The European Championship has gripped the footballing world perhaps even more so than initially anticipated, with a fantastically competitive group stage now reaching its crescendo.
Aside from the quartet from Group A, Group B and Group C – where Italy, Wales, Belgium, Denmark, Holland and Austria have sealed a spot in the last-16 – the remaining 16 teams each have one group game remaining, with a mouth-watering Group F finale bringing an end to the daily matches on Wednesday night.
England have also booked a place in the last-16 but still have some work to do in their final group game against the Czech Republic, after a lacklustre performance in a 0-0 draw against Scotland on Friday night.
The Scots, meanwhile, who are playing in their first major tournament since 1998, still have a chance of progressing after their battling display at Wembley.
Both teams could be a beneficiary of the expanded tournament – which we first saw at Euro 2016 – with 16 of the 24 teams qualifying for the round of 16, including the best four third-place sides in the group stage.
Below, Sportsmail outlines the permutations for every team and explains just how qualification will work.
Today
European Championship
Group Stage
Croatia
Scotland
Group Stage
Czech Republic
England
Wednesday 23 June
European Championship
Group Stage
Slovakia
Spain
Group Stage
Sweden
Poland
Group Stage
Portugal
France
Scotland could yet progress to the last-16 after a battling to a 0-0 draw against England
How does qualification work?
Before we delve into the group specifics, it’s important to first outline just how qualification works.
A 32-team World Cup format, for example, is more straightforward, with the top two teams from the eight groups progressing to the knockout stages.
However, in a copy of Euro 2016, there are six groups of four teams at this summer’s tournament, with the top two progressing from each, as well as the four best third-placed teams.
The standings in the group tables are first determined by who has the most points, but if two teams are level, then head-to-head record becomes the first tie-breaker to determine where they finish.
This is subsequently followed by goal difference and then goals scored in the matches between those teams in question, before overall goal difference, goals scored, wins and disciplinary records are taken into account.
Crucially, if the two teams in question are playing against each other on the final day and finish level on points, goals scored, goals conceded and they aren’t level with another team, their position will be determined via a penalty shootout.
Then comes the four best third-place finishers, which are determined by number of points, goal difference, goals scored, number of wins, disciplinary record and position in the overall European Qualifiers rankings – in that order.
So, how do things stand in each group?
Group A
Group A was finalised on Sunday evening, with Roberto Mancini’s Italy – who have emerged as one of the tournament favourites – coming out on top.
They beat Wales 1-0 on Sunday to clinch top spot, meaning they didn’t concede a single goal throughout the group stages.
Switzerland finished marginally below Wales in third on goal difference, but they could well be one of the four best third-placed teams to qualify. Turkey, on the other hand, are out.
In winning the group, Italy will play on Saturday, June 26 against the runners-up from Group C, which we already know will be either Ukraine or Austria, with Holland having guaranteed top spot.
In finishing second, Wales will also play their last-16 match on Saturday night. They will come up against the runners-up of Group B, which as it stands would be Russia, but could also be Belgium, Finland or Denmark.
Italy topped Group A with victory over Wales on Sunday, with three wins from as many games
Roberto Mancini’s Italy finished top of Group A, with Turkey going home before the knockouts
Group B
Belgium joined Italy and Holland with a 100 per cent record at the Euros by beating Finland in their final Group B encounter on Monday night.
Belgium only needed a draw against Finland to secure top spot in the group but got a win thanks to Lukas Hradecky’s own goal and a Romelu Lukaku finish.
Finland’s defeat allowed Denmark to sneak second in the group as they thumped Russia 4-1. All three teams finished level on three points but the Danes finished as runners-up on the account of a superior goal difference.
Finland now face a nervous, and unlikely, wait to see if they finish as one of the four-best third-place sides to qualify for the last 16.
Despite not being fully-fit, Kevin De Bruyne (right) has helped Belgium through to the last 16
Belgium topped Group B with a 100 per cent record, with Denmark scraping through in second
Group C
Holland are also one of the four teams to have qualified, and with wins over Ukraine and Austria, they have already confirmed top spot.
Group C was completed on Monday with Holland beating North Macedonia, while Austria edged past Ukraine 1-0 in the intriguing battle for second-place.
Unfortunately for North Macedonia, their 2-1 defeat by Ukraine last week ensured they became the first team to be eliminated from the tournament.
