Euro 2024 Groups: A Comprehensive Overview
The Euro 2024 groups are set, promising a thrilling tournament in Germany. Here’s a breakdown of each group:
Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland
Host nation Germany, despite recent struggles, remains a strong contender for the Euro 2024 title. Scotland’s impressive qualifying campaign suggests they could progress from this challenging group. However, they face tough competition from Hungary, participating in their third consecutive Euros, and Switzerland, ranked higher by FIFA.
Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania
This “Group of Death” features three FIFA Top 10 teams. Spain and Croatia recently clashed in the UEFA Nations League final, with Spain winning on penalties. Italy, the defending champion, is always a threat. Albania, meanwhile, topped their qualifying group, which included Poland and Czechia.
Group C: England, Denmark, Serbia, Slovenia
England enters Euro 2024 as a favorite, and their draw into Group C reinforces that status. Denmark poses the biggest challenge, but the battle for second place is likely a three-way race. Serbia boasts talented forwards like Aleksandar Mitrović and Dusan Vlahović but has underperformed in recent major tournaments. Slovenia was one of the lowest-ranked teams to qualify directly.
Group D: France, Netherlands, Austria, Poland
France, another tournament favorite, faces a tough test from an improving Netherlands in the opening round. These two teams met twice in qualifying, with France winning both matches. Austria faces an uphill battle to reach the top two but could advance as one of the best third-place finishers. Poland, emerging from the playoffs, adds further intrigue to this group.
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Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine
Belgium is the clear favorite in Group E. Slovakia and Romania, both eliminated in the group stage of the previous Euros, face a tough task. Ukraine, securing their spot through the playoffs, will aim to build on their strong qualifying finish, where they narrowly lost to Italy.
Group F: Portugal, Czechia, Turkey, Georgia
Portugal, with a squad capable of winning their second European Championship, is expected to dominate Group F. Their qualifying campaign was flawless, finishing unbeaten with a 10-0 record. Czechia reached the quarterfinals of the last Euros, while Turkey aims to progress further after failing to advance in the previous two tournaments. Georgia completes the group, facing a challenging path to the knockout stages.