Euro 2024 has produced plenty of thrills and spills so far, but almost none of them have occurred in Group C.
England secured top spot in the group with a 0-0 draw against Slovenia on Tuesday. Denmark were unable to take advantage of another listless performance from the Three Lions as they shared the same score with Serbia in the simultaneous group decider.
Slovenia celebrated wildly when their stalemate in Cologne ended, as the result ensured they would go through as one of the four best third-place finishers. But a closer look at the final table raises an obvious question: why did Denmark finish second above Slovenia?
Euro 2024 Group C Qualification
| Pos. | Equipment | GP | WDL | Goals | Goals against | Points |
| 1. | England | 3 | 1-2-0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 2. | Denmark | 3 | 0-3-0 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 3. | Slovenia | 3 | 0-3-0 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 4. | Serbia | 3 | 0-2-1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Euro 2024 tiebreaker rules for the group stage
UEFA’s tiebreakers for the tournament may require some resolution. In the event that two or more teams finish with the same number of points in the group stage of Euro 2024, the following rules will apply.
The classified will be decided according to the following criteria, with number one being the first to be used and then the others in order if the tie persists:
- Highest number of points obtained in head-to-head matches played between the teams in question.
- Higher goal difference resulting from head-to-head matches played between the teams in question.
- Highest number of goals scored in head-to-head matches played between the teams in question.
- If, after having applied criteria 1 to 3, the teams still have the same ranking, criteria 1 to 3 are reapplied exclusively to matches between teams that are still tied to determine their final ranking. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria 5 to 10 will apply.
- Superior goal difference in all group matches.
- Highest number of goals scored in all group matches.
- If in the last round of the group stage, two opposing teams are tied on points, goal difference and goals scored and then tied their match, their classification will be determined by a penalty shootout. (This criterion is not used if more than two teams had the same number of points).
- Lowest total disciplinary points in all group matches (1 point for a single yellow card, 3 points for a red card resulting from two yellow cards, 3 points for a direct red card, 4 points for a yellow card followed by a direct red card.)
- Highest position in the European Qualifiers overall standings, unless the comparison involves hosts Germany, in which case a draw will be held.
Why did Denmark finish above Slovenia in Group C?
That’s right, you have to go through the entire list of UEFA criteria to get to the answer. In addition to being tied in head-to-head record, points, goal difference and goals scored, Denmark and Slovenia also finished the group stage with identical disciplinary records.
In their three games, each team accumulated six yellow cards and no red cards. This means that they finally parted ways when looking at their performances in qualifying for the tournament.
Even then, it was very difficult to separate them. Denmark topped Group H with 22 points by virtue of a superior head-to-head record than… yes, you guessed it: Slovenia.
The teams drew 1-1 in June 2023 in Ljubljana. Five months later, Joakim Maehle and Thomas Delaney claimed a 2-1 victory in Copenhagen, which now means Denmark will play Germany in Dortmund on Saturday 29 June.
Slovenia will face Portugal on July 1 or the winner of Group E on July 2.