UEFA Euro 2024 Showdown: Groups, Format, Venues, and Schedule – Complete Guide
The much-anticipated UEFA Euro 2024 kicks off on June 15, with Germany, the host nation, facing Scotland in the opening match. As the football world gears up for this grand event, here’s everything you need to know about UEFA Euro 2024.
The opening match of the UEFA Euro 2024 is set for June 15, with hosts Germany playing their opponents from Group A, Scotland. The reigning winners are Italy, who defeated England in the previous tournament final on penalties. There will be 51 matches over the 30-day competition, including 24 participant countries.
Group Stage and Format
The tournament’s format includes a group stage followed by knockout rounds:
- Group Stage: 24 teams are divided into six groups of four. Each team will play three matches in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the Round of 16.
- Knockout Stage: The Round of 16 will be followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the grand final.
Group Breakdown
- 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
Venues
The matches will be hosted across ten iconic German cities:
- Berlin
- Dortmund
- Munich
- Cologne
- Stuttgart
- Hamburg
- Leipzig
- Frankfurt
- Gelsenkirchen
- Düsseldorf
Match Schedule (Timings in IST)
Group Stage
- June 15: Germany vs Scotland, Munich, 12:30 AM
- June 15: Hungary vs Switzerland, Cologne, 6:30 PM
- June 15: Spain vs Croatia, Berlin, 9:30 PM
- June 16: Italy vs Albania, Dortmund, 12:30 AM
- June 16: Poland vs Netherlands, Hamburg, 6:30 PM
- June 16: Slovenia vs Denmark, Stuttgart, 9:30 PM
- June 17: Serbia vs England, Gelsenkirchen, 12:30 AM
- June 17: Romania vs Ukraine, Munich, 6:30 PM
- June 17: Belgium vs Slovakia, Frankfurt, 9:30 PM
- June 18: Austria vs France, Düsseldorf, 12:30 AM
- June 18: Turkey vs Georgia, Dortmund, 9:30 PM
- June 19: Portugal vs Czech Republic, Leipzig, 12:30 AM
- June 19: Croatia vs Albania, Hamburg, 6:30 PM
- June 19: Germany vs Hungary, Stuttgart, 9:30 PM
- June 20: Scotland vs Switzerland, Cologne, 12:30 AM
- June 20: Slovenia vs Serbia, Munich, 6:30 PM
- June 20: Denmark vs England, Frankfurt, 9:30 PM
- June 21: Spain vs Italy, Gelsenkirchen, 12:30 AM
- June 21: Slovakia vs Ukraine, Düsseldorf, 6:30 PM
- June 21: Poland vs Austria, Berlin, 9:30 PM
- June 22: Netherlands vs France, Leipzig, 12:30 AM
- June 22: Georgia vs Czech Republic, Hamburg, 6:30 PM
- June 22: Turkey vs Portugal, Dortmund, 9:30 PM
- June 23: Belgium vs Romania, Cologne, 12:30 AM
- June 24: Switzerland vs Germany, Frankfurt, 12:30 AM
- June 24: Scotland vs Hungary, Stuttgart, 12:30 AM
- June 25: Albania vs Spain, Düsseldorf, 12:30 AM
- June 25: Croatia vs Italy, Leipzig, 12:30 AM
- June 25: France vs Poland, Dortmund, 9:30 PM
- June 25: Netherlands vs Austria, Berlin, 9:30 PM
- June 26: Denmark vs Serbia, Munich, 12:30 AM
- June 26: England vs Slovenia, Cologne, 12:30 AM
- June 26: Slovakia vs Romania, Frankfurt, 9:30 PM
- June 26: Ukraine vs Belgium, Stuttgart, 9:30 PM
- June 27: Georgia vs Portugal, Gelsenkirchen, 12:30 AM
- June 27: Czech Republic vs Turkey, Hamburg, 12:30 AM
Knockout Rounds
- Round of 16: June 29 – July 3
- Quarter-finals: July 5 – July 7
- Semi-finals: July 10 and July 11
- Final: July 15
Euro Championships 2024: Football Unites Amidst Europe’s Challenges
Football, according to Philipp Lahm, might “illustrate our democratic values” while Europe struggles with crises.
The European championship may seem insignificant in a continent facing more pressing issues during a time of war, elections in France and England, the far-right making significant gains in the European Union parliament, and one in five respondents believing that Germany should have more players with lighter skin tones. Sports commentator Stefan Uersfeld of German network N-TV told AP that “conflicts are everywhere… conflicts within German society, conflicts within Europe.”
However, Philipp Lahm’s desire for the competition to promote unity indicates that football can have a purpose. The former captain of Germany and current director of Euro 2024, Lahm, stated, “The Euro can be used to illustrate our democratic, European values.”
