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Euro 2008 Format

Euro2008 Qualifier - England v Israel Peter Vink

The Euro 2008 competition format ensures that only the top nations’ teams make it to the Finals.

Qualifying

In Euro 2008 qualifying rounds, all seeded teams are divided into seven groups, from A to G. Qualifying matches from 2006 to November 2007 determine which nations’ teams will make it into the Euro 2008 Finals. Because Switzerland and Austria are hosting Euro 2008, their teams are exempt from qualifying.

During qualifying rounds, teams that tie in matches are awarded 1 point each. Winning teams earn 3 points. Matches are played using the league system, with each team playing all opponents in its group, in home and away matches.

If teams in a group have the same ranking after the qualifying rounds, the UEFA administrators will choose the winning team using factors such as

  • ranking from most recent qualifying competition
  • average goal difference
  • average number of goals
  • average number of away goals
  • drawing of lots

Check the latest Euro 2008 qualifying round group standings on the official UEFA site.

Euro 2008 Format for the Finals

The top-ranked 16 teams - including the seven winning teams, seven runners-up, and the two host nations’ teams - will compete in First Round matches from 7 to 18 June. UEFA administrators divide these 16 teams into four groups (A to D) of four teams each.

In Quarter Finals, the winning team and the runner-up in each group – a total of eight teams – compete. Of these teams, the four winners will play the Semi Finals. The last two teams standing go to the Euro 2008 Final.

If teams tie in any of the Euro 2008 finals, play will move on into extra time, divided into two halves of fifteen minutes each. If this extended play still fails to produce a winner, the match result will be decided by a penalty shoot-out.

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