finish third with a win.

Group D: Tuesday
Sweden (0) v France (4), England (4) v Ukraine (3)

• England will be through with a draw. If they lose, they have to hope France lose by enough so that England at least end level with Les Bleus on goal difference and goals scored (as England have a superior coefficient).

• Ukraine will be through with a win and out with any other result.

• France will be through with a draw. If they lose, they would only be out if England lose but at the same time move level with them on either goal difference or goals scored.

• Sweden are out.

Knockout schedule

Quarter-finals
Thursday 21 June 2012
#25: 1A v 2B, 20.45CET, Warsaw

Friday 22 June 2012
#26: 1B v 2A, 20.45CET, Gdansk

Saturday 23 June 2012
#27: 1C v 2D, 20.45CET, Donetsk

Sunday 24 June 2012
#28: 1D v 2C, 20.45CET, Kyiv

Semi-finals
Wednesday 27 June 2012
#29:W#25 v W#27, 20.45CET, Donetsk

Thursday 28 June 2012
#30: W#26 v W#28, 20.45CET, Warsaw

Final
Sunday 1 July 2012
#31: W#29 v W#30, 20.45CET, Kyiv

 

*UEFA has amended its provisions on final group rankings after a decision by the UEFA Executive Committee at its meeting in Istanbul on 20 March 2012. The change has been made to avoid doubt, and in order to ensure that the criteria related to the direct confrontation between the teams remaining equal in points after the group phase are reapplied,

Paragraph 08.07 of the UEFA European Football Championship 2010-12 regulations now reads as follows, with a new clause d) shown in bold.

"If two or more teams are equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following criteria are applied to determine the rankings:

a) Higher number of points obtained in the matches played between the teams in question;

b) Superior goal difference resulting from the matches played between the teams in question;

c) Higher number of goals scored in the matches played between the teams in question:

d) If after having applied criteria a) to c), two teams still have an equal ranking, criteria a) to c) are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the two teams in question to determine the final rankings of the two teams. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria e) to i) apply in the order given

e) superior goal difference in all group matches;

f) higher number of goals scored in all group matches;

g) position in the UEFA national team coefficient ranking system (see annex I, paragraph 1.2.2);

h) fair play conduct of the teams (final tournament);

i) drawing of lots"

UEFA Euro 2012 Group Permutations