
With the 2025 European Championship group stage about to end, there is still plenty of potential for drama.
Six teams are battling for the four remaining spots in the quarter-finals going into the last round of group fixtures, which runs from July 9-13.
This is how each group could pan out.
A reminder of the rules
First, a crash course in the tiebreaker rules. If two teams are level on points, their head-to-head result will be used to separate them. If they drew, the decision goes to their goal difference across all group matches, followed by goals scored.
If those are still equal after the final group matches, UEFA will look at their disciplinary record, followed by their position in the qualifying rankings.
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There is a provision for qualification to be settled by a penalty shootout if two teams vying for qualification play each other on the final day and cannot be separated by head-to-head, goal difference or goals scored. Unfortunately for fans of penalty drama, results from the first two sets of matchdays mean nobody will be in this position. Shootouts will have to wait for the knockout rounds.
Group A
Norway have secured the top spot with six points and head-to-head wins over Switzerland and Finland. The latter two, who have three points each, will battle for the runner-up spot on Thursday, July 10.
Head-to-head losses against Norway mean they cannot top the group, even if they end up with a superior goal difference.
Finland must win to progress, while Switzerland only need a draw due to their superior goal difference.
Iceland, who face Norway on Thursday, cannot progress.
Remaining fixtures: Finland v Switzerland, Norway v Iceland. Thursday, July 10, 8 pm BST, 3 pm EST, 9 pm CET
Group B
Tournament favourites and world champions Spain are through to the quarter-finals after trouncing Portugal 5-0 and Belgium 6-2.
Italy are currently second with four points after beating Belgium 1-0 and drawing 1-1 with Portugal. Though they face Spain on Friday, July 11, they are in a strong position to progress. Avoiding defeat would secure qualification, but even if they lose and Portugal beat Belgium, Portugal would need to overturn a significant goal-difference deficit to finish above Italy.
Belgium are eliminated after losing their first two games.
Remaining fixtures: Portugal v Belgium, Italy v Spain. Friday, July 11, 8 pm BST, 3 pm EST, 9 pm CET
Group C
Sweden and Germany are both through to the quarter-finals with six points each from their opening two games.
Their match on Saturday, July 12, will determine who finishes top. Sweden only need to avoid defeat as they are ahead of Germany on goal difference. Germany need to win to finish above them.
Remaining fixtures: Poland v Denmark, Sweden v Germany. Saturday, July 12, 8 pm BST, 3 pm EST, 9 pm CET
Group D
This is the only group where all four teams can technically still qualify, though for Wales, it is extremely unlikely.
First, if England beat Wales on Sunday, they are through. If England and Wales draw, England would progress unless the Netherlands beat France. If England lose to Wales, they would need France to beat the Netherlands. That would send the decision between Wales, the Netherlands, and England going through to goal difference between the three, where England’s current margin of +4 puts them in a very strong position.
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For the Netherlands to progress, they need to beat France and for England to lose or draw against Wales. France only need to avoid defeat to be certain of going through. If they lose to the Netherlands, they will still go through if England fail to win. If England win and France lose, it would come down to goal difference in the head-to-head clashes between France, England, and the Netherlands, where the Netherlands are at a significant disadvantage due to their heavy loss to England.
Wales can technically still qualify – but they would need to beat England by at least four goals and for France to beat the Netherlands.
Remaining fixtures: England v Wales, Netherlands v France. Sunday, July 13, 8 pm BST, 3 pm EST, 9 pm CET
(Top photo: Getty Images)
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