Euro 2024 is into its knockout rounds, and there is no more margin for error for favourites and underdogs alike.
Spain were the form team of the group stage, the three-time European champions the only nation to win all three of their round-robin game.
Other teams progressed with one or zero wins to their name — Slovenia and Denmark each qualified from Group C with three draws.
That won’t cut the mustard from the Round of 16 onward, with an outright winner needing to be crowned in every single game.
But how does that happen if Euro 2024’s draw specialists remain up to their old tricks? Here, The Sporting News looks at all the details around extra time, penalty kicks and the rules involved for the knockout matches.
Copa America 2024 penalty kick and extra-time rules
During the knockout phase of Euro 2024, in the event of a tie after 90 minutes in the knockout rounds, an additional period of extra time will be played.
The full half-hour of extra time will be played, split into two 15-minutes halves. There is no “golden goal” rule, as has been the case for the past two decades.
Under golden goal, if any team scored during extra time the game would cease immediately with the scoring side crowned the winner. Critics of this method highlighted a tendency toward more cautious and defensive approaches given the high stakes.
However, consecutive European Championships — Euro 96 and Euro 2000 — were settled by golden goals in the final. Germany’s Oliver Bierhoff netted to sink the Czech Republic at Wembley, while David Trezguet scored for France to defeat Italy in Rotterdam.
If a tie persists after that extra time at Euro 2024, the match will be decided through a penalty shootout, with an initial five spot-kicks per side, followed by sudden-death kicks if necessary.
Under sudden death, if the team taking second misses after their opponents have scored then they lose instantly. If the team taking first fails to score then the team kicking second can win by scoring the subsequent penalty.
These extra time and penalties rules apply to all knockout games at Euro 2024, from the Round of 16 that begins on Saturday, June 29, through to the Sunday, July 14, final.
Euro 2024 knockout schedule
Euro 2024 Round of 16
| Date | Time (CET) | Match | Location |
| June 29 | 6 p.m. | M1: Switzerland vs. Italy | Berlin (Olimpiastadion) |
| June 29 | 9 p.m. | M2: Germany vs. Denmark | Dortmund (Signal Iduna Park) |
| June 30 | 6 p.m. | M3: England vs. Slovakia | Gelsenkirchen (Veltins Arena) |
| June 30 | 9 p.m. | M4: Spain vs. Georgia | Cologne (RheinEnergieStadion) |
| July 1 | 6 p.m. | M5: France vs. Belgium | Dusseldorf (Merkur Spiel-Arena) |
| July 1 | 9 p.m. | M6: Portugal vs. Slovenia | Frankfurt (Waldstadion) |
| July 2 | 6 p.m. | M7: Romania vs. Netherlands | Munich (Allianz Arena) |
| July 2 | 9 p.m. | M8: Austria vs. Turkey | Leipzig (Red Bull Arena) |
Euro 2024 Quarterfinals
| Date | Time (CET) | Match | Location |
| July 5 | 6 p.m. | QF1: Winner, M4 vs. Winner, M2 | Stuttgart (MHPArena) |
| July 5 | 9 p.m. | QF2: Winner, M6 vs. Winner, M5 | Hamburg (Volksparkstadion) |
| July 6 | 6 p.m. | QF3: Winner, M3 vs. Winner, M1 | Dusseldorf (Merkur Spiel-Arena) |
| July 6 | 9 p.m. | QF4: Winner, M7 vs. Winner, M8 | Berlin (Olimpiastadion) |
Euro 2024 Semifinals
| Date | Time (CET) | Match | Location |
| July 9 | 9 p.m. | Winner, QF1 vs. Winner, QF2 | Munich (Allianz Arena) |
| July 10 | 9 p.m. | Winner, QF3 vs. Winner, QF4 | Dortmund (Signal Iduna Park) |
Euro 2024 Final
| Date | Time (CET) | Match | Location |
| July 14 | 9 p.m. | SF winner vs. SF winner | Berlin (Olimpiastadion) |
