EURO 2024: The First Pair of 1/8 Finals Confirmed
Following the results of the last round in Groups A and B, the first pair of the play-offs of the 2024 European Football Championship was formed. The teams that finished second in their groups will play each other. Switzerland and Italy will meet in the 1/8 finals - they will open the Euro 2024 play-offs. The match between Switzerland and Italy will take place on Saturday, 29 June.
This will be the second match between the national teams in the history of the finals of the European Championships, and the first in the play-offs. In 2021, Italy defeated Switzerland 3-0 in the group. In the same year, Italy became the European champion, a title they will defend at Euro 2024.
Switzerland finished second in Group A with five points - a victory over Hungary, a draw with Scotland and Germany.
Italy finished second in Group B with four points - a victory over Albania, a defeat by Spain and a draw with Croatia.
The winner of the match between Switzerland and Italy will have the most time to rest before the quarter-finals - the next game will take place in exactly one week, on Saturday, 6 July.
Group A.
Germany advanced to the last 16 as the group winner.
Switzerland advanced to the last 16 as the group runners-up.
Hungary finished third, but has not yet qualified or been eliminated.
Scotland was eliminated in fourth place.
Group B.
Spain advanced to the 1/8 finals as the group winner.
Italy will advance to the last 16 as the second-place team in the group if they avoid defeat by Croatia. Italy will not reach the last 16 if it loses and Albania beats Spain.
Albania will advance to the last 16 by finishing second in the group if it beats Spain and Croatia beats Italy, ensuring that Albania is ahead of Croatia on overall goal difference or total goals scored, or then on disciplinary points or then on European qualification rankings. Albania will not qualify for the last 16 if it loses or draws and Croatia beats Italy.
Croatia will advance to the last 16 by finishing second in the group if it beats Italy and Albania does not beat Spain (if Albania also wins, Croatia and Albania will share second and third place according to the above criteria). Croatia will not be able to reach the last 16 if it loses or draws, while Albania avoids defeat.