If Group B’s closing matches today is anything like yesterday’s crazy conclusion to Group A, we’re in for a doozy. The two unlikely outcomes–1-0 victories for Greece and Czech Republic over Russia and Poland, respectively–led to those two teams advancing to the quarterfinals.

The combinatorics of the Group of Death are just as convoluted as they were for Group A. Via wikipedia:

On the last match day (17 June) the teams advancing from this group (winner; runner-up) will be:^[6][7]

If:	Portugal win	draw	Netherlands win
Denmark win	Denmark, and Portugal or Germany1	Denmark; Germany	Denmark; Germany
draw	Germany; Portugal	Germany; Portugal	Germany; Denmark
Germany win	Germany; Portugal	Germany; Portugal	Germany; Portugal or Netherlands2

1. Positions determined by score of Denmark v Germany
   (a) Portugal; Denmark – if Denmark win 1–0
   (b) Denmark; Germany – if Denmark win by 1 goal and score at least 3
   (c) Denmark; Portugal – if Denmark win 2–1 or by at least 2 goals
2. Portugal will be runner-up if they lose by 1 goal; otherwise the Netherlands will be runner-up.

References

6. “Euro 2012 Diary: Mathematicians to work out who qualifies from Groups A and B“. Betfair. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
7. Johnson, Dale (13 June 2012). “Euro 2012 Group permutations“. ESPN. Retrieved 15 June 2012.

 

The fixtures:

17 June 2012

Group B More »
Portugal		20.45		Netherlands
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (ITA) – Stadium: Metalist Stadium, Kharkiv (UKR)
Group B More »
Denmark		20.45		Germany
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (ESP) – Stadium: Arena Lviv, Lviv (UKR)

jhjlk