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Euro 2024, the 17th edition of the European Championship, will be played in Germany from today. Euro is the biggest international football tournament after the FIFA World Cup, in which the top-24 teams of Europe participate. Due to Covid-19, Euro 2020 was held in the year 2021. However, now Euro 2024 has again returned to its 4-year cycle.
Italy is the defending champion of the Euro Cup. The team won the last tournament by defeating England on penalties in the Euro 2020 final.
The first match of the tournament will be played between hosts Germany and Scotland from 12:30 pm today.
This could be Ronaldo’s last Euro
Euro 2024 could be the last continental tournament (Euro) of Portugal and world star player Cristiano Ronaldo. He may be seen in national colors for the last time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
39-year-old Ronaldo has played in the last 5 Euros, winning once in 2016. With a record 130 goals in 206 matches, Ronaldo is the top goalscorer in international football and will be looking to increase his tally to help his country clinch a second Euro title.
In 2016, Ronaldo won the Euro Cup with Portugal.
What will be the format of the tournament?
- The teams are divided into 6 groups. Out of which there are four teams in each group. The top-2 teams of each group and the best four third-placed teams will reach the Round of 16.
- The winners of the Round of 16 will advance to the quarter-finals, followed by the semi-finals and the final.
- In a knockout, if the match is tied at full time, extra time (two halves of 15 minutes each) will be played. If the match remains tied after extra time, the match will be decided by a penalty shootout.
Germany-Spain most successful team
Germany and Spain are one of the most successful teams in the Euro Cup. Both teams have 3 Euro titles each. However, Germany last won the tournament in 1996. Whereas Spain became champion in 2012.
These teams are contenders
1. France
There have not been many changes in the FIFA World Cup 2022 finalist team France. The team will enter the Euro Cup with almost the same squad. The team has Kylian Mbappe. Who is one of the best forwards in the world. France will need to overcome the disappointment of being out of the quarter-finals in Euro 2020. The team has super-sub Olivier Giroud. At the same time, Karim Benzema, who was the legendary player of Real Madrid, is also in the team.
Some good players in the French team are injured. In this, experienced goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and defender Raphael Varane have been out of the team.
Kylian Mbappe is the top scorer of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
2. England
Last year, Team Euro finalist England team always comes with the best squad. The biggest question for England is not of quality but of mentality. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden are world class players. The team also includes top players of the English Premier League. But when the knockout round starts and France is in front, the team’s victory is not assured.
England’s Euro qualifying journey has been excellent. The team has defeated teams like Italy. Besides, the backline of the team is also excellent.
Harry Kane is England’s all-time top scorer.
3. Portugal
Portugal won its qualifying matches easily, with the team winning 10 out of 10 games, scoring 36 goals and conceding only two. The team has some world class players like Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo, who have the ability to turn the match in the last moments.
Portugal has goalscoring ability, creativity and some excellent defenders. All these things are necessary to win the tournament.
4. Germany
2014 World Cup winners Germany will get support at home, which will benefit them. However, his performance in 2023 was poor. The team lost five of nine friendly matches and won only two, but have improved since the end of the year, especially after defeats to France and the Netherlands.
They have some great players like Toni Kroos. There are talented players like Ilkay Gundogan, Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz. At the same time, the team also has the best goalkeeper of this decade, Manuel Noir. This team can do wonders.
Toni Kroos was one of the important players of the 2014 World Cup winning Germany team. He is playing his last international tournament this year.
5. Spain
Spain won three consecutive international titles between 2008 and 2012. Two Euros and a World Cup. However, since then there have been many changes in the team and the team’s performance has deteriorated.
At the 2018 World Cup, 2021 Euros and 2022 World Cup, they played better football than Russia, Italy and Morocco respectively, but lost to everyone on penalties. But then in 2023, they won the UEFA Nations League by defeating Croatia, which gave them success and confidence.
There is nothing special about Spain compared to other teams, but this team has many players like Dani Carvajal, Nico Williams, Pedri, and Dani Olmo, who can turn matches on the international stage. However, perhaps things have the most room to go wrong in the beginning.
Defender Dani Carvajal is one of the most experienced players of the Spanish team. Recently, Carvajal has played an important role in helping Real Madrid win the UCL.
