France, England Lead Contenders as Germany Hosts Euro 2024
Euro 2024, set to kick off in Germany on June 14, promises an exciting tournament with France and England leading the pack of heavyweight contenders. The competition will unfold in some of Europe’s finest stadiums across a football-loving nation, reigniting the spirit of international football in a single country after the fragmented and subdued 2020 edition, which was held across the continent amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The month-long tournament will be hosted in 10 iconic stadiums throughout Germany, a country that fondly remembers the memorable summer of 2006 when it last hosted a major tournament. This year, expectations are high for an equally unforgettable event, despite security concerns and complaints about Germany’s aging rail network.
The 2006 World Cup, which Italy won, also marked Germany’s resurgence as a football powerhouse. Although doubts surrounded their prospects back then, the host nation reached the semi-finals, proving their mettle. Similar skepticism hovers over Julian Nagelsmann’s current squad, given Germany’s recent exits in the group stages of the last two World Cups and their Round of 16 loss in the last Euros. However, Nagelsmann remains optimistic, stating, “I have the feeling that we can win the tournament. And most of the time, my intuition is not too bad.” Germany will face Scotland in the opening match in Munich.
France and England are widely seen as the frontrunners to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium on July 14. France, Europe’s top-ranked nation, has reached the last two World Cup finals and boasts a squad brimming with talent beyond the superstar Kylian Mbappe. They are eager to claim their first European Championship since 2000.
England, with their depth and quality, also stand as strong contenders, aiming to capitalize on their impressive performances in recent international tournaments. The stage is set for a thrilling Euro 2024, where the finest in European football will vie for glory in Germany.