When Germany takes against Scott McTominay’s Scotland on Friday, supporting captain Ilkay Gündogan and the squad, which is likely to feature big contributions from Jamal Musiala and Antonio Rüdiger, can be a good place to start. Germany may be comparing this to what it refers to as the summer fairytale of 2006 by the time of the final on July 14—who knows? These tournaments have the power to inspire hope. A World Cup that allowed for friendship-building.
Up until lately, nobody was giving Germany a chance. They had been held 2-2 by Mexico, had fallen 1-4 to Japan, and 2-3 to Turkey. Wins in March against France and the Netherlands started to change things. Toni Kroos had terminated his international retirement a month earlier.
Subsequently, Bayer Leverkusen became “Neverlusen” until the Europa League final, while Borussia Dortmund advanced to the Champions League final. Three-time European football champions, a proud nation, offered new contracts to team director Rudi Voeller and coach Julian Nagelsmann as they rediscover hope.
“A significant event could occur,” Musiala stated to Sportsbild. Kroos has described the prospect of concluding his international career in the same manner that he did at the club as a “cheesy” conclusion. One he would gladly accept.
Taking over until the 2026 World Cup, Nagelsmann replaced the old guard by benching 11 players, including Mats Hummels and Leon Goretzka, but also welcoming Kroos back. Nagelsmann can lead England to greatness if he can integrate 21-year-olds Florian Wirtz and Musiala into the lineup without throwing off the team’s balance, something that cost them a generation with Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.
As defenders, Kroos has stated, “They are players you always have a bit of doubt about.” Wirtz, who missed the 2022 World Cup with injury, had 20 assists and 18 goals in 49 appearances. Musiala had 12 goals and eight assists in 38. Many players from the team who overcame a deficit to defeat England at Wembley in 2021 have also been left out by the reigning champions, Italy.
Although Luciano Spalletti has chosen a lineup lacking in experience, with nearly half having played fewer than ten international matches, Nicolo Barella still serves as the engine room in midfield. It might not be a good idea to underestimate Italy, according to former Italy goaltender and legend Gianluigi Buffon, who claimed that four, five, and six of them are world-class. However, goals have proven to be difficult, and qualification was not as simple as it was previously.
Also Read: Top 14 Greatest FIFA World Cup Matches: Reliving Football’s Iconic Moments
England and France have taken the opposite path, if Italy and Germany have changed. On July 8, which is his 12th anniversary as coach, Didier Deschamps will be in charge if France advances to the semi-finals. He has participated in and won one World Cup final during that period, in addition to winning the 2021 Nations League.
Despite the setback of losing to Switzerland in 2021 when they were leading the European rankings, France has a skilled team that knows how to advance in competitions. They also possess Kylian Mbappe.
If both teams win their groups, France and England might play each other in the semifinals. Although Southgate has only been manager for four years shorter than Deschamps, he has nearly succeeded in making England believe that their men’s squad is capable of winning another major championship.
Southgate, who is renowned for choosing the reliable above the spectacular, has a team that can attack with just one strategy. I’m looking at you, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Harry Kane (44 goals in 47 appearances last season), and Bukayo Saka. Cole Palmer, Ivan Toney, Kobbie Mainoo, and Ollie Watkins are still unaccounted for.
Declan Rice stated that “we want to make history.” “We say it all the time, but our team and manager truly do believe in what we do. We are sure we can go there and accomplish something exceptional.
It wouldn’t be a discussion about favorites if Portugal wasn’t brought up. Bruno Fernandes recorded the most assists (8) in the qualifications, while goalkeeper Diogo Costa kept the most clean sheets (6). They are strong at the back, as seen by Portugal’s ten-round qualifying victory.
And Cristiano Ronaldo still defies age, outplays opponents, and challenges the opinions of people who believed his international career was over after Portugal’s defeat by Morocco in Doha. When discussing favorites, it’s important to keep in mind that Denmark won the 1992 championship despite not even being allowed to play, and Greece won the championship in 2004.
While it may be unrealistic to expect Albania or Georgia, who are playing their first season, to win the entire tournament, it’s worth noting that Austria, where Ralf Rangnick and Marcel Sabitzer have accomplished what neither could at Manchester United, Belgium, who are undefeated in qualifiers with Romelu Lukaku leading the scoring charts with 14 goals, and the young players of Spain and Croatia will be enjoying the German summer.
Or the Netherlands recreate the triumphant campaign of 1988, when neither West Germany nor the history of the Berlin Wall existed and Ronald Koemans was a player. It wouldn’t be strange if Denmark was added to that list. However, simply being present might seem like a victory for their captain, Christian Eriksen.
On June 16, when Eriksen takes the field against Slovenia, he will represent hope. It will be a turning point that elevates Euro 2024 above the status of a project capable of earning €2.7 billion in revenue.
