Euro 2024 is underway! Our each day recordsdata provide the newest reporting from across the event in addition to betting traces, what to look at for and finest reads.
Test in with ESPN all through the event as we carry you the most recent from Germany all the way in which as much as the ultimate July 14.
The lead: Euros stars get downtime (some greater than others …)
The primary relaxation days of Euro 2024, a two-day interval in between the ultimate group video games on Wednesday evening and begin of the knockout section on Saturday, have given these groups nonetheless in Germany the possibility to take pleasure in some much-needed downtime earlier than they resume their bid to win the ultimate on July 14.
There are normally two colleges of thought on one of the simplest ways to deal with this stage of a event: function a relaxed strategy with gamers, or to maintain the squad targeted always of their coaching camp.
France coach Didier Deschamps, who has gained the World Cup and reached two extra main event finals throughout his decade answerable for Les Bleus, has gone for the previous strategy. He allowed his squad to spend Tuesday evening, all day Wednesday and Thursday morning with their households on the staff’s Paderborn base earlier than they start preparations for Monday’s round-of-16 conflict with Belgium.
The England and Germany squads, nonetheless, needed to make do with a quick window of time with their family members as coaches Gareth Southgate and Julian Nagelsmann allowed only one free day with them contained in the camp. England face Slovakia on Sunday afternoon, with host nation Germany taking up Denmark the evening earlier than.
Belgium’s squad, in the meantime, had some temporary household time after their 0-0 draw in opposition to Ukraine earlier than taking part in golf at their Ludwigsburg base.
However it’s a special story for these groups who will not be because of play till properly into subsequent week. Austria‘s gamers got time to take pleasure in Berlin, near their base camp, by coach Ralf Rangnick on Thursday, leaving 4 days nonetheless to prepare for Turkey.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman, in the meantime, gave his gamers the liberty to do no matter they wished for twenty-four hours from Thursday afternoon. The Dutch, who do not play their round-of-16 tie in opposition to Romania till subsequent Tuesday, are based mostly in Wolfsburg, however not less than considered one of their gamers was noticed 200 miles away in Berlin on Thursday night. — Mark Ogden
Sights and sounds round Euro 2024
UFC champ has cut up loyalties
Earlier than every match at Euro 2024, the large display screen relays a message of help from well-known individuals from the 2 nations competing. Georgia‘s pep speak comes from UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuri. Nonetheless, Topuri, who ranks No. 4 in ESPN’s pound-for-pound rankings, may have his loyalties cut up on Sunday when Georgia meet Spain within the final 16 in Cologne.
Born in Germany to Georgian mother and father, earlier than returning to dwell in Georgia, Topuri has now lived in Spain for the final 12 years and has twin nationality. In what’s being billed because the Topuri derby, he’ll discover it onerous to select a facet.
“I really feel tremendous Spanish, I additionally really feel Georgian, it is like having two youngsters,” he mentioned. “You possibly can’t select between them when requested. You’re keen on each equally… You possibly can’t.”
Georgia have been one of many feel-good tales of the event, and it could be comprehensible if Topuri wished that fairytale to proceed. However Spain — who beat Georgia 7-1 and 3-1 after they met in qualifying for Euro 2024 — might characterize a greater likelihood of profitable the entire thing. — Sam Marsden
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Why Georgia qualifying for the knockout stage is a ‘great story’
Shaka Hislop recaps Georgia’s gorgeous 2-0 win over Portugal that sees them qualify for the spherical of 16 at Euro 2024.
Followers arriving by the boatload
Denmark and Germany share a 40-mile land border, however many Danish followers travelling to Dortmund for Saturday’s round-of-16 tie are anticipated to make the journey by boat.
With the Nordic nation consisting of 1,419 islands on the Jutland peninsula, the crossing between the Danish port of Rodby and Puttgarden in Germany, often called the Vogelfluglinie, is anticipated to be so busy on Saturday that ferry operator Scandlines have added an additional boat to their schedule to take supporters between the 2 nations.
