Why the Netherlands and France haven’t played in a third-place play-off match at Euro 2024

The Netherlands and France will not be playing in a third-place play-off match at Euro 2024.

Earlier in the week, 2018 World Cup winners France were knocked out of Euro 2024 after losing to Spain at the Allianz Arena. Goals from Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo cancelled out Randal Kolo Muani’s opener to seal a 2-1 win for La Roja.

On Wednesday night, England left it late as Ollie Watkins came off the bench to score a 90th-minute winner to seal a 2-1 win over the Netherlands in Dortmund.

As a result, Spain and England will face off at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Sunday night with the Euro 2024 trophy at stake.

Usually, these tournaments will have a third-place play-off match that the losers of the semi-finals will contest.

However, unlike the FIFA World Cup and the Copa America, Euro 2024 will not have a third-place play-off clash.

In fact, there hasn’t been one since Euro 1980, which took place in Italy.

The hosts were in action for third place but they lost 9-8 on penalties against Czechoslovakia after the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Although Italy were playing, the interest in the game was low and TV audiences were down. In fact, the attendance inside the stadium was also below expectations.

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Since then, there have been 10 European Championships without a third-place play-off match.

Speaking ahead of the final, Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate said: “We have a fabulous opportunity that we set out to achieve from the moment we left [the 2022 World Cup in] Qatar a bit earlier than we would have liked to.

“I'm not a believer in fairytales but I believe in dreams and we have big dreams. If we are not afraid of losing it gives us a better chance to win and I want the players to feel that fearlessness.”

He added: “I want to win so much on Sunday it hurts, don't get me wrong, but I can handle whatever comes and I know it's not going to change what the dog thinks when I walk back through the door.”