Euro 2020: All the permutations

Wednesday 23 June 2021 09:11

With the group stages coming to a close this week, the picture for the Euro 2020 knockout rounds is now a little clearer.

Two of the eight last-16 matches have already been confirmed, as Wales - featuring Reds Daniel James and Dylan Levitt - face Denmark in Amsterdam on Saturday at 17:00 BST. Three hours later, Italy will take on Austria at Wembley.

The Netherlands, Belgium, England and Croatia also know where they will play next, while Czech Republic, France, Sweden and Switzerland are confirmed as through but their destinies are yet to be decided.

With just four group matches left, here's your guide to the remaining United players in action and what's at stake...

Daniel James helped Wales to second place in Group A.

GROUP E

SPAIN

David De Gea hasn't featured for Spain at the tournament yet, and the 2008 and 2012 winners have struggled at the other end of the pitch due to a lack of penetration. Draws with Sweden and Poland in their opening fixtures mean they cannot afford to lose against Slovakia on Wednesday evening.

A win will ensure a top-two finish, while a draw would also be enough as long as Sweden avoid defeat against Poland. But if the Poles win and Spain don't, La Roja will finish bottom of the group and be eliminated at this stage for the first time since Euro 2004.

SWEDEN

Victor Lindelof has helped Sweden to two clean sheets so far and they are one of only three teams yet to concede in the tournament. The Scandinavians are already through and will top the group and set up a meeting with a third-placed side in Glasgow next Tuesday if they beat Poland.

Defeat for Janne Andersson's side will see them fall below the Poles on the head-to-head rule and they could still finish third depending on the Spain v Slovakia result. The second-placed team in Group E will play Croatia in Copenhagen next Monday.

Lindelof has been rock solid for Sweden so far.

GROUP F

FRANCE

The 2018 World Cup winners, featuring midfielder Paul Pogba, cannot be eliminated but could still finish either first, second or third in the so-called 'Group of Death', as they take on Bruno Fernandes's Portugal in their final game on Wednesday.

A win will be enough for Les Bleus to secure top spot, while a draw would also do if Germany don't beat Hungary in the other fixture. A France defeat would see Portugal, and potentially Germany or Hungary, overtake them, but they will get through as one of the best third-placed teams at the very least.

PORTUGAL

The Portuguese, who also have our full-back Diogo Dalot in their squad, must have been sweating after Saturday's 4-2 defeat to Germany, but Monday's results mean they can probably qualify as one of the best third-placed teams even with a narrow defeat - unless they lose and Hungary beat Germany, in which case the Euro 2016 winners will finish bottom of Group F and be eliminated.

Strangely enough, if Germany lose and Portugal win, they will top the group and set up a last-16 encounter with either Switzerland or Finland. The Germans will play in front of home fans in Munich and will be expected to win - if they do, a Portugal victory will place them second, setting up a tie with England, and a draw or defeat means they will have to settle for third.

Paul Pogba will expect to be involved against Portugal and team-mate Bruno Fernandes.

ROUND-OF-16 GAMES

26 June: Wales v Denmark (Amsterdam, 17:00 BST)
26 June: Italy v Austria (London, 20:00 BST)
27 June: Netherlands v 3rd Group D/E/F (Budapest, 17:00 BST)
27 June: Belgium v 3rd Group A/E/F (Seville, 20:00 BST)
28 June: Croatia v Runner-up Group E (Copenhagen, 17:00 BST)
28 June: Winner Group F v 3rd Group A/C (Bucharest, 20:00 BST)
29 June: England v Runner-up Group F (London, 17:00 BST)
29 June: Winner Group E v 3rd Group B/C/D (Glasgow, 20:00 BST)

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