Holland already know they will be playing on Sunday, June 27 in their round of 16 clash, up against the third-placed finisher from either Group D, E or F. We won’t know who that will be until Wednesday night.
As for Austria, they will play Italy at Wembley on Saturday, June 26. Ukraine have to hope they finish as one of the four best third-placed teams.
Memphis Depay has risen to the occasion with Holland booking their spot in the last-16
Holland won all their matches in Group C, while Austria qualified after beating Ukraine 1-0
Group D
Group D is set for a thrilling finale, with none of the four teams yet to officially qualify.
The table will be settled on Tuesday with England playing the Czech Republic and Scotland taking on Croatia.
As stated, England’s four points should (though it is not guaranteed) have already secured them a place in the last-16. Even a loss against the Czech Republic would likely see them take one of the four best third-placed finishes.
A win on Tuesday is the only way England can top the group, while a draw would see them progress as runners-up, with the Czech Republic finishing first. Additionally, if Scotland fail to beat Croatia, England are guaranteed second regardless of their result.
Only a victory will do for Scotland if they are to have any hope of reaching the last-16. A win would guarantee at least third, with a possibility of second should England lose and the Scots finish with a higher goal difference.
There is still a possibility that the Czech Republic finish in third – though they’d still likely go through anyhow – if they lose to England, while Scotland win and obtain a higher goal difference.
Finally, Croatia find themselves in a tough spot, though they could still finish second if they beat Scotland and England beat the Czech Republic – and they finish with a higher goal difference than the current group leaders.
The team that finishes in first will play one of France, Germany, Portugal or Hungary, while the team that finishes second will play the runners-up from Group E, being Sweden, Slovakia, Spain or Poland.
England captain Harry Kane (left) is yet to score in the tournament, while Scotland have been dealt a major blow, with star midfielder Billy Gilmour testing positive for coronvirus
The Czech Republic are currently top of Group D, though all teams could still qualify
Group E
Group E is also set for a spectacular conclusion, with possibilities remaining for all four nations to claim a spot in the top two.
The conclusion of Group E will come on Wednesday, with Spain taking on Slovakia and Sweden playing Poland. Both matches kick off at 5pm.
Sweden have already all-but confirmed their participation in the round of 16 with four points in the bag, and a draw on Wednesday would guarantee their progression.
However, should Sweden lose and the other Group E finale end in a draw, they, Poland and Slovakia would all be tied for points and results.
As for second-placed Slovakia, they would qualify if they beat Spain – or with a draw, so long as Poland don’t beat Sweden.
Spain most likely need to win if they are to see the round of 16. A draw might just be enough as a third-place finisher, but Poland could still leapfrog them with victory – leaving the Spaniards fourth and out.
Finally, Poland can still finish second if they beat Sweden, providing Spain vs Slovakia does not result in a draw.
The winner of Group E will play the third-place side from Group A, B, C or D, while the runner-up will play the team that finishes second in Group D.
Spain have been one of the more disappointing teams, with just two points from two games
It’s Sweden who are currently the leaders of Group E, with Spain surprisingly in third place
Group F
Finally, we get to the ‘group of death’, which could see Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal bow out early, despite some spectacular displays from the Juventus star.
And again, none of the four teams have yet officially confirmed their place in the last-16, with each nation still able to progress.
The group was blown wide open on Saturday, with France drawing with Hungary in a shock result, while Germany beat Portugal 4-2 in a classic.
The group will be finalised on Wednesday, with France and Portugal going head-to-head, while Germany play Hungary. Both games kick off at 8pm.
It’s currently France who are in the lead, and they could guarantee their progression with a draw against Portugal, or if Germany vs Hungary ends a draw.
A win will take Germany through, and they could take top spot if they beat Hungary and France don’t beat Portugal. They could also finish third, however, if they lose and France win, or if they draw and Portugal win.
Hungary, meanwhile, will finish in second if they beat Germany and France emerge victorious against Portugal. Additionally, if they win and France lose, second-spot would go down to goal difference.
Should they beat Germany, while France vs Portugal ends in a draw, they could qualify in third.
The winner of the group will play the third-place team from Group A, B or C, while the runner-up will take on the winner of Group D.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the joint-top scorer at Euro 2020, but Portugal could yet bow out early
Hungary earned a shock draw with France on Saturday to keep their Group F hopes alive
The ‘group of death’ is certainly living up to its reputation, with a good chance Portugal could go out, while France and Germany are also not guaranteed a last-16 spot
