This week we see the start of the final series of games that will decide who the final
With the draw for the finals already made, we know which groups the four qualifying teams will be heading into, but we do not yet know which four teams they will be with sixteen teams set to battle it out across two semifinals this month and then one final next month across four different “paths’ into the final (as UEFA have called it).
So, there are some very big games for teams coming up over the next week or so, particularly for Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland who will all be seeking to join England and Wales in the tournament next summer.
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Let’s now take a look at the route for each of the 16 teams competing in the Euro 2020 Playoff Semifinals this week to reach the Euro 2020 Finals next summer, together with our tip on who we think will come through from each separate path.
Euro 2020 Playoffs Semifinals & Final Organisation and Structure
With 16 teams competing for four places in the finals next summer, UEFA have come up with a new playoff system to decide who progresses. That process starts on Thursday this week with the semifinals.
The 16 teams will compete in eight one-off matches in the semifinals, with the winners progressing into the final, which is also a one-off match, which will be played next month. Two semifinals have been drawn with one another to comprise of one ‘path’. The winners of the two semifinals in one path, will then contest the final of that path next month, giving us four different Path winners.
Paths are identified as Paths A, B, C and D and the fixtures for each this week are as follows:
- Path A – Bulgaria v Hungary, Iceland v Romania
- Path B – Bosnia & Herz v N.Ireland, Slovakia v Rep of Ireland
- Path C – Norway v Serbia, Scotland v Israel
- Path D – Georgia v Belarus, North Macedonia v Kosovo.
We also know which of the groups already drawn for the Euro 2020 Finals next summer that the winners of each path will go into.
Euro 2020 Draw
- Group A – Turkey, Italy, Wales, Switzerland
- Group B – Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Russia
- Group C – Netherlands, Ukraine, Austria, Playoff Winner Path A or D*
- Group D – England, Croatia, Playoff Winner Path C, Czech Republic
- Group E – Spain, Sweden, Poland, Playoff Winner Path B
- Group F – Playoff Winner Path A or D*, Portugal, France, Germany
*Path D winner will play in Group C, with Path A winner playing in Group F. Unless Romania win through in Path A, in which case Path A winners will play in Group C and Path D winners will play in Group F.
Who will make it through each Path to the Euro 2020 finals?
Path A – Bulgaria, Hungary, Iceland and Romania
This perhaps the most evenly contested of all four of the different paths into the finals
Path B – Bosnia & Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Slovakia and Republic of Ireland
The potential is here for a Northern Ireland v Republic of Ireland Playoff final to decide who reaches the finals next summer but in truth, I think that is a big ask. I think Bosnia & Herzegovina are the strongest team in this section and at home, I’d expect them to beat Northern Ireland, while I feel the Republic could really struggle against Slovakia on the road too. Of the four teams, I feel it is the emerging Bosnia & Herzegovina team which have the best chance of reaching the finals next summer.
Path C – Norway, Serbia, Scotland and Israel
For me, Norway and Serbia are the standout teams in this section and I think the winner of their semifinal will be the team to get through to the finals next summer and in that respect, I think home advantage could be key for Norway in that game. Scotland will be hoping a win over Israel could lead to them springing a surprise and qualifying and if they do, they would have the prospect of a game against England in the finals to look forward to next summer. But for me, I think Norway are the team to back here.
Path D – Georgia, Belarus, North Macedonia, Kosovo
Path D is clearly the weakest of the fourth ways to earn a qualifying spot at next summer’s finals. I would expect Georgia to come through against Belarus in what will likely be a very low scoring affair and I think the attacking flair of Kosovo should see them through against North Macedonia. If that is the case, then my money would be on Kosovo being the team to make it through to the finals next summer from this Path.