Italian team celebrates with the trophy after the Euro 2020 football final against England at Wembley, July 11, 2021. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Euro 2024 is set to begin in Germany on 14 June with the host nation Germany playing Scotland in Munich. The final will be played on 14 July in Berlin.
All 51 matches will be played across 10 stadiums, marking Germany's organisation of another international football event after the 2006 World Cup.
All matches will be shown on TVNZ+ and times below are NZ time.
Italy are the defending champions, having beaten England in the final of Euro 2020 in London, when the tournament was postponed to 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Below you can find details, insights, and the schedule for every team during the group stage.
GROUP A
Germany
Three-times European champions and the Euro 2024 hosts, [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/519403/germany-eye-title-as-fans-get-ready-for-euro-2024-party
Germany are among the favourites] under Julian Nagelsmann, who was appointed coach in September.
Die Mannschaft will rely on players like 21-year-old Bundesliga champion Florian Wirtz alongside Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala and Barcelona midfielder and captain Ilkay Gundogan.
Hungary
Hungary secured a spot at Euro 2024 without losing a game in qualifying, topping their group with a game to spare after a dramatic draw against Bulgaria.
Captain Dominik Szoboszlai and striker Barnabas Varga, the team's top scorers during the qualifiers, will be key if Hungary are to reach the round of 16 which they failed to achieve in 2020.
Scotland
Scotland finished second in their qualifying group to reach their second European Championship in a row.
Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay, who scored seven goals in eight qualifiers, will be a key player as Scotland bid to advance to the knockout stage for the first time.
Switzerland
The road to Euro 2024 was tricky for Switzerland who finished second in their group after recording five draws, four wins and one loss, sparking debate about the future of manager Murat Yakin.
Switzerland will rely on seasoned veterans like Inter Milan goalkeeper Yann Sommer and captain Granit Xhaka of Bayer Leverkusen to reach the knockout stages.
Schedule
Germany v Scotland June 15 at 0700 in Munich
Hungary v Switzerland June 16 at 0100 in Cologne
Germany v Hungary June 20 at 0400 in Stuttgart
Scotland v Switzerland June 20 at 0700 in Cologne
Germany v Switzerland June 24 at 0700 in Frankfurt am Main
Scotland v Hungary June 24 at 0700 in Stuttgart
Spain's forward Lamine Yamal runs with the ball Photo: AFP
GROUP B
Spain
Spain are seeking their third European title after back-to-back wins in 2008 and 2012 and a semi-final loss to Italy in the last tournament.
The team, coached by Luis de la Fuente since the 2022 World Cup, will feature 16-year-old Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal and experienced players like Manchester City midfielder Rodri and Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata.
Croatia
Croatia will aim to advance beyond the European Championship quarter-finals for the first time, blending youthful talent with seasoned leaders like Real Madrid's Luka Modric and Tottenham Hotspur's Ivan Perisic.
The team, who reached the World Cup final in 2018 and the semis four years later, will have Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol at the heart of their defence. Zlatko Dalic has coached the team since 2017.
Italy
Italy are the reigning champions, but much has changed since their success in 2021. In August, Luciano Spalletti, who had led Napoli to the Serie A title, became the new manager after Roberto Mancini unexpectedly resigned after five years at the helm.
The team secured a spot at Euro 2024 by finishing second in their qualifying group. Their squad has been bolstered by promising young talents after many veterans left following Euro 2020. Italy also won the European Championship in 1968.
Albania
After making their debut in 2016, Albania are set to compete in their second-ever European championship after they won their qualifying group, ahead of the Czech Republic and Poland, thanks to a seven-game unbeaten streak.
Albania, who appointed Brazilian manager Sylvinho in January 2023, have nine players from Italy's Serie A and will count on young talents such as Inter Milan midfielder Kristjan Asllani and Chelsea striker Armando Broja.
Schedule
Spain v Croatia June 16 at 0400 in Berlin
Italy v Albania June 16 at 0700 in Dortmund
Croatia v Albania June 20 at 0100 in Hamburg
Spain v Italy June 21 at 0700 in Gelsenkirchen
Albania v Spain June 25 at 0700 in Duesseldorf
Croatia v Italy June 25 at 0700 in Leipzig
Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur Photo: PHOTOSPORT
GROUP C
Slovenia
It will be Slovenia's first major tournament in 14 years following the 2010 World Cup and their second appearance in the competition after their debut at Euro 2000.
RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, top scorer in qualifying with five goals, is in the squad along with 31-year-old Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak and former Atalanta attacking midfielder Josip Ilicic.
Denmark
The 1992 European champions were semi-finalists at Euro 2020 where Christian Eriksen collapsed due to a heart attack during their opener against Finland.
Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund scored seven goals in qualifying, while Eriksen provides creativity in midfield.
Serbia
This is the first time Serbia have qualified for the European Championship as an independent nation, having last competed as Yugoslavia at Euro 2000 and finished runners-up in 1960 and 1968.
Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic is the team's top talent, along with Saudi Arabia-based Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and 35-year-old captain Dusan Tadic who is now with Fenerbahçe.
England
The Three Lions, runners-up in the last edition, are one of the favourites to lift a trophy that England have never won before as they also chase their first major title in 58 years.
Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane will lead the way for coach Gareth Southgate's side.
