Article 21 Match system – final tournament knockout stage - EURO

21.01

The knockout stage is played in single-leg matches as follows:

• Round of 16

• Quarter-finals

• Semi-finals

• Final.

21.02

For each knockout stage match, the first-named team is considered as the home team for administrative purposes.

21.03

To determine the four best third-placed teams, the following criteria are applied, in the order given:

1. higher number of points;

2. superior goal difference;

3. higher number of goals scored;

4. higher number of wins;

5. lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received by players and team officials in all group matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points);

6. position in the overall European Qualifiers rankings (see Article 23), or if Germany, the host association team, is involved in the comparison, drawing of lots.

21.04

The six group winners, the six runners-up and the four best third-placed teams play the round of 16 as follows:

"W" stands for group winner, "R" for group runners-up and "3" for third-placed teams.

21.05

The table below shows the different options for the round of 16 pairings, depending on which third-placed teams qualify from the final tournament group matches. For example, if the teams finishing third in groups A, B, C and D qualify, the pairings will be WB v 3A, WC v 3D, WE v 3B, WF v 3C.

21.06

The eight winners of the round of 16 play the quarter-finals as follows:

21.07

The four winners of the quarter-finals play the semi-finals as follows:

21.08

The two winners of the semi-finals play the final as follows: