With the last matchday of Group F finally here, let's take a look at what the teams must do to qualify for the next round in Euro 2020.
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When the draw for Euro 2020 was complete, football fans were most excited about Group F. The group featured reigning European champions Portugal, reigning world champions France and powerhouse Germany. Next to these three, Hungary seemed like an afterthought. Amazingly then, each of the four teams go into the final round of group games with their chances of qualification for the Round of 16 very much alive. Hungary are the biggest surprise of the lot in that sense. Their draw against France in the second match left them the slimmest of chances to make it to the next round. Still, given the pedigree of sides they face, that in itself is no mean feat. (Euro points table)
With the last matchday of Group F finally here, let’s take a look at what the teams must do to qualify for the next round in Euro 2020.
Of the four teams, only France go into the last round of matches knowing they will play the next round. The defending world champions currently have four points from 2 matches.
However, both Finland and Ukraine are out of the tournament despite having finished third in their respective groups. Both teams collected 3 points each. This means any team with more than four points is assured of qualification.
Thus, France could lose to Portugal also and it wouldn’t matter much for them. Although starting the tournament with a win, a draw and then a loss would not be ideal going into the next round.
Nevertheless, they have already sealed their spot in the next round – and kept their hopes of winning both the World Cup and Euros in the same cycle alive. Thus, could thus play with a little more freedom.
The same can’t be said for either Portugal, Germany or Hungary though. That being said, Portugal and Germany both have 3 points each so far.
Thus, a draw would be enough for both teams to secure safe passage into the next round. Should both Germany and Portugal win their group games, then either of these sides will finish as group winners.
Of course, who finally gets the top spot in that case will come down to goal difference or other factors.
A loss for both Portugal and Germany, however, means the end of their hopes of making it to the next round.
For Hungary, however, the task is both simple and complex. It’s simple because they only need a win – nothing else will do for them. The complex part, of course, is that they face Germany.
To make things worse, they are facing a German side that, in their previous game, found their mojo in a major way. Hungary will need to put on a performance of a lifetime if they are to make it to the next round.
As things stand, the three favourites – France, Portugal and Germany – are all likely to go through. However, don’t count out the Hungarians even if they won’t have a full capacity Puska Stadium backing them.
