The Uefa Euro 2024 competition or the Euros as it usually called, is around the corner and fans around the world cannot wait for the host nation, Germany to set the ball rolling at the Allianz Arena (Munich football Arena) against their opponent on the 14th of June.
The Germans open the tournament against Scotland in a match that promises to serve up different emotions but ultimately could be a pointer to how the tournament would go before the other group members, Switzerland and Hungary lock horns at the Uefa Euro 2024.
GROUP A – What To Expect
Teams
– Germany (Host),
– Scotland,
– Hungary
– Switzerland
Germany
Germany are definitely not the teams they used to be. They currently sit 16th on the FIFA Men’s World ranking with teams like Morocco, USA, Colombia and Mexico now ranked ahead of them. To be fair, the Die Mannschaft have not covered themselves in glory in recent times. A look at their recent tournaments showed just how far they have fallen. They were kicked out of the 2022 world cup in the group stages and in the previous Euros, they couldn’t proceed beyond the round-of-16 where they lost 2-0 to England.
However, given the rich pool of talent that the German’s possess, it’ll be every team’s undoing to undermine the strength that this side possesses when everything flows freely. With youngsters like Jamal Musiala and Florian Witz combined with the experience of Toni Kroos, Ilkay Gundogan, Joshua Kimmich and co; they have the potential to be unstoppable.
Head coach, Julian Nagelsmann is now tasked with the responsibility of doing better with the team than they have done in the past few years and his first test would come on the 14th of June when he faces Scotland.
As far as records are concerned, the Germans have won the Euros three-time winners and were runners-up on three other occasions. This is also the first time they are hosting the EURO since the reunification (when West Germany staged the finals in 1988).
Prediction: Except something drastic happens, the general expectations is that Germany would finish top of this group. Any other position would spell trouble for the hosts. For instance, a 2nd place finish would mean a potential match against SPain, Croatia or Italy while finishing third would, well, be just short of a disastrous campaign.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona).
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Stuttgart), Benjamin Henrichs (RB Leipzig), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstadt (Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen).
Midfielders: Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Chris Fuhrich (Stuttgart), Pascal Gross (Brighton), Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen).
Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim), Niclas Fullkrug (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart).
Scotland
Scotland are the lowest FIFA-ranked team in the group going into the competition and not much is expected from Steve Clarke’s side considering that despite qualifying for back-to-back Euros, they’ve been knocked out at the group stage. In fact, they’ve been knocked out at the group stage in all 3 of their previous appearance at the Euros.
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The Scots, however, would believe they can get past the group stage on this occasion with 4 out of the 6 teams having an opportunity for the 3rd placed team to advance to the Round-of-16. Clarke would be counting on his Army led by the likes of Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Kieran Tierney (Arsenal), Scott McTominay (Man Utd) alongside other players in the team.
The fact that they open the tournament against host, Germany doesn’t make matters any easier but getting a result against the hosts could go a very long way to helping Scotland have a good outing in the tournament
Prediction: Scotland are not expected to to get much from this group. A 4th placed finish is the general expectation for the Scots but surprises are not far when it comes to tournaments like this. At worst, a 4th-placed finished, at best, a 3rd-placed finish.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Zander Clark (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Norwich), Liam Kelly (Motherwell).
Defenders: Liam Cooper (Leeds), Grant Hanley (Norwich), Jack Hendry (Al Ettifaq), Ross McCrorie (Bristol City), Scott McKenna (Copenhagen), Ryan Porteous (Watford), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Greg Taylor (Celtic), Kieran Tierney (Real Sociedad).
Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Brighton), Ryan Jack (free agent), Kenny McLean (Norwich), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Scott McTominay (Manchester United).
Forwards: Che Adams (Southampton), Tommy Conway (Bristol City), James Forrest (Celtic), Lewis Morgan (New York Red Bulls), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts).
Hungary
Marco Rossi would be hoping to lead Hungary out of this group as his team hopes to put their group stage exit at Euro 2020 behind them. Despite recording impressive draws against France & Germany at the last Euros, Hungary still exited the competition at the group stage and this would have left a bitter taste in their mouths.
