The defeated semi-finalists, the Netherlands and France, return home from the European Championships. There will be no match for third place. UEFA gives a reason and refers to history.
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- UEFA abolished the third-place play-off after the 1980 European Championship.
- The reason: "The match was not considered attractive and has not been part of the Euros since then," writes UEFA.
- In the last match for third place to date, Czechoslovakia beat Italy to secure a place on the podium.
England and Spain are preparing for the European Championship final, while the defeated semi-finalists Netherlands and France are heading straight home.
Unlike at World Cups, there is no third-place play-off at European Championships - and this year's tournament in Germany is no exception.
When asked, UEFA explained that the third-place play-off had been abolished as part of a change in the tournament's format from 1980 to 1984.
Third-place match abolished because "not attractive"
"The match was not considered attractive and has not been part of the Euro since then," said the continental association on Thursday. There are also no plans to reintroduce such a match. In 1980, Czechoslovakia beat Italy on penalties in the last match for third place at a European Championship to date, with Germany taking the title.
The last time Croatia finished third at a World Cup was in 2022, while England, who now have a chance of winning the European Championship title, lost the match to Belgium in 2018. The German team has finished third at four World Cups (1934, 1970, 2006 and 2010).
