Is there a third-place play-off game at Euro 2024?
SPAIN are into the final of Euro 2024 after a thrilling 2-1 win over France.
La Roja came from behind to win 2-1 and reach their first major international final since winning Euro 2012.
England face the Netherlands for the chance to meet Spain in Sunday’s final and play for the Henri Delaunay Cup – the Euro 2024 trophy.
But what will happen to France after their defeat?
Is there a third-place play-off at Euro 2024?
The World Cup has a third-place play-off match, usually played before the final.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Croatia beat Morocco to earn third-place.
And Gareth Southgate’s England have also played in a third-place game in recent memory, losing 2-0 to Belgium at the 2018 World Cup.
However, despite what your memory may be telling you, there are NO third-place play-offs at the European Championships.
This isn’t a new development – there have not been any third-place matches at the Euros since 1980.
That game was a 9-8 win on penalties for Czechoslovakia after they drew 1-1 with hosts Italy.
There have been 10 Euros since without a third-placed play-off.
When are the Euro 2024 semi-finals and final?
Semi-finals
- Tuesday, July 9 – Spain 2-1 France – 8pm BST – BBC1
- Wednesday, July 10 – Netherlands vs England – 8pm BST – ITV1
Final
- Sunday, July 14 – Netherlands/England vs Spain – BBC1/ITV1
England's six tournament semi-finals
ENGLAND will play their seventh tournament semi-final in Dortmund on Wednesday, writes Martin Lipton.
Sun Sport recalls the other six – and remembers where it went right and wrong for the Three Lions
1966 Portugal (Wembley) W 2-1
This was the big test for Alf Ramsey’s “wingless wonders” and one they passed thanks to a masterclass by Bobby Charlton. Charlton steered home the opener from outside the box after Roger Hunt chased down Ray Wilson’s ball over the top and keeper Jose Pereira blocked.
His second was slammed into the bottom corner after Geoff Hurst pushed into his path. Portuguese superstar Eusebio pulled one back from the spot after Jack Charlton handled off the line but England held on.
1968 Yugoslavia (Florence) L 1-0
Alan Mullery became the first England player to be sent off as this European Championship semi-final descended into a kicking match. A forgettable game saw Alan Ball force one panicky clearance against the Yugoslav bar but few real chances before Dragan Dzajic sneaked in behind Bobby Moore to prod the winner past Gordon Banks with four minutes left.
Mullery was then dismissed for kicking out at Dobrivoje Trivic. Goals from Charlton and Hurst earned a 2-0 win over the Soviet Union in the third place game.
1990 West Germany (Turin) D 1-1 (West Germany won 4-2 on penalties)
Arguably England’s best performance under Bobby Robson ended in heartache and tears. Chances came and went at both ends in a whirlwind game before Andreas Brehme’s free-kick looped off Paul Parker to drop beyond a helpless Peter Shilton.
But Gary Lineker then turned Parker’s hopeful ball forward into an assist as he fired past Bodo Illgner. Paul Gascoigne was in bits after the booking that would have ruled him out of the Final and shoot-out misses by Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle were fatal.
1996 Germany (Wembley) D 1-1 (Germany won 6-5 on penalties)
Another story of what might have been as Gareth Southgate joined the long list of shoot-out victims. Terry Venables’ side made the perfect start when Gascoigne’s corner was flicked on by Tony Adams for Alan Shearer to score. But Germany soon levelled through Stefan Kuntz and both goals had narrow escapes in normal and extra-time.
Penalties again and while Shearer, David Platt, Pearce, Gascoigne and Teddy Sheringham all scored, Germany were equally strong. Southgate’s shocker made Andreas Moller the one to win it.
2018 Croatia (Moscow) L 1-2
Another near-miss for England, who ran out of legs and smarts just when it mattered most. Kieran Trippier’s sensational free-kick put Southgate’s side in front and they had the chances to put the Croatians away in the first half.
But they all went begging and Luka Modric and Co wrested control. Ivan Perisic stole in front of Kyle Walker to nudge the leveller and in extra-time Mario Manduzic ran in behind a slow-reacting defence to beat Jordan Pickford. So near, so far.
2021 Denmark (Wembley) W 2-1
“Sweet Caroline” has never been sung so loud and so long than after this epic evening. The Danes went in front from a terrific Mikkel Damsgaard free-kick but Simon Kjaer put through his own goal as he tried to prevent Raheem Sterling converting Bukayo Saka’s cross.
Extra-time brought the key moment, when Sterling went down in the box under pressure from Mathias Jensen. Skipper Harry Kane’s penalty was saved by Kasper Schmeichel but he knocked home the rebound to earn the first England Final since 1966.