The Denmark followers have confirmed to be a number of the most vibrant and imaginative supporters in Germany through the event. Whereas taking part in England in Group C, the Danes, who famously gained the Euros in 1992, taunted rival followers by singing, in English, “Champions of Europe, you may by no means sing that.” — Mark Ogden
Swiss lacking gear
Coaches from Switzerland have had computer systems stolen within the buildup to their round-of-16 conflict with Italy. The Swiss soccer federation has confirmed that three laptops had been taken, however it’s assured that no confidential data has been misplaced as they put together to face the defending champions in Berlin on Saturday.
The stolen computer systems belonged to Swiss coaches who’ve been in Germany to watch and analyse matches as a part of a coaching train. The federation have confirmed that coaches and analysts working straight with the senior staff had been in Stuttgart on the time of the incident, which occurred in Düsseldorf, and that no knowledge referring to the Italy recreation has been compromised.
Switzerland have reached the knockout section of the European Championship for the third time in a row after ending second in Group A behind Germany. They reached the quarterfinals in 2021 after stunning France within the spherical of 16, coming from two targets down earlier than profitable a penalty shootout. — Rob Dawson
Signal wars get private
Followers at Euro 2024 have been discovering ever extra creative methods of insulting one another. It began with supporters holding up indicators that besmirched their rivals’ nationwide delicacies, like a Swiss fan telling the Hungary crowd that “fondue is best than goulash” or a Pole insisting to the Dutch that “kielbasa higher than gouda.”
It is since change into extra private, with one supporter on the Austria-Netherlands group recreation strolling spherical with a placard which learn “Lauda higher than Verstappen” in reference to System One drivers (albeit from fully totally different eras) from the respective nations.
Nobody is secure from being dragged into the Euro 2024 signal wars between competing nations, with Georgina Rodríguez the most recent to change into concerned. Forward of Portugal‘s match with Georgia, not less than two Portuguese followers every had an indication which urged that the companion of Cristiano Ronaldo is superior to your entire nation of Georgia. Regardless of the deserves of that argument might need been, Georgia gained 2-0 to qualify for the knockout rounds on the key event debut. — Rob Dawson
Stat of the day
Georgia ahead Georges Mikautadze is the event’s prime scorer after the group stage, with three targets. The one participant to attain extra on their nation’s European Championship debut was Gerd Müller, who scored 4 targets for West Germany within the 1972. Mikautadze’s whole of 4 objective contributions (three targets, one help) is twice as many as some other participant on the 2024 event to date. — ESPN Stats & Info
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The numbers to know forward of Switzerland vs. Italy on the Euros
Take a fast look at a number of the background numbers of each Switzerland and Italy forward of their round-of-16 recreation at Euro 2024.
Match previews for Saturday
Switzerland vs. Italy (Berlin; 6 p.m. native / midday ET)
Odds (through ESPN BET): Switzerland +235, Draw +185, Italy +140
Each groups have key defensive gamers who can be serving one-game suspensions. Italy can be with out Riccardo Calafiori, considered one of their few event vibrant spots. AS Roma‘s Gianluca Mancini is prone to deputize, although there may be concern over the opposite center-back, Alessandro Bastoni, who missed coaching with a excessive fever.
Italy coach Luciano Spalletti is anticipated to revive the strike duo of Gianluca Scamacca and Federico Chiesa to the beginning lineup rather than Mateo Retegui and Jack Raspadori, who bought the nod in opposition to Croatia however didn’t impress. Jorginho is anticipated to start out in midfield although some joke that he shouldn’t be on penalty responsibility, given the 2 essential penalties he missed in opposition to the Swiss that value Italy their place on the 2022 World Cup.
