Euro 2020 main draw and play-off draw

At yesterday's UEFA Executive Committee meeting the matter of the Euro 2020 main draw and play-off draw was discussed.

It was acknowledged that the situation regarding the play-offs is too complicated to decide fully in advance. There are just too many scenarios to cater for. Instead, certain principles were laid down. Final decisions will be made once the 16 play-off teams are known at the end of normal qualification.

There are 2 points of particular interest to England fans.

#1 It is stated for the first time in black and white that if one host country in a group qualifies directly and the other host country doesn't then the qualified host country will get 3 matches at home. This applies whether the other host country is in the play-offs or whether they miss out completely. So, if Scotland do not qualify directly, England will get 3 matches at Wembley.

#2 UEFA will try to keep host countries apart in the play-off draw. But if the League C play-off includes 2 host countries then, in the main Euro 2020 group draw, "League C play-off Winner" will have to be placed in one of the two possible groups. The other group will then get one of the other play-off winners. If the "wrong" team wins the play-off then there will be a straight swap in April 2020.

[Note that if the League C play-off has 2 host countries then the play-offs for Leagues A and B must each also include a host country. So the paired play-off available to be swapped with League C would have to be League D. If England's Euro 2020 group does not include the League C play-off winner it would have to include the League D play-off winner instead.]

https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/EURO/02/62/53/04/2625304_DOWNLOAD.pdf

15 Replies

Shaun Barber
- 1 Oct 2019 8:42 AM
Thanks for posting David, good news for those that gambled on tickets for the Wembley group games through the UEFA sale (my brother is one). Confirms that the ticket he managed to get will definitely be England (obviously assuming we qualify directly and Scotland don't).
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Samuel Holt
- 11 Oct 2019 10:19 AM
Good post! After Scotland's loss to Russia last night, this means that all 3 England group games will be at Wembley then?!
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James Pownall
- 11 Oct 2019 3:44 PM
In reply to Samuel Holt:
What dates are the England games at Wembley
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Richard Charlesworth
- 13 Oct 2019 12:15 PM
In reply to James Pownall:
Looks as though the loss to Czech Rep, will mean we are not seeded. Even if we win all the next games.
www.telegraph.co.uk/.../gareth-southgate-considers-return-three-back-englands-damning
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David Lilley
- 13 Oct 2019 12:30 PM
In reply to Richard Charlesworth:
It's too early to say that. Only Belgium, Ukraine, Spain and Italy have dropped fewer points than England. We're currently still in the top 6 of Group leaders ahead of other teams who have lost only one match because of goal difference.
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David Lilley
- 13 Oct 2019 12:32 PM
In reply to James Pownall:
14th, 19th and 23rd June.
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Peter Sherwood
- 13 Oct 2019 1:10 PM
In reply to David Lilley:
On a similar note I heard the next phase of the Nations league will be extended so that Div 1 now has 4 teams. It means that Germany's relegation has a stay of execution. Anyone heard similar?
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Adam Coatham
- 13 Oct 2019 1:46 PM
In reply to Peter Sherwood:
UEFA themselves announced it a few weeks ago.
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Andrew Coates
- 14 Oct 2019 11:44 AM
In reply to David Lilley:

David Lilley
It's too early to say that. Only Belgium, Ukraine, Spain and Italy have dropped fewer points than England. We're currently still in the top 6 of Group leaders ahead of other teams who have lost only one match because of goal difference.

According to the table on Wiki, which removes results of teams against 6th placed teams in 6 team groups, we are currently 8th in the table, but have games in hand:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2020_qualifying#Overall_ranking
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David Lilley
- 14 Oct 2019 1:47 PM
In reply to Andrew Coates:
True. I did write my post yesterday before the tables were updated for last night's results. Provided we don't *** it up tonight, we should move back into the top 6.
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Richard Charlesworth
- 15 Oct 2019 4:29 AM
In reply to David Lilley:
Interesting results last night with Ukraine win and France draw. Spain likely to win tonight v Sweden will put us 5th in the seeds list thanks to a better GD than Netherlands. As long as we don't muck up the final 2 games, we should be OK.
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Andrew Coates
- 15 Oct 2019 12:45 PM
In reply to Richard Charlesworth:
Kosovo away isn't going to be a walk in the park, but we should beat Montengro
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Adrian Gunner
- 16 Oct 2019 11:12 AM
In reply to Richard Charlesworth:
We should be ok Richard...
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Richard Charlesworth
- 16 Oct 2019 12:05 PM
In reply to Adrian Gunner:
I hope so! Spain drew and have played a game more (taking into account that results against sixth-placed teams are not considered in the ranking). Still means we really need to win both to make sure. After the debacle of not being seeded for Brazil, I would prefer not to be in a group of death. Saying that, we've cocked up easy groups in the past!
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Adrian Gunner
- 14 Nov 2019 10:10 PM
In reply to Samuel Holt:
Yes Samuel.... Confirmed 3 group games being played at Wembley see link below

www.thefa.com/.../england-secure-qualification
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Euro 2020 main draw and play-off draw

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