Schedule
Slovenia v Denmark June 17 at 0400 in Stuttgart
Serbia v England June 17 at 0700 in Gelsenkirchen
Slovenia v Serbia June 20 at 0100 in Munich
Denmark v England June 20 at 0400 in Frankfurt am Main
England v Slovenia June 25 at 0700 in Cologne
Denmark v Serbia June 25 at 0700 in Munich
Kylian Mbappe (France) celebrates after scoring. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
GROUP D
Netherlands
The Netherlands are preparing for their 11th European Championship and are the team with the most third-place finishes in the tournament.
The 1988 European champions will hope for more goals from Atletico Madrid striker Memphis Depay, who is five goals shy of Robin van Persie's all-time scoring record for the team.
France
Twice European champions France are among the favourites to hoist the trophy, having reached the final at three of their last four international tournaments.
Real Madrid's new recruit Kylian Mbappe will lead the team while midfielder N'Golo Kante made a surprise return to the squad after making his last appearance in 2022.
Poland
Poland, who have not missed a European championship since making their debut in 2008, will look to get through the group stage for a second time after reaching the quarter-finals in 2016.
The team has injury concerns over strikers Robert Lewandowski and Karol Swiderski following their last friendly against Turkey, while Arkadiusz Milik suffered an injury in another warm-up match against Ukraine that ruled the Juventus striker out of the tournament.
Austria
Austria have played only 10 games at European Championships, having featured in three previous editions of the tournament, reaching the last 16 once at Euro 2020.
Despite an injury to Real Madrid's David Alaba, the squad still has some talent in its ranks including Bayern Munich's Konrad Laimer, Inter Milan's Marko Arnautovic and Borussia Dortmund's Marcel Sabitzer.
Schedule
Poland v Netherlands June 17 at 0100 in Hamburg
Austria v France June 18 at 0700 in Duesseldorf
Poland v Austria June 22 at 0400 in Berlin
Netherlands v France June 22 at 0700 in Leipzig
Netherlands v Austria June 26 at 0400 in Berlin
France v Poland June 26 at 0400 in Dortmund
Belgian footballer Kevin De Bruyne playing for Manchester City. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
GROUP E
Belgium
Belgium will participate in their seventh European Championship, and are looking to redeem themselves after failing to get past the group stage at the 2022 World Cup.
Under manager Domenico Tedesco, the Red Devils are expected to be strong contenders, after qualifying top of their group, with six wins and two draws in eight matches.
Slovakia
Slovakia will play at their third consecutive European Championship and hope to reach the knockout stages after failing to do so at the last tournament.
Napoli's Stanislav Lobotka will lead from midfield, while Paris St Germain defender Milan Skriniar will marshal the defence in front of Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Romania
Romania, who will play in their sixth European Championship, were a surprise package in the qualifiers, remaining unbeaten and topping their group, above Switzerland.
Led by Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin and Deportivo Alaves's Ianis Hagi, the Tricolorii were held to goalless draws against Bulgaria and Liechtenstein in their final two friendlies before the tournament.
Ukraine
Making their first appearance in a major tournament since Russia's invasion started in February 2022, Ukraine will participate at their fourth straight Euros.
With talents such as Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk and Arsenal fullback Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ukraine are well-equipped to reach the knockout stages.
Schedule
Romania v Ukraine June 18 at 0100 in Munich
Belgium v Slovakia June 18 at 0400 in Frankfurt am Main
Slovakia v Ukraine June 22 at 0100 in Duesseldorf
Belgium v Romania June 23 at 0700 in Cologne
Slovakia v Romania June 27 at 0400 in Frankfurt am Main
Ukraine v Belgium June 27 at 0400 in Stuttgart
Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring his team's goal. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
GROUP F
Turkey
Turkey, who are taking part in their sixth Euros, last reached the semi-finals in 2008, when they lost 3-2 to Germany in a thriller.
Inter Milan star Hakan Calhanoglu and Real Madrid's young talent Arda Guler are set to lead the Crescent Stars into their third consecutive Euros.
Georgia
Georgia will participate in their first major finals as an independent nation, after they secured their spot in the tournament by defeating Luxembourg and then Greece in the playoffs.
The team is spearheaded by Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Metz forward Georges Mikautadze and are underdogs to reach the knockout stage.
Portugal
Five times Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo will shoulder Portugal's hopes at Euro 2024, with manager Roberto Martinez hoping to guide them to a second European title after their triumph in 2016.
Portugal will play at their eighth consecutive Euros after securing qualification with a 100 percent winning record in their group.
Czech Republic
Under the guidance of coach Ivan Hasek, the Czech Republic will hope to find some form after an uninspiring qualifying campaign in which they finished second in their group behind Albania.
Champions in 1976 as Czechoslovakia, they enter Euro 2024 with some seasoned players in their ranks such as West Ham United's Tomas Soucek and a revitalised Patrik Schick, who was joint top scorer with five goals at Euro 2020.
Schedule
Turkey v Georgia June 19 at 0400 in Dortmund
Portugal v Czech Republic June 19 at 0700 in Leipzig
Georgia v Czech Republic June 23 at 0100 in Hamburg
Turkey v Portugal June 23 at 0400 in Dortmund
Czech Republic v Turkey June 27 at 0700 in Hamburg
Georgia v Portugal June 27 at 0700 in Gelsenkirchen
Round of 16 matches June 30, July 1, 2, 3
Quarter-finals July 6 and 7
Semi-finals July 10 and 11.
Final July 15
-RNZ/Reuters
