And yes the Euros are upon us. This weekend see the start of a month long tournament where the best of the best in Europe, who have fought to become one of the 24, will duke it out to be crowned kings of Europe for the next four years. The 2024 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2024 (stylised as UEFA EURO 2024) or simply Euro 2024, will be the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship, the quadrennial international football championship organised by UEFA for the European men’s national teams of its member associations.
Germany will host the tournament, which is scheduled to take place from 14 June 2024 to 14 July 2024, and the winner will later compete in the 2025 CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions against the 2024 Copa América winner. The tournament will comprise 24 teams, with Georgia the only team making their European Championship finals debut. It will be the third time that European Championship matches are played on German territory and the second time in reunified Germany, as West Germany hosted the tournament’s 1988 edition, and four matches of the multi-national Euro 2020 were played in Munich. It will be the first time the competition is held in what was formerly East Germany with Leipzig as a host city, as well as the first major tournament since the 2006 FIFA World Cup that a reunified Germany serves as a solo host nation.
Italy are the defending champions, having won the 2020 tournament against England on penalties in the final. Look for them to be string contenders again along with France, who will want to win the Euros badly after losing the World Cup final to Argentina, England (who some have tipped to win it), Spain & hosts Germany. Netherlands will be the dark horse along with possibly Belgium and Portugal. Here’s to some excellent games.