With Saturday’s Euro 2024 group-stage draw carried out and dusted, Europe’s elite know what awaits them in Germany subsequent 12 months and all eyes will flip to the opening recreation in Munich on June 14.
Steve Clarke’s Scotland might be Germany’s first opponents as they kickstart their bid to turn out to be the primary sole host nation to win the event since France in 1984.
Elsewhere, England will be content material with a considerably variety draw as Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and firm look to convey soccer dwelling, whereas Group B seems to be set to earn the title of ‘group of demise’, with defending champions Italy pitted towards Spain and Croatia.
As followers throughout the continent start plotting their nations’ routes to the ultimate, to be held in Berlin on July 14, Stats Carry out runs via the very best details and figures from every of the six teams.
All set for EURO 2024! #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/QXnMaOBeBZ
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) December 2, 2023
Group A: Germany, Hungary, Scotland, Switzerland
Germany have endured a troubled build-up to their dwelling event, with Julian Nagelsmann parachuted in after the dismissal of Hansi Flick in September. The final Germany boss to win a serious event at his first try was Jupp Derwall, who led the staff (then West Germany) to Euro 1980 glory.
They’ll face a well-recognized foe within the type of Switzerland, who they are going to meet for the 54th time in senior internationals – no different staff has confronted Germany as typically, however the groups have by no means met on the Euros earlier than.
Germany’s matchday one opponents might be Scotland, who might be making their fourth look on the Euros after additionally qualifying in 1992, 1996 and 2020. They’ve by no means reached the knockout levels.
Nonetheless, they could fancy their possibilities of edging out Switzerland and Hungary in what might be a battle for second place this time round. Hungary took bronze once they first appeared on the Euros in 1964, however they’ve solely gained considered one of their 9 video games on the event since then (4 attracts, 4 defeats), beating Austria within the 2016 group stage.
54 – On the UEFA EURO 2024, Germany will face Switzerland for the 54th time – no different aspect has performed as many worldwide matches towards Germany as Switzerland. Nonetheless, this might be their first match on the European Championships. Neighbors. pic.twitter.com/kadCPQTmGk
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) December 2, 2023
Group B: Spain, Albania, Croatia, Italy)
All eyes might be on Group B forward of the event, with three-time winners Spain drawn alongside defending champions Italy – who they beat within the 2012 ultimate – and 2022 World Cup bronze medallists Croatia.
Excluding penalty shoot-outs, La Roja have solely misplaced two of their final 22 matches on the Euros, successful 13 and drawing seven. The final two groups to beat them? Croatia and Italy in 2016.
Spain are the one nation to win back-to-back editions of the Euros, doing so in 2008 and 2012. Luciano Spalletti’s Italy wish to replicate that feat, having inched previous Ukraine to say second place of their qualification group.
Chiesa vs #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/c5oQW4xlKq
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) December 2, 2023
The Azzurri have now certified for eight successive editions of the event, although that is the primary time they’ve reached a serious competitors whereas shedding two or extra video games of their qualifying group, having been overwhelmed dwelling and away by England.
Whereas Spain and Italy will really feel unlucky to have landed in such a troublesome group, the omens are good for groups that face Croatia when it issues. They’ve misplaced to the eventual winners at 4 of their final six main tournaments, being overwhelmed by Spain at Euro 2012, Portugal at Euro 2016, France on the 2018 World Cup, and Argentina in Qatar final 12 months.
GROUP C: England, Denmark, Slovenia, Serbia
Gareth Southgate could also be relieved to have averted a number of the heavy hitters with England touchdown in Group C, the place they are going to begin towards Serbia on June 16 earlier than taking over Denmark and Slovenia.
England’s rematch with Denmark – who they beat within the Euro 2020 semi-finals – might be decisive within the battle for high spot. The Three Lions are unbeaten in all three of their conferences with Denmark at Euros/World Cups (two wins, one draw), with Switzerland the one staff they’ve confronted as typically at tournaments with out ever shedding.
With Kane thriving at Bayern Munich and Bellingham a former star at Borussia Dortmund, two of the Three Lions’ star gamers are not any strangers to German turf.
