How to survive 'Group of Death'

• by Samuel Charles  @SoccerIsArt, Jun 14, 2012

[EURO 2012 GROUP B OUTLOOK] All four countries are still alive; each can be eliminated. Germany, Portugal and Denmark control their own destiny, and can all win the group -- the Netherlands needs help. To figure out who's best poised to advance when Group B play concludes on Sunday ...

Denmark plays Germany, and Portugal face the Netherlands, both games start at 2:45pm ET.

GERMANY (6 points; +2 goal difference)
Will advance if …
* It beats or ties Denmark on Sunday.
* It loses and Portugal ties Netherlands.
Will be eliminated if …
* It loses and Portugal wins.

PORTUGAL (3 pts; 0)
Will advance if …
* It beats the Netherlands.
* It ties the Netherlands and Germany beats or ties Denmark.
* It loses by one goal to the Netherlands and Denmark loses to Germany.

DENMARK (3 pts; 0)
Will advance if …
* It beats Germany.
* It ties Germany and Portugal loses.
Will be eliminated if …
* It loses to Germany.

NETHERLANDS (0 pts; -2)
Will advance if …
* It beats Portugal by 2 goals and Denmark loses.
Will be eliminated if …
* It ties or loses to Portugal.

Here are a couple notes and scenarios not covered above:

* Germany wins the group with a tie or win.

* Any win by Denmark without Portugal winning sees Denmark win the group. Any win by Denmark scoring 2 goals or more sees them win the group. A 1-0 win by Denmark and any win by Portugal sees Portugal win the group.

* If Portugal wins, and Germany scores 2 or more goals while losing by 1 -- Germany goes through over Portugal, and it’s Denmark first, Germany second.

* The Dutch can advance with a 1-goal margin of victory, but only if the Dutch score 4 goals or more, and Denmark must still lose. This is also the only way Portugal can lose by 1 goal and be eliminated with Denmark losing to Germany.

(For more on Euro 2012's unique tiebreaking, read "Euro group tiebreakers differ from World Cup" HERE.)