The draw for Euro 2024 takes place within the port metropolis of Hamburg on Saturday when France, England and the opposite main contenders will be taught the trail to potential continental glory that awaits them subsequent summer season. The Elbe Philharmonic Corridor, overlooking the river which runs by Germany’s second-largest metropolis, would be the venue for the draw, simply over six months earlier than the beginning of the event which runs from June 14 to July 14. Not everybody’s minds might be on subsequent 12 months’s finals simply but because the draw takes place in a metropolis plunged into sub-zero winter temperatures and with top-flight membership soccer the centre of consideration throughout the continent.
But Saturday’s occasion marks the beginning of the actual countdown to the European Championship for the 20 nations who’ve thus far certified alongside hosts Germany.
Final 12 months’s crushed World Cup finalists France and an England aspect that has by no means earlier than been continental champions are within the first pot of seeds together with Portugal, Spain, Belgium and the hosts.
Latest performances and the depth of expertise accessible to their respective coaches, from Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann to Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, make France and England stand out among the many favourites.
There might be stress on England to go one higher than on the final Euro in 2021, after they misplaced the ultimate on penalties to Italy at Wembley.
“I believe we have now to just accept that. Stress comes when expectation is completely different from actuality and actuality is we’re going to be one of many groups able to profitable,” England supervisor Gareth Southgate stated lately.
Germany, in the meantime, are in disaster on the sphere having misplaced six of 11 video games performed since a second consecutive exit from the World Cup within the group stage final 12 months.
That type price Hansi Flick his job as coach however they’ve simply suffered back-to-back defeats underneath his successor Julian Nagelsmann.
“We have an unbelievable quantity of labor to do in each place,” Nagelsmann instructed native media after the current 2-0 reverse in Austria.
– Italy in pot 4 –
As ever there are harmful sides lurking outwith the primary pot, with the Netherlands — winners of the final Euro held in Germany in 1988 — in pot three, and reigning champions Italy in pot 4.
Having didn’t make the final two World Cups, Italy solely wrapped up qualification this time by holding on nervously for a draw with Ukraine of their closing recreation.
Not one of the sides within the greater pots will wish to be drawn with Italy, even when the format removes some jeopardy with 4 of the most effective third-placed groups among the many six teams advancing to the final 16.
“After all of the difficulties we have now had, we might be in Germany and we might be going there as reigning champions and going there to win,” Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma stated after the Ukraine draw which secured qualification.
The final three berths on the finals won’t be identified till the play-offs in March, which can characteristic the likes of Poland, Wales, Ukraine and Euro 2004 winners Greece.
– One other ‘summer season fairy story’? –
The type of the host nation is an actual concern and threatens German hopes of this being one other “summer season fairy story”, which is how the nation remembers the 2006 World Cup.
Nevertheless, soccer supporters throughout the continent might be desirous to profit from a return to the basic format of a Euro staged in a single nation after the final event was held in 11 completely different nations throughout the continent.
Euro 2020 was additionally marred by restrictions on journey and on attendances because of the pandemic.
There might be none of that this time and followers will flock to the ten host cities unfold across the nation, from the capital Berlin and Hamburg within the north, to Munich within the south and Dortmund within the coronary heart of the Ruhr industrial area.
Germany will play within the event’s opening recreation in Munich on June 14, whereas Berlin’s 70,000-capacity Olympiastadion will host the ultimate a month later.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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