Euro 2024: Why is there no Third Place Match in Euros?

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Spain and England will lock horns in the Final of the Euro 2024 on Sunday (July 14) at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

It promises to be an exciting encounter as two European giants will battle for continental supremacy. Spain's last Euro title came in 2012 while England has never won the Euros, as they came close in Euro 2021 but lost to Italy in the final.

Spain beat France in the semifinal while England secured a victory over the Netherlands. Both teams came back from a goal down to win 2-1 in their respective matches. Although Germany will be buzzing for the final, France and Netherlands won't have the academic 3rd-placed match as they have returned home following the exit.

Fans have definite questions in mind as there is no 3rd-place match like in the World Cup or Copa America.

Why is there no 3rd place match in Euro 2024?

The Euro 2024 doesn't have a third place match because this fixture hasn't been part of the Euro schedule for more than four decades. The final 3rd placed match in the competition took place in 1980 and since 1984, the Euros haven't organized this match.

The governing body UEFA doesn't consider this as an important match and thus there haven't been any 3rd placed teams in the competition. It actually has a valid point as teams finishing 3rd don't accomplish anything extra, and UEFA considers it not too attractive.

"The match was not considered attractive and hasn't been part of the Euros since then," UEFA said recently, confirming the match won't be reintroduced in the competition.

What happened in the last 3rd-place match in Euros?

In 1980, it was then Czechoslovakia who took on Italy in the 3rd place match. The former went to win in penalties against the Azzurri. Germany won the title that year as they beat Belgium 2-1 in the final.

In the contrary, the ongoing Copa America has a third-placed match. It will be played between Canada and Uruguay, who lost to Argentina and Colombia respectively in the semifinal.