The second biggest soccer tournament takes flight beginning today.
UEFA Euro 2024 kicks off today as hosts Germany take on Scotland at Allianz Arena in Munich. Over the next month, 24 teams will compete for the right to call themselves the best team in Europe, and the tournament many call the second biggest soccer tournament in the world will bring us some fireworks.
Ten cities throughout Germany will serve as host venues for the tournament, with Munich hosting the opener and the final taking place at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on July 14. As hosts, Germany is hoping to lift the trophy in front of the home fans, but there are several other contenders that look to take the prize home.
Defending champions Italy are back, as are Euro 2020 finalists England and 2022 World Cup finalists France. It sets up to be a tournament for the ages.
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As we prepare to spend the next month watching top level soccer, here are five things you should watch during the tournament. First, let’s take a look at the groups:
Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland
Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania
Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England
Group D: Poland, Netherlands, Austria, France
Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine
Group F: Turkey, Georgia, Portugal, Czech Republic
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Can Germany do it for Toni Kroos?
Germany not only is hosting the Euros, but it will also be the last time they have Toni Kroos in the mix. Kroos announced a few weeks ago that he will retire at the end of the tournament, and it’s one last chance for Germany to step back into the center of the stage and declare themselves the kings of Europe. The six-time UEFA Champions League winner has almost every trophy you can win in soccer — including a World Cup.
The only trophy that eludes him: the European Championship trophy. Can Germany win it all?
Photo by Pedro Loureiro/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
How far will Cristiano Ronaldo carry Portugal?
This is no doubt the final Euro run for Cristiano Ronaldo, and Portugal has quietly rebuilt a team that can hold it down and get results. In the end, they will still look to the most prolific men’s international goalscorer of all time to produce and help carry the team to wins. To carry Portugal this time, he will have to defer at times to his teammates and trust that they can deliver, as they did in 2016 when they won the final after Ronaldo had to exit early due to injury.
Photo by Alexander Scheuber/Getty Images
Group B is a monster.
One of Spain, Italy, or Croatia could find themselves going home after the end of the group stage as Group B sets up to be a doozy. Poor Albania, who’s a decent team in their own right, will fight hard to avoid being the team that is getting destroyed by the other three, who are Nos. 8, 9, and 10 in the world, respectively. Watch this group — there’s bound to be an elite team leaving Germany early.
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England has a long road to try and bring it home.
England has long been singing “It’s Coming Home,” but whether it’s the World Cup or the European Championship, the trophies they covet have decided to call other countries home. They have never won the Euros and came the closest at home in Euro 2020, where they lost to Italy in the truest of English fashion: penalties. This time around, their road may be tougher, as that Euro 2020 final could see a rematch in the quarterfinals. After that, England may have to run up against a France, Spain or Germany on their way to their first European Championship. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and England had better be ready, or their long road could meet a dead end.
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Kylian Mbappé has the armband and is ready for the responsibility.
France enters the tournament with an air of confidence. Their young corps is ready to lead, and no person will receive more responsibility than Kylian Mbappé. Mbappé, who recently announced his move from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid, will have the captain’s armband for Euro 2024, and there’s no doubt he wants to hold the European Championship trophy in Berlin. The star power around him is just as ready as he is for the task, from Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud to Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni. Even N’Golo Kanté is back in the middle, making France one of the prohibitive favorites to be the champions.
It’s going to be an exciting month of European international soccer as some of the world’s best try to be crowned European champions. Don’t miss any of the action on Fox, FS1, FS2, Univision, TUDN, and Fubo TV!
