England will take on Denmark in the semi-finals of Euro 2020 on Wednesday night, with the winner earning a place in Sunday’s final.
For the loser, it means the end of their tournament, as there is no third-place playoff.
England are no strangers to third-place fixtures, having lost one to Belgium at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Why is there no third-place playoff?
The Euros had a third-place game when they started back in 1960, and continued the tradition until 1980.
That game saw Czechoslovakia beat Italy 9-8 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Rome.
However, there was little interest in the game – both in terms of stadium attendance and television audience – so the decision was made to scrap if from future tournaments.
When is England vs Denmark?
Do other tournaments have playoffs?
The European Championship is the only major international tournament that does not have a third-place playoff.
The World Cup, Copa America and African Cup of Nations all make teams play for third place, normally the day before the final.
Teams often use third-place playoffs as an opportunity to give fringe players a chance to gain some minutes before heading back home, rather than viewing them as a serious fixture.
More from i on Euro 2020
- Why there have been so many own goals – from tiredness to lazy defending
- England aren’t ‘rubbish’ and Southgate isn’t a ‘fraud’ – we just need a bit of patience
- What the Premier League could learn from Euro 2020’s controversy-free referees
- The football nomad who became a hero for his role in saving Eriksen’s life
- How to watch every Euro 2020 match on TV and online in the UK
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3yq8DIM
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