Hungary is becoming an increasingly likely opponent for Portugal in the round of 16 of Euro 2024.

Portugal already knew the day before yesterday that in the 1/8 finals of Euro 2024 they will meet the team that took 3rd place from Groups A, B or C on July 1 in Frankfurt. As a result of this evening, group B was actually closed.when Italy joined Spain on the way to the round of 16 and put Croatia in 3rd place and therefore on Portugal’s route, although this is an unlikely scenario. Let’s be clear: Croatia is currently in 5th place among the best third-placed teams, with 2 points and a ratio of 3:6 (goals scored:goals conceded), behind Hungary, which among the teams that have already finished the group stage is currently in best place with 3 points and balance 2:5. However, the best teams in third place today are Austria and Slovakia, both with 3 points and a more positive balance than the Hungarians – the Austrians have a 3:2 balance, while the Slovaks have a neutral balance of 2:2.

For Croatia to be completely eliminatedSlovenia (Group C) needs to do practically nothing, just not lose to England with a score of more than 2-0. And the Czech Republic (Group F) will have to achieve a result equal to or better than what Georgia achieves against Portugal against Turkey, picking up points to overtake Croatia in the rankings of the best third parties. With a draw in the last round – hoping Georgia doesn’t spring a big surprise and beats Portugal – the Czechs secure third place in Group F and automatically overtake Croatia for third place in the rankings, knocking the Croats out of Euro 2024. without any chance of moving forward. In this scenario, only the third-placed teams from Groups A and C would be able to face Portugal in the “1/8 finals”.leaving the national team with 80% probability to meet 3rd place in Group A (Hungary) and 20% wins over third place in Group C.

In group C, if Slovenia draws with England and Denmark at least draws with Serbia, the Hungarians are instantly dropped to 4th in the best third party rankings as the Slovenians finish 3rd and with a better goal difference than the Hungarians as they will always be neutral regardless of the result with the English.

In group D, The Netherlands and France have already qualified, although they can reach the round of 16 they are still ranked among the top third-placed teams as both already have four points. A Austria already knows that it will not fall below 3rd placeregardless of the result of their games against the Netherlands and France-Poland, as a result of their victory over the Poles (3-1) in the second round. To stay ahead of the Hungarians in the top third, Austria could even have lost the last round 4-0, leaving them with a balance of 3:6 and therefore better than Hungary (2:5), remaining in the group of four top thirds persons

In group E, It is very unlikely that the 3rd place team will not advance to the round of 16.. Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine have 3 points each, and in case of a draw in the last two games there is a special feature: the eliminated team (in this case Ukraine) has the same number of points as the 3 classified teams. (4). In this scenario, Slovakia will be among the best third parties, ahead of Hungary by 4 points, as shown by today’s ranking of the best third parties.

In group F, if logic prevails (Portugal beats Georgia and Turkey, at least, scores against the Czech Republic), it is the Czechs who will take 3rd place, adding 2 points. The defeat of the Georgians and Czechs in the last round will automatically mean that neither of them will advance to the 1/8 finals, and the final group will remain as follows: ACDE. Thus, Portugal will meet Hungary in the 1/8 finals. one that is the most likely scenario, but not the final one.

Another very likely scenario is that none of Group C qualifies as one of the top third-place teams.. In this scenario, England will beat Slovenia, who have 2 points, and Denmark will draw with at least Serbia (1 point), meaning that the Serbs will have no more than 2 points at the end of the 3rd round (the Danes qualify with 3 points) . in 2nd place). Thus, Slovenia and Serbia will not be among the top four third-placed teams, assuming that Turkey, the Czech Republic or Georgia (Group F), one of these three, does not qualify as one of the top third-placed teams. If one of the four teams that progressed through the top third-place teams leaves Group F, the final draw will be ADEF. which will keep Hungary as Portugal’s likely opponent in the round of 16..

The round of 16, which already includes Germany, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Italy, England, France and the Netherlands, will see the first two teams in each group and the top four third-placed teams qualify.

Eight possible opponents for Portugal at the moment:

– Hungary (Group A)
– Croatia (group B)
– England (Group C)
– Denmark (Group C)
– Slovenia (group C)
– Serbia (Group C)

Current third party rating:

1st place in Austria (Group D), 3 points/2 games (3-2 goals)
2nd place Slovakia (group E), 3/2 (2-2)
3rd place Hungary (group A), 3/3 (2-5)
4th place Slovenia (group C), 2/2 (2-2)
5th place Croatia (group B), 2/3 (3-6)
6th Czech Republic (Group F), 1/2 (2-3)

Top Third Party Ranking Tiebreaker Criteria:
. more points;
B. large goal difference;
w. highest number of goals scored;
d. more victories;
This. lowest total disciplinary points based solely on yellow and red cards received by players and technical staff in all group matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point), sending off for two yellow cards in a match = 3 points)
f. position in the overall European qualifying rankings, or if the comparison involves Germany, the host federation’s team, there will be a draw.