Playoffs To Consist of Semi-Final, Finals Clashes
Published on December 1st, 2019 10:07 pm ESTWritten By: Dave Manuel
In previous editions of Euro tournaments, the playoff participants were determined based on results from the qualifying stage.
In 2020, things are different.
Instead, 16 teams were selected, based on their performance in the 2018-19 UEFA Nations League, to participate in the Euro 2020 playoffs.
These 16 teams were separated into four different groups. There will be two semi-final games in each group, and the winners of those semi-final matches will square off in a Group final to determine who will go to the Euro 2020 tournament this summer.
The playoff semi-final and final matches will take place on March 26th, 2020 and March 31st, 2020 respectively.
The four groups look like this:
Bulgaria
Hungary
Iceland
Romania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Northern Ireland
Slovakia
Republic of Ireland
Norway
Serbia
Scotland
Israel
Georgia
Belarus
North Macedonia
Kosovo
This means that the eight semi-final matches will look like this:
Bulgaria v Hungary
Iceland v Romania
Bosnia and Herzegovina v Northern Ireland
Slovakia v Ireland
Norway v Serbia
Scotland v Israel
Georgia v Belarus
North Macedonia v Kosovo
The winners of each set of matches will square off in a Group final to determine who moves to the Euro 2020 tournament. For instance, the winners of Bulgaria v Hungary and Iceland v Romania will square off against each other, etc.
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According to major online sportsbooks, the biggest favourite to qualify for the Euro 2020 tournament is Bosnia-Herzegovina at 2.20, while the biggest underdog is Israel at 9.00.