The road to UEFA Euro 2024 is heating up and the race to glory has officially started. The competition will have 24 teams split into six groups to start the battle to dethrone defending champions Italy, who would aim for back to back glory, even after struggling in the qualifying stage.
UEFA Euro 2024 is being hosted by Germany, with ten stadiums from ten cities, including Dortmund, Munich and Berlin, gearing up to welcome Europe’s most coveted international tournament. The tournament kicks off on June 14 next year, and the final is scheduled for July 14th.
Euro 2024 group stage draw
The draw for the group stage of UEFA Euro 2024 took place in Hamburg on Saturday, where the teams learned their fate. There are six groups drawn, with four teams each, and they were filled by 21 teams, including hosts Germany. Three spots are yet to be filled, for which 12 teams will play in the playoffs. The draw was done by some football greats, including Gianluigi Buffon.
Hosts Germany were drawn directly into Group A and will face Scotland in the opening game of the tournament. Group C provides a mouthwatering clash in England vs. Denmark, where the Danish would be desperate to get revenge from the semi-final in the previous edition.
France and the Netherlands are the big boys in Group D, with Belgium and Portugal getting comparatively easier groups in Groups E and F, respectively. However, Group C seems like a blockbuster, with Spain, Italy and Croatia all drawn into it.
One from Poland, Estonia, Wales or Finland will fill up Group D. Similarly, Israel, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ukraine and Iceland will fight for a spot in Group E. For the final spot in Group F, Georgia, Greece, Luxembourg and Kazakhstan will lock horns.
Group of Death, Favorites, Dark Horse
Group C has come out as the toughest group on paper and definitely gets the ‘Group of Death’ tag. Defending champions Italy are joined by their semi-final opponents in Euro 2020, Spain, who are in turn joined by their pre-quarter-final opponents from last time and World Cup semi-finalists, Croatia. A rejuvenated Albania fills up the final spot in the group to set up the strongest group.
Germany, who will have home support throughout the tournament, has to be considered a favorite. England, who have a superstar roster to pick from, will also be one of the favorites in the tournament after losing the Euro 2020 final on penalties.
Finalists from Euro 2016, France, who have broken records in the qualifiers influenced by Kylian Mbappe, will look to keep the World Cup final loss behind them and might also take home the trophy.
Turkey was considered a dark horse in the previous edition but had a very disappointing campaign. However, they will go into next year’s tournament as Dark Horses again, as they won their qualification group that featured Croatia.
Which teams will come out of the Group of Death in Euro 2024? Let us know in the comments.
