Not thanks to Delaney’s goal: Denmark is second in Group C due to the Slovenian assistant’s yellow card

Can you still follow?

Denmark and Slovenia finished level in their groups at this European Championship. UEFA rules include the following as deciding factors as to who will finish above whom:

1) Result of direct confrontations: Denmark – Slovenia 1-1

2) Goal difference: Denmark +0, Slovenia +0

3) Goals scored: Denmark 2, Slovenia 2

4) Won matches: Denmark 0, Slovenia 0

5) Disciplinary points (+1 for yellow card, +3 for red): Denmark +6, Slovenia +6

6) Position in the European qualifying rankings

Since the scores from 1 to 5 looked exactly the same, the qualifications results had to be looked at to determine second place. Denmark and Slovenia also happened to be in the same group there…

And it can actually be even crazier.

Slovenia and Denmark also finished with an equal number of points in Group H of the qualifiers. There the group was decided on the basis of mutual score.

Enter Anderlecht midfielder Thomas Delaney. Denmark defeated Slovenia on November 17, 2023, by scoring the goal 2-1. The Danes thus finished top of the qualifying group.

It was widely celebrated at the time as the goal that took Denmark into the European Championship, and yesterday it also appeared to be the goal that put them second in the group.

But today UEFA provided an update on the entire history. During the Denmark-Slovenia match, a Slovenian assistant was reportedly shown a yellow card.

Cards for coaches and staff also count toward the disciplinary rating, leaving Slovenia at +7, while Denmark has collected just 6 points.

So all the complicated calculations can be thrown into the trash: Denmark simply came in second place based on the number of cards, and Slovenia continues to be in third place.