With one round of games to go, eight teams will try to advance to the Euro 2012 quarter-finals. Sportsnet breaks down the group scenarios.
Fourteen of the 16 teams still have a chance at moving on, with only Sweden and Ireland being eliminated.
Below is tie-breaking criteria, as outlined on UEFA’s official website, followed by the scenarios for each of the four groups.
Tie-breakers:
1) Higher number of points obtained in the matches played between the teams in question;
2) Superior goal difference resulting from the matches played between the teams in question;
3) Higher number of goals scored in the matches played between the teams in question;
3) 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;
4) superior goal difference in all group matches;
4) higher number of goals scored in all group matches;
6) position in the UEFA national team coefficient ranking system;
7) fair play conduct of the teams (final tournament);
8) drawing of lots.
GROUP A
Final standings
Czech Republic – 6 points
Greece – 4 points
Russia – 4 points
Poland – 2 points
What does this mean?
Czech Republic and Greece move on to the quarter-finals. The Czechs meet Portugal in the quarter-finals, while Greece plays Germany. Russia and Poland have been eliminated.
GROUP B
Final standings
Germany – 9 points
Portugal – 6 points
Denmark – 3 points
Netherlands – 0 points
What does this mean?
Germany and Portugal move on to the quarter-finals. Germany meets Greece in the quarter-finals, while Portugal plays the Czech Republic. Denmark and the Netherlands have been eliminated.
GROUP C
Final standings
Spain – 7 points
Italy – 5 points
Croatia – 4 points
Ireland – 0 points
What does this mean?
Spain and Italy move on to the quarter-finals. Croatia and Ireland have been eliminated.
GROUP D
Standings
France – 4 point
England – 4 points
Ukraine – 3 points
Sweden – 0 points
Next games
England vs. Ukraine and Sweden vs. France (June 18)
Scenarios
England advances with a win or a draw. England also advances with a loss if Sweden wins and if it beats France on the tie-breaker (England trails by one in goal difference, lead by one in goals scored, and lead in UEFA coefficient).
France advances with a win or draw. France also advances with a loss if Sweden wins and if beats England on the tie-breaker.
Ukraine needs a win to advance. A loss or a draw eliminates them.