How each group unfolded during wild opening round at Euro 2024

The Euro 2024 group finales delivered.

Georgia capped an enthralling opening round by stunning Portugal to reach the last 16 as one of the best third-place teams in the tournament. That came just hours after Romania, much to everyone's surprise, grabbed top spot in Group E ahead of Belgium.

Before we delve into the results for each group, we'll detail the tiebreakers that helped determine the 16 teams that moved on to the next round.

Tiebreakers

1. Head-to-head points
2. Head-to-head goal difference
3. Head-to-head goals scored
4. Goal difference in group
5. Total goals scored
6. Penalty shootout (if the two teams level on points are playing each other during the group finale)
7. Fewest disciplinary points (a yellow card is one point, three points for a direct red or two yellows, four points for a yellow followed by a direct red)
8. Overall ranking from European qualifiers

Group A (matches complete)

Final day results

• Switzerland 1-1 Germany
• Scotland 0-1 Hungary

Germany spent 64 minutes in second place during the final day until Niclas Fullkrug headed in a stoppage-time equalizer. The 1-1 draw was enough for Germany to take first and Switzerland, which took the lead in the opening half through Dan Ndoye, to follow the host nation into the knockout rounds in second spot. Hungary's Kevin Csoboth eliminated Scotland with a winning goal in the 100th minute, putting his country in contention to reach the last 16 as one of the four best third-placed finishers.

Read more about Group A's conclusion here.

Group B (matches complete)

Final day results

• Albania 0-1 Spain
• Croatia 1-1 Italy

Spain already had first place in the bag, but Ferran Torres' finish ensured La Roja took three wins from three matches from Group B. Spain's victory also ended Albania's second-ever appearance at a European Championship. But that wasn't the biggest story. Croatia rose from fourth to second after Luka Modric scored against Italy - but then disaster struck for Zlatko Dalic's men in the 98th minute when Mattia Zaccagni's sumptuous finish dropped Croatia down to third place. The Croatians' disappointing points tally and goal difference made it extremely difficult for them to progress as one of the best third-placed finishers, and their fate was confirmed Tuesday.

Read more about Group B's conclusion here.

Group C (matches complete)

Final day results

• Denmark 0-0 Serbia
• England 0-0 Slovenia

Two on-brand scorelines for a group that offered a meager amount of entertainment across its six matches. The four teams occupy the same positions they held before the final round of fixtures, with England marching stumbling on in first place and Serbia getting turfed out of the tournament. Denmark only finished ahead of Slovenia on the disciplinary tiebreaker after receiving one fewer yellow card as, incredibly, everything else between the sides was tied. Denmark gets Germany in the last 16, while Slovenia, one of the best third-placed finishers, has yet to learn its knockout rival.

Read more about Group C's conclusion here.

Group D (matches complete)

Final day results

• France 1-1 Poland
• Netherlands 2-3 Austria

Ralf Rangnick's hard-working and courageous Austria rose from third to first during Tuesday's thrilling Group D conclusion. The Netherlands leveled twice in Berlin but couldn't restore parity for a third time after Marcel Sabitzer's 80th-minute smash. France failed to take full advantage of the Dutch defeat in a concurrent 1-1 draw with Poland - in which Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski scored a penalty apiece - and had to accept second spot in the quartet. The implications for the knockout rounds are huge, with France potentially needing to take on Portugal in the quarterfinals and Germany or Spain in the semifinals to reach the tournament showpiece on July 14. Austria faces Turkey, Czechia, or Georgia in the last 16. The Netherlands is one of the best third-placed finishers at the tournament but must wait to find out its first knockout opponent. Poland was eliminated before the final round of Group D fixtures.

Read more about Group D's conclusion here.

Group E (matches complete)

Final day results

• Slovakia 1-1 Romania
• Ukraine 0-0 Belgium

For the first time in the history of the Euros, four teams were on equal points after two matches apiece. They all stayed exactly where they were after their final games. Romania and Slovakia went into the day knowing a draw would be enough for both teams to advance and played out a 1-1 stalemate amid a torrential downpour in Frankfurt. Belgium and Ukraine, meanwhile, finished goalless. Romania, unfancied going into the tournament, finished first by virtue of scoring more goals than Belgium. Slovakia moves on as one of the best third-placed finishers. Ukraine, despite having more points than third-placed teams in other groups, is eliminated, finishing bottom of the quartet due to its inferior goal differential with the other Group E participants.

Read more about Group E's conclusion here.

Group F (matches complete)

Final day results

• Georgia 2-0 Portugal
• Czechia 1-2 Turkey

Georgia delivered one of the great tournament upsets on the final day of group play, defeating Portugal 2-0 to seal an historic berth in the knockout stage as one of the best third-place teams. Portugal went into the match knowing it had already secured top spot in the quartet, a position that was reflected by Roberto Martinez's lineup changes. Turkey defeated Czechia in an ill-tempered concurrent affair to finish second, a result that eliminated the latter from the competition.

Read more about Group F's conclusion here.

Best third-place teams

Here's how the race to advance to the last 16 as a third-place finisher unfolded: