Euro 2016: Handy guide to the complicated qualification criteria and Round of 16 fixtures

The opening round of the 2016 European Championships is all set to be concluded on Wednesday, with 16 teams qualifying for the next round, along with a hell lot of confusion about who will play whom in the pre-quarterfinals. [caption id=“attachment_2846100” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Logo for the Euro 2016. Reuters[/caption] While the remaining group fixtures have a big say in the qualifications, fans are eager see if any of the big boys clash in the Round of 16. However, thanks to Euro 2016’s 24-team format, the fixtures are complicated enough to put fans’ brain cells to to stern test in figuring out the last 16 line-up. The biggest confusion at Euro 2016 though is about the teams that will actually progress to the next stage. So let’s get the facts — complicated as it may be — straight once and for all. Firstly, the winners and runners-up of all the six groups qualify for the knock-out stages, which fills up 12 out of the 16 available spots. The remaining slots will be filled by four of the best third-placed sides. How does one determine four of the best third-placed sides? UEFA will use the following parameters to determine these sides: 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. If two or more teams finish on same amount of 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. Penalty shootout, if two teams are still level and play each other in the final group game 7. Fair play record (three points for a red, one for a yellow). 8. UEFA national team coefficient ranking. Looking at the current scenario, it is clear that no third placed team can finish with more than four points or lesser than two points, meaning Slovakia in Group B and Northern Ireland in Group C have already qualified because they will end up among the four best third-placed teams irrespective of how the results go elsewhere. So here is the list of teams that have qualified

1. France - Winners Group A
2. Switzerland - Runners-up Group A
3. Wales - Winners Group B
4. England - Runners-up Group B
5. Slovakia - Third place Group B
6. Germany - Winners Group C
7. Poland - Runners-up Group C
8. Northern Ireland - Third place Group C
9. Spain - Runners-up of Group D
10. Croatia - Winner of Group D
11. Italy - Winners Group E
12. Hungary - 1st-3rd Group F

So, when teams from Group E and F take the field on Wednesday, six teams will vie for four remaining knock-out slots, that includes big teams like Belgium, Portugal and Sweden. So what do these six teams need to make it to the last sixteen Belgium: The Red Devils need a draw or a Republic of Ireland loss to be assured of a place in the competitions’s last 16. However, a draw would mean that Belgium would be dependent on the result of Italy and Republic of Ireland to know where (second or third) they will finish in the group. The danger of an early exit remains a possibility for Marc Wilmots men if they lose to Sweden and the Irishmen beat the Italians. A win for Belgium confirms their passage to the knock-out stages as runners-up of Group E. Portugal [caption id=“attachment_2849736” align=“alignleft” width=“825”] Cristiano Ronaldo has disappointed for Portugal at Euro 2016. AP[/caption] From topping the group to finishing bottom, every scenario is possible for Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. Quite simply, a draw or an Iceland win on Wednesday will see Portugal make the last 16 either as runners-up or as one of the third-placed teams. A defeat to Hungary will leave them nervously awaiting the result of the Austria-Iceland game as an Austria win will knock them out. So the simple solution to avoid all the ruckus will be to beat Hungary and top the group without depending on the other result. Sweden: Nothing less than a win over Belgium will assure their progress to the knock-out stages, but the Swedes could still make it even if they draw or lose against Belgium. A win will most likely send them through as Runners-up of Group E, unless Republic of Ireland are able to beat Italy and also make-up a goal-difference swing of two between them and Sweden. A draw or defeat to Belgium will mean, Sweden have to hope the Republic of Ireland fails to beat Italy. Iceland: Their fairytale run at Euro 2016 will continue with a draw against Austria, which will see them qualify as Runners-up or one of third-placed teams, depending on the result of Portugal’s game. A win put them in with a chance of winning the group, if Hungary fail to win and the goal difference of either Hungary or Portugal- whoever ends up on five points - is less compared to that of Iceland. It could all come down to the number of goals scored to decide the winner of Group F if Iceland win and Hungary don’t. Republic of Ireland: Only a win over Italy will do for the Irishmen as any other result will lead to elimination from the competition. Even a win over the Italians would most likely land them a third-placed slot unless they absolutely thrash Italy and Belgium and Sweden draw. Austria: Like the Republic of Ireland, only a win would do for Austria to keep their hopes of making the knock-out stage alive. A win though could have a bigger prize in store for the Austrians than the Irishmen as a  they could land a second-place finish if Portugal fail to win. Austrians could find themselves at the top of Group F if they win by a margin of four goals and Hungary and Portugal draw. If you thought that this was heavy enough, understanding the Round of 16 line-up is an even complicated task. To avoid the group stage matches being repeated in the Round of 16, UEFA have pre-determined the draw of the competition. Thus, the winners of Groups A,B,C,D get to play the third-placed teams for no reason apart from good luck. On the flip side, that leaves winners of Group E – undoubtedly the toughest group in the tournament – and Group F, facing runners-up from two of the six groups. [caption id=“attachment_2849742” align=“alignleft” width=“825”] Italy will have to possibly beat Spain, Germany and England or France to reach the final of Euro 2016. AP[/caption] This why Italy, winners of Group E, face Spain, the runners-up of Group D. Belgium, who are favourites to finish as runners-up of Group E, will face the winners of Group F (one of Portugal, Hungary and Iceland). With due respect to Ronaldo and co. Belgium are likelier to get an easier draw compared to Italy who beat them and finished top of their group. The match-up for the Round of 16 looks like this currently

• Match 1: Switzerland vs Poland
• Match 2: Croatia vs Slovakia or 3rd Group E / F
• Match 3: Wales vs Northern Ireland or Turkey
• Match 4: Winner Group F v Runner-up Group E
• Match 5: Germany  vs Albania or Slovakia
• Match 6: Italy vs Spain
• Match 7: France  vs Northern Ireland or 3rd Group E
• Match 8: England vs Runner-up Group F

However, the tournament doesn’t end at the Round of 16 stage and there remains the small matters of the quarters, semis and the final. Here is how the teams could face up in the latter stages.

1. Switzerland or Poland vs Croatia or Slovakia or 3rd Group E / F
2. Wales or Northern Ireland or Turkey vs Winner Group F v Runner-up Group E
3. Germany or Albania or Slovakia vs Italy or Spain
4. France or Northern Ireland or 3rd Group E vs England v Runner-up Group F

Semi-final line-up

1. Winner of QF 1 vs Winner of QF 2
2. Winner of QF 3 vs Winner of QF 4

Things don’t get straight-forward till the Final where the winners of two semi-finals play each other, obviously . Whether it is worth investing grey matter on this complicated format is for the individual to decide, but for those choose to, are certain to come out of it with their wits sharpened.