Euro 2016 permutations and combinations: Which teams can make it to the knockout rounds?

UEFA Euro 2016 has been action-packed so far, with a lot of interesting results, as teams who were tagged as favourites unable to take advantage of their situation. With two matchdays gone, there is only one more match left for teams to show they are good enough to qualify for the knockouts.

Some groups are more close than the others, with the Umbro supported Republic of Ireland part of one such group, as they look to qualify as one of the four best third-placed teams, just as they did during the qualification campaign.

Here are all the permutations and combinations that could be possible -

Group A

This group is almost settled as France and Switzerland sit pretty at the number one and two spots. France are already assured of a round of 16 spot with 6 points from two games and there is no chance that Romania, the third-placed team, can catch up with them since they have just one point under their name.

Switzerland need a draw in the least to secure a top two position. However, they play hosts France next and things would get interesting if the home team wins because if that happens, Romania could finish as runners-up of Group A with a win big enough to give them the edge on goal difference against the Swiss.

Albania have no chance of finishing in top two, but they can sneak into the number 3 spot and hope that they are one of the best third-placed sides. That however works only if they win their next game against Romania.

Group B

This is one of the most open groups in the tournament as of now. With just one group match-day to go, three teams have a chance to finish the group as the group champions, such is the competitiveness here.

England are currently leading the group with 4 points, with Wales and Slovakia breathing down their neck with 3 points each. Russia sit at the bottom with 1 point.

The Three Lions will confirm their place as group champions with a win. With a draw, they all but assure a top-two finish. If England manage to sneak a point from this game, then Wales will qualify as runners-up with as little as a draw.

If, however, England lose, then Wales could eliminate Hodgson’s men with a win against Russia. If Wales draw in the aforementioned situation, then they finish third and can only hope that they are one of the best third-placed sides.

Slovakia will book a place in the next round with a win. They could also do that with a draw, given that Wales lose against the Russians. If, however, they lose and Russia win, they will end up at the bottom.

Russia might be on the brink of elimination, but they could actually finish second if England win against Slovakia or if the Slovaks win while bettering England’s goal difference in the process.

Group C

The Germans will definitely go to the next round with as little as a draw. A win assures their place as group champions, and if they draw, they need Poland to drop points.

The Poles could finish as group champions with a win that exceeds Germany’s winning margin by two goals, or if the Germans draw/lose against Northern Ireland. If Northern Ireland lose against Germany, Poland would need only a draw to ensure a top two finish.

For Northern Island, the equation couldn’t get any simpler: a win takes them to the next round, a draw or loss gives them a third-placed finish as Ukraine are already out of the competition.

Group D

Spain have already qualified for the next round and will confirm their place as the group champions with a draw or a win.

For Croatia, a win against the Spaniards will see them finish as the group champions. A draw would confirm their place as the second-placed side in the group. A loss would also take them to the next round if Czech Republic fail to win against Turkey.

The Czechs, on the other hand, can only go to the next round if they win while Croatia lose badly enough to give the former a better goal difference. And the best the Turks can do is win by a big margin against the Czechs and finish as one of the best third-placed teams of the group stages.

Group E

Italy have already qualified for the next round whilst also confirming their position as the champions of the group. Belgium need only a point to clinch second spot in the group.

Sweden, meanwhile, can only qualify if they win against Belgium. If both Sweden and the Umbro sponsored Ireland win, then it will come down to goal difference, then goals scored, then fair play record and even if that doesn’t work out, it will all be down to their respective co-efficients.

For Ireland, a win is the need of the hour. After having impressed in their first encounter against Sweden, they were expected to continue the same against Belgium.

However, things didn’t go to plan in their match against Belgium, despite the tremendous crowd support, with all the Irish fans wearing their Umbro designed Royal Green jersey proudly, as they continued to cheer their team, as they suffered a tough loss.

A good move could be removing Ciaran Clark and getting Richard Keogh, who sports the Umbro Medusae, a boot known for being lightweight and providing good speed, in, to help solidify the defence and provide more rugged protection to the goal.

Group F

Hungary will definitely finish as group champions if they win against Portugal. With a draw, they confirm their place in the next round. They can finish top of the group even with a draw if Iceland fail to beat Austria by a margin of at least 2 goals.

Iceland guarantee qualification with a win against Austria. They could finish second even with a draw if Hungary win against Portugal. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo’s men need a win in order to qualify for the next round. A win could also see them progress to the next round as group champions if Iceland don’t beat Austria or if Iceland win by a narrower margin.

For Austria to qualify, they must pray for Portugal to drop points against Hungary while also winning their game against Iceland. If Portugal win, the highest Austria could finish is third. However, a win against the Nordic nation would be enough to secure their place in the next round as one of the best third-placed finishers.