For Switzerland, the suspended Silvan Widmer can be changed down the precise flank by Leonidas Stergiou. Coach Murat Yakin will choose considered one of Fabian Rieder or Ruben Vargas to finish the entrance three with Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye. — Gabriele Marcotti
Germany vs. Denmark (Dortmund; 9 p.m. native / 3 p.m. ET)
Odds: Germany -160, Draw +280, Denmark +450
Germany have purpose to be concerned forward of their round-of-16 conflict in opposition to Denmark in Dortmund. This tie can be a rematch of one of many biggest-ever upsets at a European Championship, when the Danes beat then-world champions Germany to win the 1992 closing in Sweden and an analogous outcome will ship shockwaves by means of the host nation.
Julian Nagelsmann’s staff have defensive points too, with Jonathan Tah suspended and central defensive companion Antonio Rüdiger battling to beat a thigh harm. However regardless of the considerations heading into the sport, Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck says that Niclas Füllkrug‘s dramatic late equaliser within the Group A conflict in opposition to Switzerland has reworked the mindset of the staff and the followers.
“I believe that the sense of euphoria within the nation is totally different now,” Schlotterbeck mentioned. “We have felt that. We all know that our emergency plan, in case we’re ever behind, can even work out properly. It has triggered one thing in us.”
Denmark face Germany within the uncommon place of getting certified for the knockout stage with out profitable a single group recreation. However Kasper Hjulmand’s staff are additionally undefeated after three attracts.
“It’s considerably bittersweet,” Hjulmand mentioned. “We actually need to win. We want to have that profitable feeling. The most effective feeling in soccer is the sensation of victory. I believe we’ve got achieved all we might to take the initiative and assault. We have now been missing sharpness within the closing third, in addition to luck, and perhaps the standard to make it occur ultimately.” — Mark Ogden
Betting tip (odds through ESPN BET)
To kick off the knockout stage, we begin with nice worth. I can not imagine Italy are favorites in opposition to Switzerland. They’ve been so poor within the group stage and Murat Yakin’s facet have actually caught the attention. The Swiss to qualify for the quarterfinals +115. — Dan Thomas
One huge learn
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The numbers to know forward of England vs. Slovakia on the Euros
Take a fast look at a number of the background numbers of each England and Slovakia forward of their round-of-16 recreation at Euro 2024.
Euro 2024 is all the way down to the ultimate 16 groups, as eight are headed house after an thrilling group stage. We mentioned goodbye to Albania, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Scotland, Serbia and Ukraine, however we are able to all take pleasure in one other 4 rounds of fixtures earlier than the winner is topped on July 14.
To date, the event in has been stuffed with surprises, however what has stood out? Which groups have impressed (or not), and what can we anticipate from a bracket that has many of the top-ranked groups (France vs. Belgium; Spain vs. Georgia; Germany vs. Denmark; Portugal vs. Slovenia) on one facet and a extra open really feel (Switzerland vs. Italy, England vs. Slovakia; Romania vs. Netherlands; Austria vs. Turkey) on the opposite?
We requested ESPN FC’s writers on the event what they’ve product of issues to date now we’re heading into the spherical of 16 on Saturday.
– Euro 2024 speaking factors: Most spectacular groups and predictions
And at last …
The BBC’s euros protection is unmatched. Any person someplace went to the hassle to place a masks on Mbappé within the titles!#euro2024 @lyles10 👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/zPSM8r0Ae4
— Sanny Rudravajhala (@Sanny_Rudra) June 25, 2024
The sight of a masked Kylian Mbappé, with the France striker needing to put on it to guard the damaged nostril he suffered throughout his staff’s 1-0 win over Austria, has change into one of the vital memorable pictures of this event. A lot in order that the BBC has integrated it into its broadcasts.
Because the begin of the event, every of the UK broadcaster’s Euros reveals begin with a title sequence, a one-minute video comprising comic-book type illustrations of the highest gamers inside a pinball machine.
The unique intro featured a maskless Mbappé together with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Jude Bellingham, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Kevin De Bruyne and Virgil Van Dijk. Nonetheless, an up to date model now reveals the Actual Madrid-bound ahead carrying his black protecting headgear. — Julien Laurens