July 10th 2024.
The atmosphere in Dortmund was filled with disappointment and sadness as the Netherlands suffered a heartbreaking loss to England in the Euro 2024 semi-final. Despite their best efforts, the Dutch team fell short and were unable to secure a spot in the final.
On the other hand, the stage is now set for an exciting showdown between Spain and England in the final match on Sunday in Berlin. Spain's impressive performance in their comeback win against France in the first semi-final has earned them a well-deserved spot in the final. Meanwhile, England's victory over the Netherlands in the second semi-final secured their place in the highly anticipated match against Spain.
While the final is eagerly awaited, there is one match that is often met with disdain - the third place play-off. This game, played between the two losing semi-finalists, is disliked by both fans and players. It usually has low TV ratings and attendance, as fans of the defeated teams are not keen on watching their team play again after being knocked out of the competition. In fact, many players have expressed their preference to head straight home rather than participate in the unpopular match.
But the question remains, will France and the Netherlands face each other once more in the third place play-off at Euro 2024? The answer is no. Unlike the World Cup, the European Championships do not have a third place play-off. The last time this match was played at the Euros was in 1980, when Czechoslovakia emerged victorious over Italy after a penalty shootout.
This decision was made by UEFA due to the low TV ratings and poor attendance in the stadium for the third place play-off. It is a different approach compared to the Copa America, where the losing semi-finalists do compete in a play-off match.
Interestingly, Czechoslovakia also claimed the bronze medal in the first ever European Championships in 1960, defeating France 2-0. In the following years, Hungary, England, Belgium, and the Netherlands also finished in third place before the play-off was eventually scrapped in 1980.
So, while the disappointment of missing out on the final may still sting for France and the Netherlands, they can at least take comfort in the fact that they will not have to endure a third place play-off at Euro 2024. As for the rest of us, all eyes are now on the thrilling final between Spain and England.
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