Will Euro 2020 groups be decided by goal difference or head-to-head?
Get the latest football news in your inbox every weekend for FREE by signing up to our email bulletin Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign me up! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice  As Euro 2020 finally begins after a 12 month delay, 24 nations are preparing to do battle over the right to be crowned European champions this summer. Six groups of four teams will compete against each other with the top two teams from each group guaranteed progression into the round of 16, while the four best third-placed teams will also qualify. There are several ways they could be separated, but here is how UEFA have decided to to do it at this summer's tournament. (Image: Getty Images)  According to the organising body, if two teams are level on points they will be separated by goal difference. However, if two teams happen to finish on the same points and goal difference it will be head-to-head between the two sides that will separate the teams. While that may seem unlikely, it actually happened at Euro 2016. In Group E both Italy and Belgium finished up on six points after three games each and both had a goal difference of +2. That meant that Italy's 2-0 win over Belgium was the difference and saw Antonio Conte's side progress as group winners, while Belgium had to settle for a runners-up place. It was also the reason that Portugal even managed to progress out of the group stages. (Image: Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)  Fernando Santos' side drew all three group games against Iceland, Hungary and Austria which meant they finished up on three points. However while the Republic of Ireland and Slovakia progressed as two of the best third-placed teams on four points, all of Turkey, Albania and Northern Ireland also finished on three points. In the end it was Portugal and Northern Ireland that went through with a goal difference of zero, since both Turkey and Albania had a -2 goal difference. Portugal of course went on to win the tournament thanks to an extra-time win over France in the final, meaning they had won just one game throughout the competition inside the regulation 90 minutes. The fact that goal difference comes ahead of head-to-head could be vital in the final group games if teams are vying for a final qualification spot. With the final round of fixtures for each group kicking off simultaneously for each team in the group running up the score could be huge, meaning any minnows could be in for a long night if they're not careful. It's sure to make for an exciting tournament, with so many top squads and players available this summer and keen to be crowned the champions of Europe. The tournament will kick off in Rome on June 11 when Turkey take on former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini's Italy side. England's first fixture will take place two days later when they face Croatia at Wembley on Sunday June 13, with revenge for the World Cup semi-final defeat at the front of their mind.