The Women's Euro 2025 is heating up as the group stages have their final matches before the quarterfinals commence.
The top two teams will progress to the knockout rounds from each of the four pools. Group A have already completed all of their matches, Norway and hosts Switzerland can breathe a sigh of relief after successful qualification for the next stage.
There is still plenty to play for across the remaining fixtures, and we could see teams end up on the same points after their three group games, just as Switzerland and Finland did following their dramatic 1-1 draw in Geneva on Thursday.
So, what tiebreakers are used in the event that teams finish level? How are the quarterfinalists determined? The Sporting News explains.
MORE: Latest team news and score prediction for England vs. Wales
Women's Euro 2025 tiebreaker rules: What happens if teams end on level points?
According to Article 30 of the Women's Euros regulations, certain criteria will be applied in a specific order to determine who will move on to the next stage in the event that teams are level on points after three group games.
The first tiebreaker used is the head-to-head record between the the teams concerned. That's why England have the advantage over the Netherlands in Group D: should those two finish level on points behind France, the Lionesses will go through by virtue of their 4-0 win over the Dutch on matchday two.
After that, head-to-head goal difference and goals scored are used, and if those are also equal, the criteria are reapplied to all matches in the group. This is how Switzerland, who drew 1-1 with Finland on matchday three to leave both with four points, earned their place in the knockout phase (they ended with +1 goal difference, while Finland's was 0). The next tiebreaker is then the lowest number of disciplinary points, i.e. yellow and red cards.
If, at the end of all of that, the teams still cannot be separated, positions in the overall European qualifying-phase rankings are taken into account.
In the unlikely event that two teams with a quarterfinal place at stake are level on all of those criteria, a high-stakes penalty shootout will be held to determine who goes through.
What does this mean for England and Wales?
England come into matchday three in second place in Group D, level with the Netherlands on three points and three behind France.
A win over Wales will guarantee the Lionesses a place in the quarterfinals because they have the better head-to-head record against the Dutch, so if those two finish level on points, England have the advantage. A draw or defeat could allow the Netherlands to overtake them points, though.
Wales require a 4-0 win over England and have to hope that France defeat the Netherlands, as that is the only way they could finish in second place.
Ultimately, all is riding on that upcoming clash at Kybunpark, which is sure to bring top performances from both sides as they fight to prove why they should progress one step closer to hoisting the Euros trophy.
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