No third-place play-off: The untold story of Euro 2024
Euro 2024 is slowly coming to a close. In the final on Sunday, the national teams of Spain and England will face off. The absence of a third-place match distinguishes the European Championship from the World Cup or even the ongoing Copa America in the USA. Why is this? The reason is very simple.
Why is there no third-place match in Euro 2024?
The Euro 2024 semi-finals are already behind us. In the first, Spain defeated France 2-1, and in the second, England won against the Netherlands by the same score of 2-1. The losing teams will not get a chance to compete for the bronze medal, but this is not an exception to the rule.
The rule of having a third-place match in the European Championship was abolished by UEFA 44 years ago. Why did this happen?
Such matches took place in the first six final tournaments for the title of the best national football team on the Old Continent. However, in 1980, UEFA authorities decided to discontinue this fixture. The reason was the lack of interest from television media representatives in Europe.
According to their reports, viewership for these matches was very low, and few fans attended the stadiums. This occurred when globalization in football was not as prevalent as at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the current century.
Czechoslovakia won third place in the European Championships twice. The national teams of Hungary, England, Belgium, and the Netherlands each have one bronze medal. Thus, the Euro is a unique international tournament compared to other major competitions, as bronze medals are contested in the World Cup, Copa America, and the Olympic Games.
For example, simultaneously with Euro 2024, the aforementioned Copa America 2024 takes place in the USA. In the final, the Argentinians will face the Colombians, and for third place, the Canadians will compete against the Uruguayans. This match is scheduled for Sunday, 14th July, at 1:00 AM Greenwich Time.
When will the Euro 2024 final take place?
The final of this year's European Championship will be played on Sunday, 14th July. At the famous Olympiastadion in Berlin, the Spaniards will face the English. La Furia Roja could win the title for the fourth time, while the Three Lions do not yet have it in their account but will play in their second consecutive European Championship final. Three years ago at Wembley, the English lost a penalty shootout to the Italians (2-3) after the final match ended in a 1-1 draw. How will it be this time?
