The 2024 European Championship is set to come to an exciting conclusion this Sunday as Spain and England face off in the final at the Olympiastadion in Germany. Spain secured their spot in the final by defeating France 2-1, while England also earned their place with a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands.
Although a match between France and the Netherlands would have been intriguing with star players like Kylian Mbappé and Virgil Van Dijk, there will not be a third-place match at Euro 2024. UEFA had previously experimented with a third-place match from 1960 to 1980, but it has not been a part of the tournament since 1984. The last team to win the bronze medal at the Euros was Czechoslovakia, who defeated Italy on penalties with a score of 9-8.
While Euro 2024 will not have a third-place match, other major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and the CONMEBOL Copa América still feature these matches. In fact, Canada and Uruguay will be competing for the bronze medal at Copa América on Saturday.
It is interesting to note the history of third-place matches in international tournaments and how different organizations choose to include or exclude them from their competition formats. The absence of a third-place match in Euro 2024 adds to the anticipation and excitement surrounding the final showdown between Spain and England.
As fans eagerly await the outcome of the Euro 2024 final, they can also follow their favorite teams and players for the latest updates, news, and more. Stay tuned for an exciting conclusion to this year’s European Championship!