Group E is the only group with all four teams level on points going into the final group games. With the group wide open which nations will advance into the round of 16? Here’s how you can keep up to speed with all the action…
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When: Wednesday 26th June, KO 17:00
Slovakia vs Romania
Where: Frankfurt Arena
How:
UK – BBC Two/BBCi
Ireland – RTE News
USA – Fox Sports 1
Australia – Optus Sport
Romania – Pro TV/VOYO
Germany – Das Erste/Magenta Sport
Ukraine vs Belgium
Where: Stuttgart Arena
How:
UK – BBC One/BBCi
Ireland – RTE 2
USA – WNYW
Australia – Optus Sport
Belgium – RTBF
Germany – RTL/Magenta Sport
Preview, predictions
The final group games in Group E promise to be full of drama and excitement as all four countries battle to reach the next round of the competition. They each have three points on the board and are separated by goal difference. Brace yourselves, it gets a little bit complicated…
Romania sit top of the group as they have scored the most goals, so if they avoid defeat they will finish in the top two. However, If they lose to Slovakia and Belgium don’t beat Ukraine they will be out of the tournament.
Belgium, who are second currently, are in a similar position but can go out if they lose to Ukraine and Romania doesn’t lose to Slovakia. Slovakia will be eliminated if they lose to Romania, and Belgium avoid defeat.
Ukraine find themselves bottom of the group having conceded the most amount of goals in their opening two games. If they win they are through, and if they draw they should qualify as a best third-placed side unless the other game is also a draw.
Finally, in the unlikely event of both matches ending in a draw it gets even more complicated…
If both games have the same scoreline the table will remain the same and Slovakia would qualify as a best third-place side. If the matches both end as draws but with different scorelines it would come down to goal difference. If two teams are still level after that it will come down to head to head. Hopefully, this makes a little bit of sense!
We fancy Belgium to beat Ukraine after their last performance against Romania. The inclusion of Youri Tielemans proved to be a masterstroke as he was extremely influential in the middle of the park, scoring a goal in the process.
In the other game, we predict a score draw, and if my calculations are right, that would mean that Belgium will top the group, followed by Romania in second, and then Slovakia will be the best third-place team…I think.
