Euro 2024 is set to begin in Germany tonight at 9pm Bahrain time with the host nation Germany playing Scotland in Munich. The final will be played on July 14 in Berlin. All 51 matches will be played across 10 stadiums, marking Germany’s organisation of another international football event after the 2006 World Cup Finals. Italy are the defending champions, having beaten England in the final of Euro 2020 in London, when the tournament was postponed to 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. GDN Media football writer Abu George looks at the teams and makes his predictions.
Always a proud nation, Scots must be hoping that the ghosts of Euros past visit Munich tonight.
At the original tournament in 1960, France, hosting, conceded an early opener. Although Yugoslavia’s lead lasted barely a minute, they fought back from a 3-1 deficit to secure a memorable 5-4 victory. With only four teams in the competition this secured passage to the final in which they succumbed to the Soviet Union.
The European Championship’s 17th edition kicks off this evening in a competition that is one of the most open in history.
In that regard Portugal 2004 bears many similarities; perhaps providing inspiration to all qualifiers for Germany, Greece, who had not qualified for the competition for 24 years, claimed the Henri Delaunay trophy.
In a bizarre twist of fate the opening match of the competition produced the same result as the final, albeit with a slightly different scoreline; Greece won a tense final over the hosts 1-0. Several of the traditional powerhouses of football even failed to escape from the group stage. Could this competition produce similar surprises?
While England and France are the pre-tournament favourites both have shown inconsistency and vulnerability.
According to Opta Stats, England start as marginal favourites. Boasting one of the most exciting attacking line-ups, they are expected to outscore any opposition. It is surely a good sign of strength that the likes of Grealish and Rashford did not even make the squad.
Penalties are England’s greatest enigma and they need to break the code. This was all that stood between them and glory at Wembley in 2021. It will surprise none of their fans that they have the lowest success rate at penalties, winning just one of the five they have contested.
With an embarrassment of riches up front, the critical decision is finding a balance to protect the defence.
While Pickford has enjoyed a fine season in goal – and had plenty of practice – for Everton, those in front of him lack experience. The team looks stronger without Maguire with the man expected to replace him being Guehi of Crystal Palace, the most represented club in the squad with four players. Many supporters would like coach Gareth Southgate to ‘roll the dice’ by playing three at the back and play an additional attacking midfielder.
France have similar issues, particularly without Varane, resulting in ever-changing experimental centre-back pairings. In goal, following the international retirement of Lloris, they have the injury and error-prone Maignan. However, after a friendly loss to Germany, captain of Les Blues Mbappe sounded even greater warnings, suggesting ‘technically, tactically, in terms of desire and even efficiency too’ there were issues aplenty.
Griezmann is expected to return, although questions remain about the ability of Thuram as centre forward, with Giroud waiting in the wings to replace him. France has enough options, such as posting their captain in the middle.
Only one team has ever successfully defended its European title; Spain started the ball rolling in 2008 with a 1-0 victory over Germany and then followed up four years later with a 4-0 demolition of Italy. This year it is the Azzurri who will be bringing the trophy with them and hoping to return with it still in their hands.
That looks unlikely, as the Italians qualified behind England in the qualifying round, although their 2021 success occurred despite being unfavoured. A new coach (Spalletti) and captain (Donnarumma) adopt flexible tactics; with a solid defence, they may grow into the competition, although a tough group and a growing injury list may not afford them that luxury.
Germany, as sole tournament hosts for only the third time in the last seven, will be hoping to inspire the nation. In the opener tonight, they will be hoping to replicate Lahm’s six-minute strike against Costa Rica in the World Cup Finals at home in 2006. While they lost in the semi-final that performance ignited their tournament.
Tied with Spain for the most competition wins (three each) they enter in reasonable form having won three of their last four friendlies. While their last Euro’s victory was in 1996 they are a team that perpetually rises to the occasion, although a perceived lack of firepower could harm their chances.
However, Nationalmannschaft have not won a knockout game at a major tournament nor kept a clean sheet since 2016; 12 straight games conceding a goal. With doubts persisting around Neuer in goal, they will have to rectify this. Romanticists will be hoping that Kroos is the final piece in the puzzle and can retire with another trophy having recently collected the Champions League title with Real Madrid.
Spain enter this competition as the current Nations League holders. Despite losing in the early stages to Scotland, which followed an embarrassing exit in Qatar to Morocco, la Roja will enter the Euros with confidence. Coach de la Fuente has myriad options. Morata may be misfiring upfront but Rodri controls the midfield. Keep an eye out for 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s genius, who will be forgiven the odd youthful mistake while awaiting the moments of magic he regularly produces.
Portugal’s perfect qualification record sees them tipped by some although the propensity to concede goals could haunt them in tight matches. Coach Martinez must decide whether to stick to three at the back although Pepe’s injury may decide that for him. Palhinha, the Premier League’s ‘demolition king’ will provide protection and allow greater width in support of the record-breaking (most games – 25, most goals – 14) Cristiano Ronaldo playing in his sixth Euro’s.
Croatia has a reputation for punching above their weight and a recent defeat of Portugal suggests that they are again hitting form at the right time. Remarkably, their best results are achieved in the World Cup Finals and not the Euros where they have never won a knockout game.
One team flying under the radar is the Hungarian side hoping to match the Magical Magyars who achieved legendary status in the 1950s and 60s behind the skills of Puskas. Their impressive captain is Liverpool’s Szoboszlai who ensured they were unbeaten in 2023.
Viewers should be treated to a new experience with Adidas’ ‘connected ball’ technology; the implanted microchip is sensitive enough to detect even faint brushes and can therefore determine when and where a player touched the ball.
l Prediction: Sorry England, again it’s not ‘coming home’. In a competition with so many closely-matched teams I’m looking at the quality of the management. One man that stands out is France’s Deschamps; he has led them to three out of five finals and won the World Cup. Having therefore become one of a few to have won that competition as a player and manager, if successful in Germany, he can replicate that feat with the Euros.