Denmark pip Slovenia to second place in Group C by little-known tiebreaker – but are rewarded with brutal last-16 draw

DENMARK pipped Slovenia to second in Group C – thanks to one loud-mouthed coach.

Both teams drew all of their games in the group stages at Euro 2024 to finish on three points behind England who topped the group on five.

Not only that, but they had a 1-1 draw against each other before drawing 1-1 in their second game and 0-0 in their final game.

Denmark were held to a goalless draw with Serbia while a laboured and uninspiring England could not break down Slovenia in another snoozefest.

That means their goal differences were both zero, with two goals scored and two conceded.

Had Denmark and Slovenia played each other in their final group game, they would have played a penalty shootout.

Instead, incredibly, it came down to their respective disciplinary records in Germany.

There was confusion because initially it was thought that once again they could not be separated as Slovenia and Denmark’s players both picked up six yellow cards in the three matches in Germany.

However, it then came to light that a member of the Slovenian backroom coaching staff, assistant Milivoje Novakovic, was booked during their first match of the tournament against Denmark.

That meant Denmark had six disciplinary points to Slovenia’s seven.

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Had Novakovic not been booked, they would have been level on disciplinary points and then Uefa would have needed to look at their records in qualifying.

Remarkably, they were in the same qualifying group – and both finished on 22 points with seven wins, a draw and two defeats.

Slovenia had a better goal difference but Denmark pipped them to top spot because of the head-to-head record.

The game in Slovenia in June 2023 finished 1-1 but Denmark secured a 2-1 victory in Copenhagen on November 17.

And that saw Denmark finish ninth in the overall Euro 2024 qualifying ranking – with Slovenia 15th.

But in the end it came down to the yellow cards as Denmark came out on top.

However, they have been penalised for their good behaviour – because they will face Germany in the last 16 as part of that horror half of the knockout bracket which also features Spain, Portugal and France.

Slovenia, meanwhile, will either face Portugal or the winner of Group E, which can still be any of Romania, Belgium, Slovakia or Ukraine.

England’s next opponents are still not confirmed but will be the Netherlands, who finished third in Group D, or the third-placed team from Group E.

Should the Three Lions win that last-16 clash on Sunday, they will face either Switzerland or Italy in the quarter-finals.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk