Is there a 3rd and 4th place play off at Euros? Will beaten semi finalists Spain and Denmark face at Euro 2020

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England and Italy will meet in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium

After England and Italy booked their spots in the final of Euro 2020, fans have been curious to know if the beaten semi finalists will face each other in a third place play off.

The level of competition was evident in both semi finals which both went to extra time, with England beating Denmark and Italy winning the penalty shootout with Spain

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Three Lions fans remember all too well the third and fourth place play off from the 2018 World Cup, which saw Gareth Southgate's side beaten 2-0 by Belgium in Russia.

Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand and Spain boss Luis Enrique. (Pic: Getty)Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand and Spain boss Luis Enrique. (Pic: Getty)
Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand and Spain boss Luis Enrique. (Pic: Getty)
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But will Denmark and Spain face each other in a third and fourth place play off at Euro 2020?

Let's find out.

Is there a 3rd and 4th place play off at Euro 2020?

Road to the Euros final. (Graphic: Mark Hall / JPIMedia)Road to the Euros final. (Graphic: Mark Hall / JPIMedia)
Road to the Euros final. (Graphic: Mark Hall / JPIMedia)

There is no third place play off at Euro 2020.

Despite the World Cup, Copa America and African Cup of Nations still staging matches for the two beaten semi finalists, the European Championships does not.

UEFA, European football's governing body and Euros tournament organisers, scrapped the third and fourth placed play off after the 1980 football competition.

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That year, Czechoslovakia beat host nation Italy 9-8 in a penalty shootout after the two sides were locked at 1-1 at the end of normal time in Naples.

The game was poorly attended as just shy of 25,000 spectators filled into the Stadio San Paolo for an evening kick off which saw the host nation compete.

Euro 1980 saw eight teams split into two groups, with the winner of each group advancing straight to the final with the second placed teams competing in a third place play off.

The tournament also failed to draw the attention of fans, with lower than expected television viewership put down to defensive styles of play adopted by most teams.

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It led to UEFA forming the opinion a third place play off wasn't worthwhile - and signified a major format change since the match had been a staple of the Euros since its inception in 1960.

How has the Euros format changed?

At the 1984 Euros, two semi final matches were introduced following the scrapping of a third and fourth place play off match with the same number of teams.

This changed for Euro 1996 when the tournament expanded from eight to 16 teams and introduced quarter finals, as well as two semi final fixtures and a final.

Twenty years on - at Euro 2016 - the format changed again to include 24 teams, with the top two teams and the four best third place teams advancing from the group stage.

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A Round of 16 was introduced before quarter finals, semi finals and a final was staged.

Euro 2020 has followed the same format, which sees eight teams exit the competition at the group stage, with UEFA considering expanding the number of teams to 32 in the future.

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