HAMBURG-. He defending champion Italy was in the most difficult group for him Euro 2024 Championship with Spain, who has two titles, as well as the semi-finalist of the World Cup 2022 Croatia and Albania after Saturday’s draw.
Italy, champion of the Euro 2020it seemed that they would have the most complicated options of the group of teams because they were in the lowest pots due to the criteria used by UEFA and this was demonstrated.
Italy eliminated Spain – champions in consecutive editions in 2008 and 2012 – in the semifinal, before winning the title.
The rematch in Germany of the other Euro 2020 semi-final, which was played a year later due to the coronavirus pandemic, was also confirmed. England will face Denmark, whom they beat to reach the final. The group also includes Slovenia and Serbia.
Last year’s World Cup finalist France was placed in the same group as Austria, the Netherlands — which lost twice to France in qualifying — and the winner of the March playoff between Poland, Estonia, Wales and Finland.
Germany, which has had a series of poor results, will begin the tournament at home against Scotland on June 13 at the Bayern Munich stadium. The group also includes Hungary and Switzerland.
Germany has six defeats in 13 friendly matches this year and will not play any competitive duel until the start of the tournament.
Portugal, which continues to be led by Cristiano Ronaldo, was the only team that finished the tie with a perfect record and will now face Turkey, the Czech Republic and the winner of the playoff between Georgia, Luxembourg, Greece and Kazakhstan.
Belgium was in the same group as Romania, Slovakia and whoever wins the playoff between Israel, Iceland, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Ukraine.
Only 21 of the 24 teams that will compete in the tournament have been confirmed and three places were left open in the draw for the eventual winners of the playoff. The 12 teams that will compete in this direct elimination phase will play a one-match semifinal and the final between March 21 and 26.
The draw took place in a seaside concert hall in Hamburg. The event was interrupted for several minutes by inexplicable sounds that were heard on stage and in the international broadcast.
Hamburg is among the 10 cities that will host the 51 matches. The Düsseldorf stadium is the only one not used in the 2006 World Cup.
The final will be on July 14 at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, which also hosted the final in 2006.
FOUNTAIN: AP
