From Friday onwards, Germany will host the elite of European football, the 24 countries classified for the Euro 2024all looking to succeed Italy on the list of champions with a triumph in the final to be held on July 14th in Berlin.
The opening game will be in Munich, at 9pm local time (4pm Brasília time), with a duel between the host country and Scotland.
Back to the ‘traditional recipe’
This edition will have a return to the ‘traditional recipe’ different from the last one, which was divided between 11 host countries to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the competition, which also had to be postponed for a year due to the pandemic and ended up being held in 2021.
Three years ago, matches were played with different capacity in stadiums, according to the health measures in each country. On this occasion, the expectation is for a full house: 2.7 million fans coming from all over the continent to watch the 51 games scheduled in ten German stadiums.
EURO 2024 gets ready to touch down in Berlin 🇩🇪@bookingcom | #EUROfixtures
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 12, 2024
After the huge success of the 2006 World Cup, considered in the collective German imagination as “a summer fairy tale” (‘Sommermärchen’), the four-time world champion nation hopes to generate the same emotions.
The tournament will have maximum security measures due to the Islamic terrorist threat due to the conflict between Hamas and Israel.
In the sporting sphere, unlike the World Cup, the European Championship is known for offering a window for surprises – Denmark won in 1992 and Greece in 2004 – but two teams start from ‘pole position’.
Golden aces of Mbappé
France, current world runner-up and led on the field by star Kylian Mbappé, are the favorites, despite the international retirement of their captain Hugo Lloris and another pillar, defender Raphael Varane.
The unexpected elimination against Switzerland in the round of 16 in 2021 was a surprise for a team always present among the first placed with Didier Deschamps at the helm: final of Euro 2016, world champion in 2018, champion of the 2020 Nations League and runner-up world in 2022.
The ‘Bleus’ are concerned about the physical condition of Mbappé, who has missed three training sessions due to minor discomfort (in his back and a knee injury) since the start of his preparations, on May 29th.
𝑫𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒍’𝑬𝑼𝑹𝑶 ! 🤩#CollectiveBlue pic.twitter.com/LvBpxnpgIg
— Team de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) June 12, 2024
England, current runners-up, are also among the strong candidates, thanks mainly to their attacking duo, captain Harry Kane and sensation Jude Bellingham.
On her shoulders will fall the challenge of giving a title to the inventor of football, the first since winning the World Cup that she organized in the distant year of 1966.
Yamal, a freshman at the head of ‘Roja’
“Are we one of the teams that can win? Yes, for sure”, acknowledged their coach Gareth Southgate when presenting the squad list. Since then, a 1-0 defeat to Iceland, in a friendly at Wembley, could serve as a warning.
Then hosts Germany were resurrected by Julian Nagelsmann after a catastrophic 2023. The young coach, aged 36, managed to bring back Toni Kroos, ‘maestro’ of Real Madrid, champion of his 15th Champions League, for a ‘last dance’ before retiring from football.
Italy, the current champion, reaches the European Championship after failing to qualify for the second consecutive World Cup. Furthermore, they begin their campaign in the ‘group of death’, against Croatia, Spain and the emerging Albania.
Spain, champion of the Nations League in 2023 and now led by Luis de la Fuente, has a strong squad, although without big stars.
🔥 Yes, things have been intense today.
We continue preparing the debut for the @EURO2024!! #VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/QoPl2H0cZ0
— Spanish Men’s Soccer Team (@SEFutbol) June 12, 2024
Barcelona phenomenon Lamine Yamal, 16, could make a difference, as he will break some records in the competition.
Cristiano Ronaldo almost 40 years old
The first phase format, which allows the top two of the six groups and the four best third-placed teams to qualify for the round of 16, could prevent any powerhouses from being eliminated early.
In 2016, Portugal, which in Germany will once again be led on the field by 39-year-old star Cristiano Ronaldo, became champions by finishing third in their group.
The perfect farewell to #Euro2024. ✨🫶 #SharingThePassion pic.twitter.com/FwcM45LnWU
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) June 11, 2024
Source: Gazetaesportiva
Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
