Tournament Format

The Euro 2004 football tournament will be played according to the Official Regulations of the UEFA European Football Championship. A quick take on the rules:

Playing system

As per Article 6 of the regulations here's how groups and matches will be decided in the competition.

The group matches will be played on a league system, with each country meeting the other countries in its group in a single match. There will be three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for defeat. If two or more teams finish equal on points after all the group matches have been played, the following criteria shall be applied to determine the ranking:

1. Number of points obtained in the matches between the teams in question;

2. Goal difference resulting from the matches between the teams in question;

3. Number of goals scored in the matches between the teams in question (if more than two teams finish equal on points);

4. Goal difference in all the group matches;

5. Number of goals scored in all the group matches;

6. Coefficient of points from the last two qualifying competitions for the final rounds of the 2000/02 FIFA World Cup and 2002/04 UEFA European Football Championship (points gained divided by the number of matches played);

7. Fair Play conduct of the teams (in the final tournament);

8. A drawing of lots.

9. Additionally, if two teams meeting in one of the last round of group matches have the same number of points, the same goal difference and the same number of goals, and if this match stands at a draw at the end of normal time, the ranking of these two teams will be determined by kicks from the penalty mark (Article 14), rather than the criteria outlined above.

Quarter-finals

The winners and runners-up in each group will play the quarter-finals over one match, as per the following ranking order:

B1-A2

C1-D2

B2-A1

D1-C2

If the scores are level at the end of normal time, the new 'silver goal' rule comes into operation. A first 15 minutes of extra-time will be played. If one team is in the lead at the end of the 15 minutes, that team will be declared the winners of the match. If the two teams are still level after 15 minutes of extra time, a second 15-minute period will be played. If the result remains deadlocked at the end of the second period of extra time, the winning team shall be determined by kicks from the penalty mark as per Article 14.

Semi-finals

The four winners of the quarter-finals will play the semi-finals over one match, as per the following order:

Winners of B1-A2 - Winners of D1-C2

Winners of C1-D2 - Winners of B2-A1

If, upon completion of the statutory playing time, a semi-final match ends in a draw, the same system shall apply as in the quarter-finals.

The final

The winners of the semi-finals shall contest the final. If, upon completion of the statutory playing time, the final ends in a draw, the same system shall apply as in the quarter-finals.

Penalties procedure

If kicks from the penalty mark are required to determine the team to qualify or the winners of a match, the referee shall choose the goal at which all of the kicks shall be taken. He shall toss a coin, and the team whose captain wins the toss shall take the first kick. Penalties are taken alternately. If, before both teams have taken five kicks, one has scored more goals than the other could, even if it were to complete its five kicks, the taking of kicks shall cease. If, after both teams have taken five kicks, both have scored the same number of goals or have not scored any goals, the taking of kicks shall continue, in the same order, until such time as both have taken an equal number of kicks (not necessarily five more kicks) and one team has scored one goal more than the other.

Who is allowed to take the penalties?

Generally, only the players who are on the field of play at the end of the match, which shall mean at the end of extra time in so far as a match in which extra time is authorised is concerned shall take part in the taking of the kicks. However, provided that his team has not already made use of the maximum number of substitutes permitted by the rules of the competition under which the match is played, a goalkeeper who sustains an injury during the taking of the kicks and who, because of the injury, is unable to continue as goalkeeper, may be replaced by a substitute.

Second kicks

Each kick shall be taken by a different player, and only when all eligible players of each team, including the goalkeeper or the named substitute by whom he was replaced have each taken a kick, may a player of the same team take a second kick.

Suspensions