Football
Dale Johnson, General Editor, ESPN FC 8y

Euro 2016 group stage qualification permutations

The top two teams in each group are guaranteed to qualify for the round of 16 at Euro 2016, and they will be joined by the four best third-place teams. There are six groups.  

In the event that two or more teams finish level on points within a group, the tiebreakers are as follows:

1. Head-to-head points between the teams in question.
2. Head-to-head goal difference between the teams in question.
3. Head-to-head goals scored between the teams in question.
4. Goal difference in all group games.
5. Goals scored in all group games.
6. If two teams are still level and play each other in the final group game, they will have a penalty shootout.
7. Fair play record (three points for a red, one for a yellow).
8. UEFA national team coefficient ranking.

In deciding the best third-place teams, the tiebreakers are:

1. Points.
2. Goal difference.
3. Goals scored.
4. Fair play record (three points for a red, one for a yellow).
5. UEFA national team coefficient ranking.

See the foot of the page for details of how the fixtures for the best third-placed teams are decided. No third-placed team can finish on more than four points.

Qualified for round of 16: Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Spain, Wales
Best third placed teams to qualify: Northern Ireland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Slovakia 
Eliminated: Albania, Austria, Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine

- Click here for the full schedule of games and fixtures for knockout rounds

Saturday, June 25
Switzerland vs. Poland -- Saint-Etienne (3 p.m. CET/9 a.m. ET, ESPN)
Wales vs. Northern Ireland -- Paris (6 p.m. CET/12 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Croatia vs. Portugal  -- Lens (9 p.m. CET/3 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Sunday, June 26
France vs. Republic of Ireland -- Lyon (3 p.m. CET/9 a.m. ET, ESPN)
Germany vs. Slovakia -- Lille (6 p.m. CET/12 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Hungary vs. Belgium -- Toulouse (9 p.m. CET/3 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Monday, June 27
Italy vs. Spain-- Saint-Denis (6 p.m. CET/12 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
England vs. Iceland -- Nice (9 p.m. CET/3 p.m. ET, ESPN2)


- Click here for the full schedule of games and fixtures for knockout rounds

This is how the round of 16 ties were created for the best third-placed nations.

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