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Germany are the host nation and qualified automatically. West Germany hosted the tournament back in 1988, but this will be the first time Germany has staged the European Championship since reunification. The top two teams from each of the six groups will proceed to the round of 16. Those 12 sides will be joined by four of the six third-placed finishers in the groups. The sides finishing third will be placed into a league table, with the top four sides progressing to the last 16. The tournament then moves to a straight knockout format, with one-legged ties – including extra-time and penalties if necessary – until two sides reach the final on July 14 in Berlin.
