Euro 2020: How does the group stage work?
The 2020 European Championships will see 24 teams battle it out across six groups in a bid to lift the trophy. But how do the teams progress from the group stage? Here's all you need to know in a nutshell:
Each group comprises four teams
Teams play each other once in the group stage
Three points are awarded for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss
The top two teams in each group progress to the knockout stages
The four best thirdplaced teams will also qualify for the knockout stages
In the event that teams are level on points in the group stage, the following criteria will be used to separate them:
Higher number of points obtained in the matches between the tied teams
Superior goal difference in the matches between the tied teams
Higher number of goals scored in the matches between the tied teams
Superior goal difference in all group matches
Higher number of goals scored in all group matches
Fair play conduct (yellow and red cards)
Drawing of lots by FIFA
So, in short, teams must aim to finish in the top two of their group to progress to the knockout stages. However, there is also a chance for some thirdplaced teams to progress, depending on their performance.