Additionally they have a wonderful report towards Slovenia, successful 5 and drawing one of many groups’ six all-time conferences. The one a type of video games to happen at a serious event got here on the 2010 World Cup, when Jermain Defoe hit the winner in a 1-0 victory for Fabio Capello’s staff.
Serbia, in the meantime, might be that includes on the Euros for the primary time as an unbiased nation. They competed as Yugoslavia or FR Yugoslavia in 5 editions, ending as runners-up in 1960 and 1968.
3 – @England are unbeaten in all three of their conferences with Denmark in main tournaments (W2 D1) – no aspect have they confronted extra on the World Cup/EUROs with out ever shedding (additionally 3 v Switzerland). Fancied. pic.twitter.com/WUjByJIbj3
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 2, 2023
Group D: France, Austria, Netherlands, play-off winner A
With Kylian Mbappe spearheading their star-studded staff, France head to the Euros among the many favourites. Boss Didier Deschamps captained his nation to glory at Euro 2000, and he may turn out to be the primary individual to win the competitors as each a participant and a head coach.
Les Bleus, nonetheless, face a tricky set of opponents in Group D, none extra so than the Netherlands.
France have confronted the Oranje extra typically on the Euros with out ever successful than they’ve every other aspect, shedding their final two such matches towards them on the 2000 and 2008 tournaments.
Ronald Koeman could be happy to see his staff drawn alongside Austria, with the Netherlands successful their final seven matches towards them, averaging 2.9 objectives per recreation all through that run (20 in whole).
The ultimate staff in Group D might be determined by way of the play-offs in March, with Wales, Finland, Poland and Estonia vying for a ticket to Germany. France have met any of these nations on the Euros.
2 – @OnsOranje gained every of their two conferences with France within the group stage of the European Championship. Rendezvous.#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/lk4KFGpToY
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) December 2, 2023
Group E: Belgium, Romania, Slovakia, play-off winner B
Belgium headline Group E, with Domenico Tedesco on the wheel because the final members of the Purple Devils’ so-called golden technology look to lastly ship on their promise.
Since shedding to West Germany within the ultimate of Euro 1980, Belgium have by no means reached the semi-finals of the event, being knocked out within the final eight at every of the final two editions – versus Wales in 2016 and Italy at Euro 2020.
They are going to be content material with a kind-looking draw, with Romania the staff drawn into Group E from pot two. Their win ratio of simply six per cent on the Euros is the worst of any nation to qualify for a couple of version, successful simply as soon as in 16 video games on the event.
Slovakia, in the meantime, have solely gained two of their seven video games at Euro tournaments (one draw, 4 defeats), additionally failing to attain in 4 of their final 5 video games.
Ukraine, Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland will battle for the ultimate spot on this group in March.
Who’s successful this subsequent summer season? #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/yJ0NMWfmq1
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) December 2, 2023
GROUP F: Portugal, Turkiye, Czech Republic, play-off winner C
Group F incorporates 2016 winners Portugal, the one staff to achieve the knockout levels of the final seven editions of the Euros, a run that stretches again to the 1996 event. The truth is, they’ve at all times progressed from the group levels of their eight earlier appearances on the Euros.
Cristiano Ronaldo appears set to be sticking round for this event. He might be 39 by the point it rolls round. The Al Nassr attacker holds the data for many video games (25) and most objectives (14) on the Euros, has additionally managed a joint-record six assists (since data started in 1972).
Ronaldo’s 20 whole aim involvements on the Euros are twice as many as every other participant since help data started, with Michel Platini second on 10 (9 objectives, one help).
Roberto Martinez’s staff open their marketing campaign towards the Czech Republic, who’re that includes at an eighth successive version of the Euros (together with appearances as Czechoslovakia). Solely Germany (14) and France (9) are at present on longer runs of consecutive appearances.
One in every of Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan and Luxembourg will be part of Turkiye in rounding out the group. They wish to enhance on their dismal displaying at Euro 2020, and have certified for 3 successive editions of the Euros for the primary time. Nonetheless, they’ve misplaced six of their final seven matches on the event (one win).
