The qualifying stage of the Euro 2024 tournament has reached its conclusion paving way for the Main Event.
Fans expect fierce competition as the best teams in the continent face off in pursuit of glory. The tournament promises to deliver memorable moments, continuing the tradition of Euro championships as a pinnacle of international football. The countdown to Euro 2024 draws closer, and the participating teams gear up for a spectacle of skill, determination, and national pride on the football pitch.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COMPETITION
Established in 1960, the UEFA European Championship brings together UEFA member nations every four years, and it’s played amongst member nations governed by UEFA. The first Championship Final was held in Paris and witnessed a thrilling 2-1 victory for the Soviet Union against Yugoslavia. Germany and Spain are the most decorated nations in the tournament, with three titles each, while Italy and France have secured it twice.
Netherlands, Greece, Denmark, and Portugal have claimed the tournament once at a time. The UEFA European Championship is a platform for nations to craft their football legacies, and these singular triumphs have contributed to the collective narrative of European football excellence.
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
The competition, steeped in a rich history, saw Italy emerge as the defending champions after a thrilling victory against England in the 2020 edition. In a nail-biting final, Italy secured their title by triumphing 3-2 in the penalty shootout.
As the focus shifts to Euro 2024, anticipation and excitement are building across the continent. The just concluded Qualifying Stage showcased intense battles amongst national teams vying for a spot in the tournament.
WHERE EURO 2024 WOULD HOLD
UEFA EURO 2024 will be held in Germany next summer, with 23 teams joining the hosts in the tournament. This Article introduces the countries who have booked their spot in the final Tournament.
The European Championship was previously hosted by West Germany in 1988, marking a historic occasion. However, the upcoming event will represent a significant milestone as it will be the first time Germany hosts the European Championship following the Country’s reunification.
The Four-time World Champions – Germany holds three European titles (secured in Belgium in 1972, Italy in 1980, and England in 1996).
Renowned as a Force in European Football, the German team faces the challenge of breaking their title drought since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. With a challenging track record of six losses in their last eleven games in 2023, they are determined to bounce back and aim for Championship glory on home soil.
NATIONS THAT HAVE QUALIFIED
A total of 23 teams would join Hosts – Germany in the tournament. Twenty Top Two teams from each Group have secured qualification based on the outcomes of the European Qualifiers. Additionally, three teams will qualify through play-offs set to take place in March 2024. Here is the list of the 20 teams that have booked Automatic spots in the UEFA Euro 2024 Finals.
Based on Overall Ranking;
1 – Portugal (Group J winner_Oct, 13)
2 – France (Group B winner_Oct, 13)
3 – Spain (Group A winner_Oct, 15)
4 – Belgium (Group F winner_Oct, 13)
5 – England (Group C winner_Oct, 17)
6 – Hungary ( Group G winner_Nov, 16)
7 – Turkey (Group D winner_Oct, 15)
8 – Romania (Group I winner_Nov, 18)
9 – Denmark (Group H winner_Nov, 17)
10 – Albania (Group E winner_Nov, 17)
11 – Austria (Group F runner-up_Oct, 16)
12 – Netherlands (Group B runner-up_Nov, 18)
13 – Scotland (Group A runner-up_Oct, 15)
14 – Croatia (Group D runner-up_Nov, 21)
15 – Slovenia (Group H runner-up_Nov, 20)
16 – Slovakia (Group J runner-up_Nov, 16)
17 – Czech Republic (Group E runner-up_Nov, 20)
18 – Italy (Group C runner-up_Nov, 20)
19 – Serbia (Group G runner-up_Nov, 19)
20 – Switzerland (Group I runner-up_Nov, 18)
The teams are divided into four pots, and each Pot will contain six teams.
The host nation will be placed in Pot 1 alongside the five group winners with the most impressive qualifying records.
Pot 2 will consist of the remaining group winners and the runners-up with the Best records.
Pots 3 and 4 – filled with the other groups runners-up, organized by their points.
The three winners from the playoffs will be designated as Playoff A, Playoff B, and Playoff C, making up Pot 4.
The tournament would feature six groups, each comprising four teams, with one team from each pot assigned to each group.
THOSE WHO DIDN’T QUALIFY
The wait to see Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard at a major International tournament continues as Norway’s aspirations for qualification to Euro 2024 ended as they finished third, six points behind runners-up Scotland in Group A.
