The apprehensions and dreams of the third-place team
Europe, France, and Portugal are currently assured of a spot in the round of 16, leaving decisions to be made for others. The Hungarians find themselves in a state of high tension.
Fear and tension drive the Hungarians: Against all odds, they managed to secure a position in the knockout stage of the UEFA Euro tournament after a dramatic win over Scotland in their last group match, despite losing in their initial two games. Scoring a goal in the 100th minute, right after witnessing teammate Barnabas Varga sustain a severe injury and be taken off the field, has left Hungary with 3 points and now they can only watch the rankings of the best third-placed teams. Their fate is no longer in their hands.
Four third-placed teams will advance to the next round, but only Group A's standings are clear-cut as of now. With 3 points and a goal difference of -3 from three games, the Hungarians are currently in third place in the rankings. Tonight, Albania, Italy, or Croatia have the chance to surpass them. If Croatia fails to beat Italy, they will rank lower than the Hungarians in the overall standings. If Albania stages an upset against Spain, they will certainly advance at least as one of the best third-placed teams.
Interestingly, the race for third place in Group C could take an unusual turn. If England and Denmark both lose to Slovenia and Serbia, respectively, with the same score, there would be a tie in points and goals. Having the same head-to-head record and goal difference, the Fair-Play Worting and the UEFA Ranking from the qualifiers would determine the winner. So far, both teams have received four yellow cards. Denmark's coach has even reminded his players to avoid unjustified yellow cards. According to the rankings, Denmark stands ahead of Slovenia (9th position) compared to Slovenia's (15th position).
If Slovenia and Denmark lose their respective matches, they will find themselves lagging behind the Hungarians. The team led by Captain Dominik Szoboszlai will only find out by Tuesday evening if they will at least compete during the weekend of the tournament. In Group D, Austria cannot rely on assistance: If Austria loses to the Netherlands by more than three goals, the Ralf Rangnick-led team will not advance as a group third-placer.
Curious as it may seem, only two points are enough to secure a place in the round of 16! If Albania and Croatia lose their heavier matches against Spain and Italy tonight, opportunities could present themselves for teams currently on the ropes. Double curious: Robert Lewandowski's Poland would even be eliminated with a win against France with a total of 3 points. Due to their loss to Austria (1:3) and the resulting lost direct comparison, the Poles are already ranked last before their last group match.
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- Despite the anxiety and uncertainty, the group's third-place team retains hope that a double chance could arise if Albania and Croatia fail in their matches.
- The team's curiosity is piqued by the possibility of advancing, even with just three points, if the outcomes in Group C take an unusual turn.
- The double blow of losing in their initial games and facing teammate injury has not dampened the third-place team's enthusiasm, as they continue to navigate group standings with diligence and curiosity.
