By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – The world of football will turn its focus to the UEFA EURO 2024, which will kick-off in Germany from tomorrow (Friday, June 14, 2024), with the hosts playing Scotland at 9pm.
There are 24 countries that will be battling out for a month for the silverware with the finals set for July 14, 2024. Italy are the defending champions, having won the 2020 tournament against England on penalties in the final.
The tournament will kick-off with the round robin where there are six groups with four teams each. The top two in each of the six final tournament groups will proceed to the round of 16, along with the four best third-placed finishers. The group stage runs until June 26, with the knockout stage beginning on June 29.
Some of the favourite teams for the championships are the hosts Germany, defending champions Italy, 2020 finalists England, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Portugal and Spain, among others.
The hosts Germany are in group A, alongside Scotland, Hungary and Switzerland with Group B made of if Spain, Croatia, Italy and Albania and Group C comprises of Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia and England.
Group D consists of Poland, Netherlands, Australia and France, while countries for Group E are Belgium, Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine and Group F has Turkey, Georgia, Portugal and Czech Republic.
The Groups:
Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland.
Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania.
Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England.
Group D: Poland, Netherlands, Austria, France.
Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine. Group F: Turkey, Georgia, Portugal, Czech Republic.