As of the current Euro 2023 proceedings, Sweden, Cyprus, North Macedonia, Malta, Armenia, Latvia, Montenegro, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, San Marino, Gibraltar, Moldova, Faroe Islands, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Belarus, Kosovo, Andorra, and Liechtenstein unfortunately find themselves among the nations that have missed out on participating in the tournament.
WHEN IS THE PLAYOFFS?
- March 21, 2024: play-off semi-finals
- March 26, 2024: play-off finals
The play-off qualification process involves the 12 teams that emerged victorious in their 2022/23 Nations League groups. However, should any of these teams secure a spot in the finals through their qualifying group, the Position is transferred to the next highest-placed team in their Nations League group that hasn’t qualified for the Euros. The playoffs – are structured into three paths. The format includes six single-leg semi-finals and three single-leg finals, ensuring three victorious teams qualify for the tournament. The Draw for the playoffs was done on Thursday, 23rd November.
- Path A: Poland, Wales, Estonia
- Path B: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel
- Path A or B: Finland, Iceland, Ukraine
- Path C: Georgia vs. Luxembourg, Greece vs. Kazakhstan
EURO 2024 KICKOFF AND END DATES
On Saturday, December 2, the Euro 2024 Group Stage Draw will be held in Hamburg. The tournament would last a month, from June 14 to July 14, 2024.
Germany, the Host Nation, would feature in the Opening match at the Allianz Arena in Munich. However, the Finals would be at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
THE TOURNAMENT FORMAT
As Always, Euro 2024 is sure to bring us intense competition. The two top teams from each of the six groups would secure their passage to the round of 16. The four best third-placed finishers will also advance to the knockout stage.
As the tournament progresses, eight teams will advance to the quarter-finals and the best 4 to the semi-finals. Finally, the Finals of Euro 2024 will be at the heart of Berlin on July 14, where the victors will be the crowned Champions, etching their names into European football history.
THE HOST CITIES FOR EURO 2024
Euro 2024 will be held across ten vibrant host venues in Germany, showcasing the country’s rich football culture. Each stadium brings its unique charm and history to the tournament.
- Berlin – Olympiastadion Berlin
- Cologne – Cologne Stadion (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)
These stadiums would become the epicenter of football fever, and fans would anticipate an electrifying atmosphere filled with unforgettable moments throughout the competition.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM MATCHDAY 10
Greece held France in a 2-2 Draw, ending their perfect record through the Qualifying stages. Les Bleus, who had previously accomplished this flawless run (ahead of Euro 2004 and in the 1992 tournament, when present coach – Deschamps still played for the national team), hoped to finish the qualifying round with a spotless record.
Portugal secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Iceland in their final Euro 2024 qualifying match, concluding their qualifying campaign for Group J with a record ten consecutive wins. The perfect Record is a testament to setting a formidable foundation as they look ahead to the Euro 2024 tournament.
Croatia completed a comeback to claim the final auto-spot qualification to the tournament. On the concluding day of the group stage qualifiers, Croatia secured their spot as the 20th and final nation to advance with a top-two group finish. The stakes were high for Croatia, as two wins by Wales could have pushed them into the playoffs. However, a Draw between Armenia and Wales in the previous week worked in favor of Luka Modrić and his team. Following a convincing victory over Latvia, Croatia entered the final match against Armenia with the knowledge that a win would guarantee their qualification. It marks their fifth consecutive appearance at the Euros, and they are determined to make a substantial impact after experiencing a round of 16 exits in both 2016 and 2021.
Wales’ aspirations for automatic qualification to Euro 2024 shattered after a 1-1 draw with Turkey in their concluding Group D game on Tuesday. They will regroup and focus on the playoffs, where they will capitalize on their opportunities and demonstrate resilience to clinch a place in Euro 2024.
GET UEFA EURO 2024 TICKETS
As teams from across Europe battle it out on the pitch, loyal supporters will create a thrilling atmosphere that celebrates the sport and showcases unity among nations. Be part of the thrill of football’s grand spectacle by securing your UEFA Euro 2024 tickets today. The tournament promises to be a groundbreaking event that elevates European football to new heights while capturing hearts worldwide.
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