Now, they have a chance to go farther in the competition and would be encouraged by the fact that they were unbeaten during qualification for this year’s competition and this Hungarian team, who have often been described as ‘punching above their weights’ would fancy their chances.
Ranked 26th in the world, Rossi’s team would look to Liverpool’s midfield talisman, Dominik Szoboszlai. At 23, Szoboszlai has become a household name around the world and is fast approaching 50 international appearances. Always a game changer, he and Hungary are thriving under his captaincy.
This is Hungary’s third tournament in a row, with the first in that series coming in 2016, 44 years after first qualifying for the Euros in 1972.
Predictions: Hungary could get into the next round as one of the third-placed teams to progress. Their first game against Switzerland is crucial in getting them in the right shape for the tournament.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Denes Dibusz (Ferencvaros), Peter Gulacsi (RB Leipzig), Peter Szappanos (Paks).
Defenders: Botond Balogh (Parma), Endre Botka (Ferencvaros), Marton Dardai (Hertha Berlin), Attila Fiola (Fehervar), Adam Lang (Omonia Nicosia), Willi Orban (RB Leipzig), Attila Szalai (Freiburg), Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth).
Midfielders: Bendeguz Bolla (Servette), Mihaly Kata (MTK), Laszlo Kleinheisler (Hajduk Split), Adam Nagy (Spezia), Zsolt Nagy (Puskas Akademia), Loic Nego (Le Havre), Andras Schafer (Union Berlin), Callum Styles (Sunderland), Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool).
Forwards: Martin Adam (Ulsan Hyundai), Kevin Csoboth (Ujpest), Daniel Gazdag (Philadelphia Union), Krisztofer Horvath (Kecskemet), Roland Sallai (Freiburg), Barnabas Varga (Ferencvaros).
Switzerland
If there is a team in Group A that poses the most threat to Germany finishing as group leaders, that team has got to be Switzerland. Murat Yakin’s men would be inspired by their outing at Euro 2020 where they reached the Quarterfinals, having gone past France in the Round-of 16.
The team would be led by the experienced Granit Xhaka, who has found a new lease of life, after leaving Arsenal last season and joining Bayer Leverkusen, becoming a key-part of Leverkusen’s amazing season that saw them win the Bundesliga, get to the final of the Europa league and go unbeaten in the season.
Xhaka would not have to bear the Swiss burden alone as he has the experience of team-mates like Man City’s Manuel Akanji, Xherdan Shaqiri and a host of others to rely on when the occasion arises.
Switzerland are ranked 19th in the world, just 3 places behind Germany and you can expect them to show this when both teams clash in the final group game.
Prediction: We expect Switzerland to finish second, just behind Germany. However, we have seen stranger things happen in football so don’t be surprised if they finish higher or lower.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer (Inter Milan), Yvon Mvogo (Lorient), Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund).
Defenders: Ricardo Rodriguez (Torino), Fabian Schar (Newcastle), Manuel Akanji (Manchester City), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Monchengladbach), Silvan Widmer (Mainz), Cedric Zesiger (Wolfsburg), Leonidas Stergiou (Stuttgart).
Midfielders: Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen), Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire), Remo Freuler (Bologna), Denis Zakaria (Monaco), Michel Aebischer (Bologna), Fabian Rieder (Rennes), Ardon Jashari (Luzern), Vincent Sierro (Toulouse).
Forwards: Breel Embolo (Monaco), Steven Zuber (AEK Athens), Ruben Vargas (Augsburg), Renato Steffen (Lugano), Noah Okafor (AC Milan), Zeki Amdouni (Burnley), Dan Ndoye (Bologna), Kwadwo Duah (Ludogorets).
Group A Fixtures, Dates And Times
14/06: Germany vs Scotland (Munich, 21:00)
15/06: Hungary vs Switzerland (Cologne, 15:00)
19/06: Germany vs Hungary (Stuttgart, 18:00)
19/06: Scotland vs Switzerland (Cologne, 21:00)
23/06: Switzerland vs Germany (Frankfurt, 21:00)
23/06: Scotland vs Hungary (Stuttgart, 21:00)
