Euro 2024 qualifying primer – How can teams qualify? Why is England’s group so hard? What are the tiebreakers?

The 2023 March international break brings the start of qualifying for Euro 2024, the next iteration of the men’s European Championships that is due to be held in Germany.

With the calendar chaos brought on by the Covid-19 crisis finally at an end teams are now operating on a more traditional timeline, with qualifying starting 12-18 months before the tournament starts.

But there are lot of interesting quirks about this qualifying period and some questions that need answering. Let’s take a look at some of them shall we?

What is the structure for Euro 2024 qualifying?

Hosts Germany qualified automatically for the tournament as per usual whilst due to the invasion of Ukraine, Russia remain banned from UEFA competitions.

The remaining 53 teams were put into ten groups, seven groups of five and three groups of six.

The pots were organised in accordance with the UEFA Nations League. The four Nations League finalists – Netherlands, Croatia, Spain and Italy – were sorted into UNL pot, with the remaining teams then sorted into six pots based on their ranking in most recent Nations League, more on that little quirk later.

The teams will all play each other twice, ending on November 21.

Eagle-eyed readers here will notice that means there are only 21 teams in the tournament thus far. Germany plus the 20 teams from the group stages.

The remaining three places will be determined from a Nations League play-off.

League A, League B and League C of the Nations League will take the four highest-ranked teams in each of their respective leagues who did not qualify from the group stage and they will enter a mini-play-off.

That will be the usual semi-final and then final format, taking place in March of 2024. The winners of the League A play-off, League B play-off and League C play-off will all qualify as the final three teams.

Got it? We wouldn’t blame you if you don’t.

Why is England’s group so hard?

So remember earlier when we asked you to keep in mind that the seedings for the pots were based on Nations League performances? Well, this is why it’s important.

England have been drawn in a group alongside Italy and Ukraine and it’s fair to say this is one of the trickiest groups out there.

England fans might feel particularly aggrieved when there are some groups out there such as Group G (Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Lithuania) or Group I (Switzerland, Israel, Romania, Kosovo, Belarus and Andorra) that aren’t exactly packed with stellar names, all due respect to those involved.

But despite being ranked fifth in the FIFA world rankings, England were shambolic in the most recent Nations League. They lost home and away to Hungary, including a 4-0 embarrassment at Molineux last June. They finished bottom and were relegated, hence their dumped into Pot 2.

Are there are any other ‘Groups of Death’?

Yes the other big one is Group B, that group contains Netherlands, France, the Republic of Ireland and Greece.

Keep an eye on Group F which contains Belgium, Austria and Sweden. This is a new era for Belgium and they look ripe for a giant-killing in a sneaky-difficult group.

What are the tiebreakers for Euro 2024 qualifying?

Here are the tiebreakers for Euro 2024 qualifying.

1. Highest number of points obtained in the games between the tied teams

2. Highest goal difference obtained in the games between the tied teams

3. Highest number of goals scored in the games between the tied teams

4. Reapplying criteria 1-3 if there were more than two teams tied and criteria 1-3 left some teams still tied.

5. Highest goal difference in all group matches

6. Highest number of goals scored in all group matches

7. Highest number of away goals scored in all group matches.

8. Highest number of wins in all group matches.

9. Highest number of away wins in all group matches

10. Fair play conduct in all group matches

11. Position in the Nations League overall rankings