The Euro 2024 tournament is set to kick off with an exciting match between Germany and Scotland....
Updated: Dec 11, 2023
The opening match of Euro 2024 will feature Germany facing off against Scotland, while Italy and Spain find themselves drawn together in the tournament.
The Euro 2024 opening match in Munich will see hosts Germany go head-to-head with Scotland, as revealed in the draw conducted on Saturday. Meanwhile, defending champions Italy and Spain find themselves in the same group for the tournament.
The three-time champions, Germany, are set to commence the one-month Euro 2024 tournament in Munich on June 14, with the grand finale scheduled for July 14 at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.
For Group A clashes, Germany is paired with Hungary, who emerged unbeaten from the qualifying campaign, and Switzerland. Germany's national team manager, Julian Nagelsmann, commented on the group, stating, "It's no group of death but a very strong group, and we are looking forward to it."
Nagelsmann took over the managerial role in September, succeeding Hansi Flick after a 4-1 home defeat by Japan. The team's recent performance includes a victory over France under Rudi Voeller, but subsequent losses to Turkey and Austria under Nagelsmann's leadership.
Voeller, the national team director, expressed optimism about the upcoming Euro, saying, "I am optimistic that if we do some things in the coming few months, then we will play a good Euro. The first game also has a special kind of pressure." Stay updated with breaking news on HT Channel by following them on Facebook. Join Now.
Voeller expressed confidence in Julian Nagelsmann's ability to address the team's ongoing challenges, stating, "We still have some problems, but I am convinced that Julian Nagelsmann will do it."
As defending champions, Italy is set for a formidable journey in Group B, pitted against Spain, Croatia, and Albania. Italy secured a victory over Spain on penalties in the Euro 2020 semi-finals but suffered a 4-0 defeat to the Spanish in the 2012 final. Croatia, having reached the semi-finals in the last World Cup, adds to the competitive mix.
Italy's manager, Luciano Spalletti, acknowledged the challenging draw, saying, "Yes, it could have been better. Being in the fourth pot makes you realize that you have teams ahead of you, but nothing should distract us from the fact that we are Italy." Spalletti emphasized the strength of the group, acknowledging Albania's resilience, Croatia's experience, and the timeless challenge posed by Spain. "Anyone who loves this sport must play it, the taste of challenge and comparison.
Spain is set to face Croatia in their opening match, followed by a challenging encounter against Italy. Spain's manager, Luis de la Fuente, acknowledged the toughness of their group, stating, "If it's not the toughest group, it's one of the toughest." He highlighted Italy as the European champions, Croatia's consistent presence in later stages, and the competitive spirit of Albania, who topped their group.
England, the runners-up at Euro 2020, find themselves placed in Group C, where they will contend with Denmark, Slovenia, and Serbia. Reflecting on the draw, England manager Gareth Southgate emphasized the need to approach each opponent with caution. England, who required extra time to overcome Denmark in the Euro 2020 semi-finals, will commence their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia.
"Serbia, with a center forward like Aleksander Mitrovic, demands careful consideration, and it's crucial not to make assumptions based on the draw," remarked Southgate. He stressed the unpredictability of football matches, stating, "You can look at it on paper, but the games aren't played on paper. There are some teams that you are glad to avoid in Pot 3 and Pot 4, but all of the teams that we play are more than capable."
In Group E, Belgium is set to face Romania, Slovakia, and the victors of playoff B, featuring Israel, Bosnia, Ukraine, or Iceland.
In Group D, France and the Netherlands will renew their rivalry after emerging from the same qualifying group. They are joined by Austria and the winners of playoff A. France, having won both qualifying group games against the Dutch, will commence their Euro 2024 campaign against Austria in Duesseldorf.
France's coach, Didier Deschamps, acknowledged the challenges of the group, particularly with the inclusion of the Netherlands. He remarked, "The Pot 3 team we’ll be facing are The Netherlands… We won both our games against them, but it makes our group harder. We also faced Austria during the latest Nations League campaign, and it was far from easy. It’s a dense and difficult group."
Portugal has been placed in Group F alongside Turkey, Czech Republic, and the winners of playoff C, with the contenders being Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan, or Luxembourg—teams that finished third in Portugal's qualifying group.
The advancement format for Euro 2024 includes the top two teams from each of the six groups progressing to the round of 16, along with the four best third-placed finishers.
The draw ceremony took place at the Elbphilharmonie concert hall in Hamburg, one of the ten host cities for the tournament. The complete list of Euro 2024 groups is as follows:
GROUP A: Germany (hosts), Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland
GROUP B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania
GROUP C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England
GROUP D: Playoff winner A (Poland/Wales/Finland/Estonia), Netherlands, Austria, France
GROUP E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Playoff winner B (Israel/Bosnia/Ukraine/Iceland)
GROUP F: Portugal, Turkey, Czech Republic, Playoff winner C (Georgia/Greece/Kazakhstan/Luxembourg)
In Group F of Euro 2024, the teams are Turkey, the winner of playoff C (which includes Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan, or Luxembourg), Portugal, and the Czech Republic.
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