European Championship draw and playoff paths are almost set in stone
Mats Hummels couldn't care less about potential opposing nations for the European Championship squad, while coach Julian Nagelsmann is thrilled that the German national soccer team won't face the toughest tests in the group stage next summer, with Portugal, France, Spain, Belgium, and England being spared.
"The dream scenario is that we face them if we advance," said the German national coach, expressing enthusiasm for the anticipated 2024 European Championship draw in Hamburg on December 2 at 6:00 pm. Nagelsmann admitted that the outcome isn't in their hands, making the event before their test match against Austria on Tuesday (8:45 pm/ZDF) intriguing.
Most decisions already made
Most crucial decisions, including the 21 direct tickets, have been made before the last qualifying round games on Tuesday evening. Only Croatia or Wales still have a shot at the last direct ticket. The division of the four draw pots and playoff paths for the final three European Championship tickets in March is also mostly determined.
A captivating fact: Germany could face a grueling group with the Netherlands and Italy, both in Pot 3 and 4 respectively. Oranje is safely placed in Pot 3, while defending champs Italy could even wind up in the weakest Pot 4.
Current European Championship Draw Pots status
| Pot 1 | Germany (A1 seeded) | Portugal | France | Spain | Belgium | England | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Pot 2 | Hungary | Denmark | Albania | Austria | Turkey or Croatia | Romania or Switzerland | | Pot 3 | Scotland | Slovakia | Slovenia | Czech Republic | Netherlands | Italy or Turkey or Croatia or Wales | | Pot 4 | Serbia | Croatia or Wales or Italy | Switzerland or Romania | Playoff A winner: Poland, Estonia, Croatia or Wales and one team from Finland, Ukraine, or Iceland | Playoff B winner: Israel, Bosnia-Herzegovina and two teams from Finland, Ukraine, or Iceland | Playoff C winner: Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg |
Current European Championship Play-offs standings
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Path A | Croatia or Wales | Poland | Finland or Ukraine or Iceland | Estonia | | Path B | Israel | Bosnia-Herzegovina | Finland or Ukraine | Ukraine or Iceland** | | Path C | Georgia | Greece or | Kazakhstan | Luxembourg |
- Croatia will be first in Path A, while Wales will be second, if Croatia secures the last direct ticket.
** Poland will be first in Path A if Wales qualify through playoffs.
*** The teams in Path A will be determined after UEFA's decision on November 23.
Mode: In each path, Team 1 will face Team 4, and Team 2 will square off against Team 3. The playoff winners decide the final three participants in their respective paths.
While excitement surrounds the potential draw, Hummels remains focused on the German national team's performance on the field. He has yet to give thought to potential opponents in the European Championship.
Sources:
Enrichment Data:
The format of the European Championship draws follows a general pattern, with teams categorized into four pots based on their performance. The top-performing teams go into Pot 1, followed by Pot 2, Pot 3, and ultimately Pot 4. However, official UEFA data isn't provided, so we can only extrapolate from the National League standings and recent results. For instance, England, Spain, Germany, and Portugal are likely to be in the top pots due to their strong performances in international competitions.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult official UEFA sources or reputable sports news sites covering the qualifying rounds and standings.
