12th Day of Euro 2024

Inspired Austrian Team Knocks Out the Netherlands to Win Group D, While a Masked Mbappe Isn’t Enough for France to Secure First Place

Scoreless Draws and the Most Complicated Tiebreaker in Major Tournament History Decide Group C Standings

Austria defeated the Netherlands 3-2 in a thrilling match in Berlin, featuring everything football fans could hope to see. Before the game, there were fears that calculations and tactics might dominate, as seen in other final group-stage matches.

However, the atmosphere at the Olympic Stadium was magnificent, and the teams put aside their calculators to launch a full-force attack in pursuit of victory.

Austria is arguably the second most impressive team at Euro 2024, along with Spain’s La Furia, who dominated Group B and emerged with 9 points.

While such a performance from De la Fuente’s “Reds” isn’t surprising given Spain’s name, traditions, and lineup, Austria’s boom is truly noteworthy.

The “Wunderteam” revived memories of its glorious past with an aggressive, offensive style against the Netherlands, winning 3-2.

Before the match, it was known that even a draw would be enough for Austria to advance to the round of 16. Yet, instead of “playing with a calculator in their heads,” Austria boldly sought victory, earning them first place in the group and a much easier path forward.

In the round of 16, Austria awaits Turkey, the Czech Republic, or Georgia—whichever of the three teams finishes second in Group F after the final matches.

France, meanwhile, delivered another unconvincing performance at Euro 2024, logically losing first place in Group D. The “Roosters” drew 1-1 with Poland, which had already been eliminated. With Austria’s victory over the Netherlands, France settled for second place.

This wasn’t fatal, as France had already secured a place in the knockouts, but finishing first would have meant a lighter opponent and a more favorable path.

Now, they await the second-placed team from Group E in the round of 16 but are in the same bracket as Germany, Spain, and Portugal.

France ended the group stage with just one win, achieved over Austria thanks to an own goal, a scoreless draw against the Netherlands, and a disappointing 1-1 today against Poland.

This result will likely have a negative echo in France in a match marked by two penalties, converted by injured stars Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski.

Thus, in Group D, Austria finishes first with 6 points, France with 5, the Netherlands progresses with 4, and Poland heads home with one point.

In another group, where the final matches were played, Group C, England played out a 0-0 draw with Slovenia in a dull match that should quickly be forgotten.

The “Three Lions” somehow managed to serve up boredom again despite attempting a faster and more dynamic game in the second half. However, the point was enough for England to top the group, mainly because the other match ended 0-0 (Denmark vs. Serbia).

Denmark finishes second, and Slovenia also advances to the round of 16—a historic achievement for this small nation that continues to inspire with its sporting successes.

With five points, Gareth Southgate’s team enters the knockout stages in a more favorable bracket. England’s next opponent will be either the third-placed team from Group E (Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, or Ukraine) or the Netherlands, who finished third in Group D.

This is a much more acceptable scenario for one of the tournament favorites, who were at risk of facing Germany in the round of 16, followed by Spain (if La Roja wins their round of 16 matches), and potentially France or Portugal in the semi-finals.

Denmark also advances to the knockouts, eliminating Serbia from the tournament after a strategic 0-0 draw.

It was clear before the match that only one team would leave Munich happy, as there was no scenario where both Danes and Serbs could advance together. Serbia’s only option was to win, but strangely or not, they needed to do more to deserve it.

Throughout the tournament, Serbia was passive and uncreative in attack, often defending despite needing a victory.

This outcome was perfect for Denmark, who knew a point would suffice. Denmark had more chances to win, but it didn’t matter, as three draws earned them a spot in the knockouts. However, one of the most complicated tiebreakers in group stage history came here.

A match from last November had to determine the final positions of the two teams at Euro 2024, as nothing on the German fields could separate Denmark and Slovenia.

It was an extremely intriguing case, fortunately not of great significance for both teams. They were both aware they were advancing to the knockouts, just unsure who would be second and who would be third.

If the second and third places determined who would advance and who would go home, it would have been the most absurd and painful elimination since the days before FIFA and UEFA introduced penalty shootouts, when coin tosses decided teams’ fates.

The case between Denmark and Slovenia was as follows: Both teams finished the group with three draws, three points each.

With three drawn matches, it was logical that their direct encounter ended without a winner – 1:1, making the second most significant UEFA tiebreaker – head-to-head results – inapplicable. The third criterion was goal difference, which was also equal.

With three draws, the goal difference could only be 0. The fourth criterion was the number of goals scored, which was the same – two goals each. Besides the goal in their draw, Slovenia scored against Serbia, while Denmark scored against England. Last night, both teams played out goalless draws.

This brought us to the next criterion: yellow cards. Even here, there was a tie.

Both teams had six yellow cards in their three group matches. In the final matches, each team received two yellow cards, with the last coming to Slovenian Jaka Bijol in the 72nd minute. Various scenarios were still possible during the matches, and no one considered this yellow card’s importance.

With full parity in all criteria, UEFA had to consider the teams’ performances in the qualifiers to determine who was second and who was third.

Intriguingly, Denmark and Slovenia were in the same qualifying group, finishing with the same points – 22. They left behind Finland, Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland, and San Marino. Given their equal points, other details from the qualifiers were considered. Although Slovenia had a better goal difference, head-to-head matches took precedence.

Following a 1-1 draw in Ljubljana in June 2023, the match in Copenhagen in November, which Denmark won 2-1, was decisive.

A match on November 17, 2023, decided by Thomas Delaney’s goal in the 54th minute, was the key to the complicated case between Denmark and Slovenia on June 25, 2024.

We still need to find out if the second place offers an advantage, as Denmark will face host Germany while Slovenia awaits their opponent.

The important thing is that both teams achieved their goal of reaching the knockouts. Slovenia avoided the absurd situation of being eliminated from the Euros due to a match played eight months earlier.

Thus, in perhaps the least spectacular group in terms of football quality, England finished first with 5 points, Denmark and Slovenia advanced with three draws each, and Serbia headed home to Belgrade.

England – Slovenia 0:0
Denmark – Serbia 0:0

Group C Final Standings:
1. England 5 pts
2. Denmark 3 pts
3. Slovenia 3 pts
4. Serbia 2 pts

Netherlands – Austria 2:3
C.Gakpo (47′), M.Depay (75′) ; D.Malen (6′ Own Goal), R.Schmid (59′), M.Sabitzer (80′)

France – Poland 1:1
K.Mbappe (56′ Pen) ; R.Lewandowski (79′ Pen)

Group D Final Standings:
1. Austria 6 pts
2. France 5 pts
3. Netherlands 4 pts
4. Poland 1 pt