Despite spanning half the tournament, just a third of nations at Euro 2024 have been eliminated at the end of the group stage.
Only eight sides have packed their bags, marking the 2026 World Cup down in their calendar as they board planes home. For some, Euro 2024 has been an unmitigated disaster, while others have shone bright despite adversity.
Ultimately, the outcome for all eight teams was the same, but several countries can beam with pride despite an early exit.
Here are the eight eliminated Euro 2024 sides – ranked from best to worst.
Albania were expected to be humiliated on only their second appearance at a major tournament. Only Georgia were lower in the FIFA rankings than the minnows, but Albania had the significant disadvantage of being drawn into Group B alongside Italy, Spain and the aforementioned Croatia.
Up against three sides perched inside FIFA’s top ten, Albania could have been obliterated. However, they stood tall and disrupted the powerhouses they had been thrust into competition with.
Scoring the quickest goal in Euros history, Albania fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat to Italy before earning an admirable point against Croatia the following game. They tasted defeat against Spain to close out their campaign, but they did themselves proud in a 1-0 loss.
Expected to be embarrassed in Germany, Albania impressed on the biggest stage with some encouraging displays. In another group, they may well have qualified.
Ukraine became the first side in European Championship history to exit the competition having earned four points in the group stage. Unfortunately for Serhiy Rebrov’s side, all of their group stage opponents also amassed the same total.
As a result, a 3-0 defeat to Romania in their opener proved irreparable, with that particularly poor day at the office the defining match of their Euro 2024 campaign.
Ukraine did improve, however. A strong second-half showing against Slovakia, capped by a wonderful Roman Yaremchuk goal, handed them a 2-1 victory, while they could have stunned Belgium in the final group game had they been more clinical during a goalless draw.
Given everything that is going on in Ukraine currently, their presence at the tournament is truly remarkable in itself.
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