Euro 2022 permutations: Who can qualify? Who needs what? England, Germany, France and Austria safely through

ByJames Hilsum

Updated 17/07/2022 at 18:53 GMT

We run through all the permutations as the final round of group stage fixtures began on Friday. England, Germany, France, Austria, Spain, Sweden and Netherlands have taken up seven of the eight quarter-final berths, but which remaining teams can join them? Some groups are more straightforward than others, but we explain what could happen in the next three days.

England became the first nation to secure their place in the Euro 2022 quarter-finals following a stunning 8-0 win over Norway on Monday, with Germany and France subsequently booking last-eight berths.

The final round of group fixtures began on Friday, as the Lionesses beat Northern Ireland 5-0 to sign off from the group stages in style. Elsewhere, Austria stunned Norway to progress to the last eight.

Here we explain who needs what to fill the remaining quarter-final places.

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Group A

There was little - bar pride - riding on the home nations clash between England and Northern Ireland at St Mary’s.

Sarina Wiegman’s side had already won Group A in emphatic fashion with two wins from two games - scoring nine goals in the process - and signed off from the groups stages with a five-goal drubbing of Northern Ireland. The Lionesses will face Spain in the quarter-finals.

Kenny Shiels’ side had earned plenty of plaudits in their first-ever major tournament appearance, but 4-1 and 2-0 defeats to Norway and Austria respectively confirmed their elimination. They again performed earnestly but the gulf in class told as England won 5-0.

The match between Austria and Norway had more jeopardy about it. Norway had to win to progress while Austria had to avoid defeat. And it was Norway who suffered a shock exit in the group stages after succumbing to a 1-0 defeat at the Amex Stadium.

Group B

As previously mentioned, Germany had already booked a place in the last eight after 4-0 and 2-0 wins over Denmark and Spain respectively.

The eight-time tournament champions beat Finland 3-0 in their final group game to extend their perfect win record and can look forward to a quarter-final clash with the Group A runners-up in Brentford next Thursday.

Meanwhile, Spain retained second place after beating Denmark 1-0 thanks to an injury-time winner in Brentford.

The two sides both had one win and one defeat from their opening two games, but Denmark’s inferior goal difference meant they had to beat La Roja to book a place in the last eight.

Group C

The Netherlands and Sweden remained in the coveted top two positions with seven points apiece from their three group games.

Mark Parsons’ Dutch side merely needed to avoid defeat against Switzerland on Sunday to go through and won 4-1 thanks to three late goals to finish as runners-up.

A point against Portugal would have been enough for Sweden to guarantee qualification, but instead produced an emphatic 5-0 victory to top Group C.

Sweden will play the Group D runners-up in Leigh next Friday, while the Netherlands will face Group D leaders France in Rotherham on July 23.

Group D – as it stands

Final fixtures: Iceland v France, Italy v Belgium - Monday July 18, 8pm kick-off

France booked a place in the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Belgium on Thursday, securing maximum points from their first two group games.

They conclude the group stages against Iceland, who know that a victory against the French would guarantee a quarter-final berth.

Belgium and Italy currently occupy third and fourth place respectively with one point apiece. The two teams go head-to-head on Monday, and the victors will secure qualification should Iceland fail to beat France.

Although, a draw between Belgium and Italy, coupled with a France victory over Iceland would see three teams finish level on two points.

In that scenario, the standings of all the three teams would be decided on overall goal difference, then overall goals scored, then disciplinary rankings, then coefficient.

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