Why Euro 2024 will not have a third-place play-off unlike the World Cup

The reason why Euro 2024 will not have a third-place play-off has been revealed.

The knockout stages of Euro 2024 are set to get underway in Germany this weekend, with defending champions Italy taking on Switzerland at the Olympiastadion Berlin on June 29.

Heading into the round of 16, the current favourites to win the trophy are England, who have a favourable road to the final, followed by Spain, Germany and France.

Italy are only the seventh favourite to go all the way, and will face England in the quarter-finals if both sides progress this weekend.

But, ahead of the knockout stages, it has been spotted that Euro 2024 will not have a third-place play-off, which is different to the FIFA World Cup.

In 2022, Morocco took on Croatia for the third spot after they lost against Argentina and France respectively in the semi-final stage.

However, as reported by talkSPORT, there hasn’t been a third-place play-off match since Euro 1980, which was held in Italy.

The hosts were involved in the last third-place play-off match as they lost 9-8 against Czechoslovakia on penalties after drawing the match 1-1.

Although Italy were playing, the interest in the game was low and TV audiences were down.

Getty

In addition, the attendance inside the stadium was also below expectations.

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

Despite three lacklustre performances in the group stage, including draws with Denmark and Slovenia, England progressed to the round of 16 of Euro 2024, where they will face Slovakia.

Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham, who scored the winning goal of England's 1-0 victory over Serbia in the opening match, has been a key part of the England team during the tournament

But, the 20-year-old acknowledged that English fans are frustrated at the team's performances, with some calling for manager Gareth Southgate to be replaced mid-tournament.

Jude Bellingham scored the winning goal for England against Serbia in the 13th minute. (Image: Getty)

Speaking on Lions' Den, he said: "I know there's a lot of negativity outside the camp, but I always feel that when we get into the stadium, it's so different.

"I think it's important that as teammates and as a team we remember that the ones in the stadium are the ones that are going to give us the energy so don't worry about the ones that that kind of aren't there.

"We've got to keep using that energy, using that kind of feeling that we get from them to be successful in this tournament."

England kick off against Slovakia at 5pm BST on June 30 in the Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen.

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