Football

Host Nation Germany’s Quest: Group Draw, Stadiums, and More in EURO 2024

After triumphing over Turkey to host EURO 2024, Germany is bustling with preparations. This event marks a significant return for Germany, which last hosted the European Championship in 1988, then as West Germany. Unlike the pan-European approach of Euro 2020, EURO 2024 shifts back to a single-nation format, focusing the spotlight solely on Germany. Fans eagerly anticipate the group draws, stadium reveals, and the unique blend of football with Germany’s rich cultural tapestry.

For those keen on the competitive edge, keeping an eye on the latest football odds is essential. Read on for information on the historical significance, tourist hotspots, and games you can expect to see.

Germany’s Football Dilemma

Germany is well-known for football and is preparing for Euro 2024. However, they have faced challenges since winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup. This includes early exits from recent World Cups. One example is their disappointing performance in Qatar. Hans-Joachim Watzke, a senior football official, encourages the team. He wants them to concentrate on their strengths, but also their weak defence.

Under coach Hansi Flick, the team has experienced both good and bad moments. Their defence has been a particular issue, evident in recent games. Despite this, Bern Neuendorf, Germany’s football chief, remains optimistic. He is positive about the team’s preparations for Euro 2024.

Interestingly, the 2024 Euro will not be broadcast in 4K or UHD. This is different from other major sports events. For example, the Paris Olympics and the Super Bowl use these technologies. It has led to questions about the future of football broadcasting in Europe, and no one really knows why this is the case.

Who is the German Coach?

Julian Nagelsmann will soon become the 12th coach of Germany’s men’s team to lead a major tournament. He replaced Hansi Flick as coach in September 2023, following his underwhelming performance at the World Cup in 2022. Nagelsmann is the fourth person to lead the team in a big event hosted in Germany.

At 36 years old, he’s trying to achieve the same success as famous coaches who have previously won big titles with the German team over the years. These coaches are:

  • Sepp Herberger (1954 World Cup)
  • Helmut Schön (Euro 1972 and 1974 World Cup)
  • Jupp Derwall (Euro 1980)
  • Franz Beckenbauer (1990 World Cup)
  • Berti Vogts (Euro 1996)
  • Joachim Löw (2014 World Cup)

What is Euro 2024?

UEFA is the governing body of European football that organises the European Championship for national teams, which happens every 4 years. The next event will take place throughout Germany for the 24 teams that make it to the competition.

Euro 2024 follows a structure similar to the FIFA World Cup. It has six groups, each with four teams competing in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams go through to the knockout phase – the final 16.

The competition intensifies as the 16 teams enter elimination rounds. If the scores are tied, these matches go to extra time and eventually to a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner and who advances to the next game.

When is the UEFA EURO 2024?

The UEFA EURO 2024 final tournament will run from 14 June to 14 July 2024.

Who has Qualified for EURO?

The final tournament draw took place on 2 December 2023 at Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. Here are the qualifiers:

  • Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland
  • Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania
  • Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England
  • Group D: Play-off winner A, Netherlands, Austria, France
  • Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Play-off winner B
  • Group F: Türkiye, Play-off winner C, Portugal, Czechia

What are the Host Cities?

The 10 host venues are as follows:

  • Berlin – Olympiastadion Berlin
  • Cologne – Cologne Stadium (RheinEnergieSTADION)
  • Dortmund – BVB Stadion Dortmund (Signal Iduna Park)
  • Dusseldorf – Dusseldorf Arena (Merkur Spiel-Arena)
  • Frankfurt – Frankfurt Arena (Deutsche Bank Park)
  • Gelsenkirchen – Arena AufSchalke (Veltins-Arena)
  • Hamburg – Volksparkstadion Hamburg
  • Leipzig – Leipzig Stadium (Red Bull Arena)
  • Munich – Munich Football Arena (Allianz Arena)
  • Stuttgart – Stuttgart Arena (MHPArena)

Euro 2024 key dates

Remaining qualifying dates:

  • March 21, 2024: play-off semi-finals
  • March 26, 2024: play-off finals

Final tournament

  • December 2, 2023: Euro 2024 draw, Hamburg
  • June 14, 2024: Euro 2024 opening game, Munich Football Arena (Allianz Arena)
  • June 30 – July 2: Round of 16
  • July 5-6: Quarter-finals
  • July 9-10, 2024: Semi-finals
  • July 14, 2024: Euro 2024 final, Olympiastadion Berlin