The countdown is nearly over for football fans across Europe. With spring approaching, thoughts are already turning to this summer’s UEFA Euros 2024. This year marks the 17th edition of European Football Championship, in which 24 teams will compete across 51 nail-biting matches – who will you be cheering on? During the Euros 2020 (held in 2021 because of a delay caused by the Covid-19 pandemic), England got tantalisingly close to breaking a 58-year drought for a major trophy. However, the dream was dashed in the final moments by Italy during a heart-stopping penalty shoot-out. Could this be the year the England team finally bring it home? As the Euro 2024 tournament creeps closer, we’ve decided to round up everything you need to know about this year’s tournament to stoke your excitement. From the host cities to the teams tipped for glory, football fans worldwide have long anticipated Euro 2024, and we can’t wait for a summer filled with drama, goals, and relentless action.
This guide boasts the latest information about the tournament to keep you going until the opening game.
Where will the Euros be held in 2024?
In 2024, the UEFA European Football Championship will be hosted by Germany. While West Germany hosted the tournament in 1988, this is the first time Germany has hosted the Euros since reunification. Germany is no stranger to the UEFA Euros, having clinched the title three times, with their last triumph back in 1996.
The tournament will be played across ten world-class stadiums:
- Olympiastadion Berlin
- Leipzig Stadium
- Volksparkstadion Hamburg
- BVB Stadion Dortmund
- Arena AufSchalke Gelsenkirchen
- Dusseldorf Arena
- Cologne Stadium
- Frankfurt Arena
- Stuttgart Arena
- Munich Football Arena
The largest of these stadiums, the iconic Olympiastadion in Berlin, has an astounding 71,000 seats, promising an electrifying atmosphere.
When are the Euros 2024 on?
The UEFA Euro 2024 will take place over one thrilling football-crazed month. The fun kicks off on June 14, and the final is scheduled for July 14. The opening match will be held at Munich Football Arena, where Germany will face Scotland, setting the stage for a month of high-octane football. This is only the fourth time Scotland has competed in the Euros!
One date to mark on the calendar, which we’ll all be biting our nails waiting for, is June 16 when England will step up for their first match against Serbia at the Arena Auf Schalke in Gelsenkirchen. The Three Lions will then face Denmark on June 20 and Slovenia five days later. The intensity will notch up with the Round of 16, which starts on June 29, followed by the quarter-final from July 5. As the competition reaches its climax, the semi-finals will kick off on July 9. From there, two teams will fight it out at the iconic Olympiastadion in Berlin, where the final will be held on July 14, promising a spectacular end to the tournament.
Who is the favourite to win the Euro 2024 tournament?
As the Euro 2024 draws closer, everyone is speculating about which team will lift the coveted trophy! So far (and let’s not get our hopes up too much!) England are widely regarded as one of the favourites to win. Their main competition? France. Currently, the bookies have France and England tied as the favourites. It’s easy to see why everyone’s eyes are on France; having reached the finals in the last World Cup, they’ve proved themselves a force to be reckoned with. On the other hand, the England team came tantalisingly close to victory at the Euros in 2020, and the team has matured since then – could Gareth Southgate’s reign end with a bang as he leads the Three Lions to Euro 2024 victory?
Following close behind are Euro 2024 host country Germany, who have the advantage of playing on home soil; Spain, who boasts some of the world’s most prodigious football talent; and Portugal, led by all-time leading goal scorer Cristiano Ronaldo. Other teams to watch closely are Belgium, Italy, and the Netherlands. Although it’s been proved time and time again that it really could be anyone’s game. Part of the beauty of the UEFA Euro tournament lies in its unpredictability, as history has shown with Greece’s unexpected victory in 2004 and Denmark’s triumph in 1992. It’s these unexpected twists and turns that make the UEFA Euro tournament so thrilling.
New VAR technology for Euro 2024
Over the years, advancements in VAR technology have ended much controversy and debate during football matches by providing undisputable evidence. Referees can use VAR technology to review incidents on video, helping them make more informed decisions and reduce the number of incorrect calls. VAR technology has become invaluable in ensuring a fair game and result.
It’s constantly being improved, and UEFA has announced that during the tournament, they will introduce a chipped Adidas FUSSBALLLIEBE ball with connected technology to improve the accuracy of semi-automated offside VAR decisions and provide additional tracking data for players. The new chipped ball is hoped to help VAR make faster offside decisions. The same technology was used during the last World Cup to settle a debate regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s purported goal during Portugal’s 2-0 victory over Uruguay. After analysing the goal using the connected ball technology, it was decided that the goal should instead be credited to Bruno Fernandes.
What channels will be showing the Euro 2024 games?
UK football fans can catch every moment of the UEFA Euro 2024 action live on ITV and BBC. The two broadcasters have agreed to split the matches equally across the two channels. This arrangement promises comprehensive coverage of the entire tournament nationwide. The final will be aired on both the BBC and ITV, allowing viewers to choose their preferred channel.
Guy-Laurent Epstein, Marketing Director at UEFA, announced the news late last year with the following statement: “We are very pleased to continue our partnership with ITV and the BBC. Each partner brings in-depth knowledge and expertise to the broadcasting of the UEFA European Football Championship, and we look forward to the extensive and excellent coverage for the fans across the UK.”
The partnership between the two broadcasters will give UK viewers access to live matches, expert in-depth analysis, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content, promising an unforgettable experience for football fans nationwide.
Watch Euro 2024 at Bierkeller
If, like most of us, your budget doesn’t stretch to flying over to Germany to watch the tournament, we’ve found the next best place to watch all the live action – The Bierkeller.
The Bierkeller is a popular German bar offering a taste of Bavaria without even stepping onto an aeroplane. With long traditional tables and benches, steins full of authentic German bier, and a dose of warm and welcoming Bavarian hospitality, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a Munich beer hall to watch the game!
During the 2020 Euros, England secured a memorable 2-0 victory over Germany, so the stakes will be high if the two teams meet again! Watching Germany play over a stein of bier at The Bierkeller promises an electrifying atmosphere, regardless of any on-pitch rivalries!
So, if you’re looking for the perfect spot to catch all the live action of the Euros 2024, why not book a table at The Bierkeller? The popular bar has venues in Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Halifax, and Nottingham, each kitted out with projectors, LED screens, and TVs to catch every play in high definition. While watching the game, you can enjoy delicious authentic German biers and mouth-watering bratwursts and wings – plus a selection of wines, bubbly, and non-alcoholic drinks.