In the UEFA European Championship—most commonly known simply as the Euros—there is no third-place match. The competition used to feature a playoff between the two teams knocked out in the semi-finals, but that was discontinued after the 1980 tournament. Today, the losing semi-finalists are both simply eliminated, with no bronze medal match. Below, CanLinkCup will walk you through when the change happened, why UEFA removed it, how the tournaments used to work, and what that means for recent Euros.
History of the third place match in the Euros
To understand why there is now no third place playoff, it helps to look back at how things used to be.
- From 1960 until 1980, the European Championships included a third place playoff. After the semi-finals, the two losing teams would play one more match to decide who finished third.
- The last ever third place match in the Euros was held in 1980, in Italy. In that match, Czechoslovakia beat the host nation Italy on penalties (9-8 after a 1-1 draw) to take third place.
- After 1980, the format changed: from 1984 onwards, there has been no third place playoff. Losing semi-finalists end their tournament there.
Why UEFA Removed the Third Place Match
UEFA made the decision to stop having a third place playoff for a few reasons that are rooted both in logistics and interest.
- Lack of spectator and TV interest The third place match was not drawing large crowds or appealing much to television audiences. UEFA noted that it wasn’t considered “attractive” enough—fans and media generally put their focus on the final.
- Tournament format evolution As the European Championship grew in size, both in number of teams and the knockout stage structure (rounds of 16, quarter-finals, etc.), the scheduling load increased. Removing the third place match simplified logistics for players, fixtures, venues, and broadcasters.
- Emphasis on finality and stakes With so much attention placed on reaching and winning the final, a third place match was seen by some as an afterthought. Without much at stake (no trophy, no final glory), motivation and intensity often dropped. UEFA likely decided that the match added less value than it took in terms of effort.
What happens today: How the Euros handle losing semi-finalists
Since 1984, here’s what happens when teams lose in the semi-finals:
- Both losing semi-finalist teams are eliminated and do not play another match to determine third and fourth.
- There is no bronze medal match in recent editions. The practice of awarding bronze medals has also been inconsistent; some past tournaments briefly awarded medals to the semi-final losers, but this is no longer done regularly.
- The Euros focus on the final and the winner vs. runner-up. For fans, this means that once your team loses in the semifinal, the tournament is over. No extra chance to fight for third.
Comparison: Euros vs other international tournaments
It’s helpful to see how other major tournaments handle third place matches:
| Tournament | Third Place Match Present? | Notes |
| FIFA World Cup | Yes | There is always a match for third place between the semi-final losers. |
| Copa América | Often yes | In many editions, there is a third place playoff. |
| Africa Cup of Nations | Yes | Regularly includes third place match. |
| UEFA Women’s Euro | No | Like the men’s tournament, no third place match in recent editions. (This aligns with the format changes in the men’s competition.) |
So the Euros are in the company of a few major tournaments that don’t have a third place game, unlike the World Cup where third place is always decided on the pitch.
Key moments & stats
- 1980: Last third place match – Czechoslovakia beat Italy on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
- 1984 onwards: Format changes eliminated the third place playoff completely.
- Television ratings & attendance for those third place games were consistently lower than other knockout matches. This played a big role in UEFA’s decision.
What about bronze medals?
Even though there is no match for third place, there has been confusion about whether bronze medals are awarded to the semi-final losers.
- In some past Euros, bronze medals were given to both losing semi-finalists. But this practice has not been consistent and is not a current feature.
- In the most recent tournaments (Euro 2016, Euro 2020, Euro 2024), there are no bronze medals and no way to decide a definitive third or fourth place beyond the semi-final stage.
Conclusion
Does UEFA Euro have third place match? No—it hasn’t, since after the 1980 tournament. CanLinkCup hopes you now have a clear picture of when and why the third-place playoff was abolished, how the Euros treat losing semi-finalists today, and how that compares to other major football tournaments.
If you want, next time CanLinkCup can pull up a list of all third place matches in Euros history, or compare how different tournaments treat third place finishes. Would you prefer something like that?
