Euros 2024
Are you ready for a summer of sport? What with Euro 2024, Tour de France, Wimbledon, Formula One, Cricket World Cup, The Open Golf Championship, Summer Olympics and Paralympics, it seems there’s something for everyone.
Euro 2024 is upon us so read on to find out more about the competition.
The UEFA European Football Championship, informally known as the Euros, was first held in France in 1960 and has been held every four years since (except for the 2020 tournament which was held in 2021 due to COVID-19).
This year, UEFA’s Euro 2024 is being hosted by Germany and takes place from Friday 14th June until Sunday 14th July 2024. Ten cities across the country will host matches and have dedicated fan zones. This will be the first time Germany has hosted the Euros since its reunification in 1990.
Germany/West Germany have featured at every Euro since 1972 and have won the competition three times, twice as West Germany in 1972 and 1980, and then as the reunited Germany at Euro ’96. Spain has also won three times. Italy are currently the defending champions, having won the Euros twice, first in 1968 and then at Euro 2020.
The tournament features 24 teams in the Group Stage, all of whom will be playing for a place in the next round, hoping to progress to the quarterfinals, semifinals and ultimately to the final itself. The top two teams in each group, along with the four best third-place teams, will go forward to the Knockout Stage.
Euros groups
The teams have been divided into six groups:
A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland
B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania
C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England
D: Poland, Netherlands, Austria, France
E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine
F: Turkey, Georgia, Portugal, Czech Republic
As the host nation, Germany opens the tournament in a match against Scotland in Munich on Friday 14th June. The final match will be played at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on the 14th July.
You can keep up to date with all the Euro action by downloading the official UEFA Euro 2024 app – www.uefa.com/euro2024/app.
Euro 2024 Mascot
Albärt is the official Mascot for Euro 2024. It is a teddy bear and was selected as the mascot after a vote by UEFA.com users and schoolchildren throughout Europe. Albärt was revealed to German fans in June 2023 when Germany played a friendly match against Colombia in Gelsenkirchen.
EURO 2024 match ball
The official match ball of Euro 2024, FUSSBALLLIEBE, was designed to embrace the vibrancy of the countries participating in the tournament and the energy of the game. Meaning “love of football” in German, FUSSBALLLIEBE features adidas Connected Ball Technology which is being used for the first time at a UEFA Euro competition. This will help VAR officials to track every touch of the ball and make accurate decisions faster, so handball and penalty incidents can be resolved more quickly.
The Trophy
French Football Federation‘s secretary-general Henri Delaunay first suggested the idea of a pan-European football tournament in 1927. However, the tournament didn’t begin until 1958, three years after Delaunay’s death. The trophy awarded to the champions of the tournament is named after Henri Delaunay in his honour.
Let’s Play!
Of course, Scotland loves football. Nothing brings out Scotland’s national pride more than qualifying for a football tournament! Supporters from all over Europe will descend on Germany but, regardless of which team you are supporting, enjoy the football, the fun and all the drama that comes with the Euros!
Let the games begin and may the best team win!
by Sharon McMichael
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Photo by Vienne Reyes
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