EM 2021: This is how the tournament mode works

Normally, tournaments start with four or eight groups, the mode of the knockout round results from this by itself. At the 2021 European Championship, things will be different. Read how it continues after the preliminary round.

As in 2016: also at the EM 2021, four group thirds will move into the round of 16.

The EM 2021 will start with 24 teams, which are distributed over six groups. We have shown these clearly here.

This is the mode of the EM 2021

The format with 24 teams already existed at the EM 2016. The upcoming European Championship will consequently run according to the same mode:

• As usual, the first and second of each group qualify for the round of 16. This corresponds to twelve teams, so four are still missing.
• These are the four best third in the group.
• The most important comparison criterion within the groups is the direct comparison. Only then comes the goal difference, followed by the number of goals scored.
• Then it goes on quite normally: From the round of 16, it goes through the quarterfinals and semifinals to the final.

What curious situations this mode can lead to, showed already in 2016, when Portugal was only third in the group, which would have meant elimination in the old group format. So jedoch konnte das Team um Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in die K.O.-Runde einziehen und wurde später Europameister.