Netherlands player Wout Weghorst at Euro 2024
It was Dutch heartache in Dortmund (Picture: Getty)

The line-up for the Euro 2024 final is now complete, with Spain set to play England in Sunday’s Berlin showpiece.

Luis de la Fuente’s impressive Spain side booked their place in the final with a 2-1 comeback win over France in Tuesday’s first semi-final clash.

England, meanwhile, ensured they would be taking on Spain at the weekend following their 2-1 win over the Netherlands in the second semi-final in Dortmund.

The third place play-off at major international tournaments, contested by the two losing semi-finalists, is almost universally hated.

TV ratings for the game are often poor, with fans of the two teams in particular unsurprisingly not keen to watch their sides play after they have already been knocked out of the competition.

And players destined for the unpopular match have often said they would prefer just to head straight for home rather than hang around for the extra game.

So, will France and Netherlands take to the pitch once more at Euro 2024 in the third place play-off?

Is there a third place play-off at Euro 2024?

Unlike the World Cup, there is no third place play-off at the Euros.

Spain vs France at Euro 2024
Kylian Mbappe can now head straight on his holidays (Picture: Getty)

The last European Championships to feature the play-off was Euro 1980, which saw Czechoslovakia beat Italy 9-8 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

The third place play-off was scrapped after the tournament due to low TV ratings and a poor attendance in the stadium.

The stance taken by UEFA is different to that in the Copa America, where the losing semi-finalists do indeed take part in the play-off.

Czechoslovakia, incadently, claimed the bronze medal at the inaugural European Championships in 1960, beating France 2-0 when the competition was contested by just four teams.

Hungary claimed third spot four years later courtesy of victory over Denmark after extra-time, whilst England finished in third in 1968 just two years after winning the World Cup.

Belgium and the Netherlands ended up in third place in 1972 and 1976, before the play-off was then pulled in 1980.

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