EURO 2024 Group A Preview: Hosts Germany Aim To End 28-Year Wait At Home

Teams: Germany, Hungary, Scotland, Switzerland

Preview: Euro 2024 hosts Germany would like to bounce back from the disappointing shows in the last few years and come up with a strong performance in front of home fans this year to end the 28-year-long wait for a Euro title. The Germans last won the premier European competition in 1996, when the tournament was played in England. With a mix of players from Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, and other top European clubs, Germany will start as favourites to top Group A, which also has the likes of Hungary, Scotland, and Switzerland.

Group A is seen as the Group of Death because all four teams are very capable units. In the last Euro, which was played across multiple venues, Switzerland defeated 2018 FIFA World Cup winners France in the Round of 16, whereas Hungary, despite finishing last in Group F, managed to hold Germany to a 2-2 draw. Each and every match of this group is expected to be a close contest, and one shouldn’t get surprised if Germany make a first-round exit like they have done in the last two FIFA World Cups.

Players to watch out for

Florian Wirtz played a big role in Bayer Leverkusen’s first-ever Bundesliga title win this year, and the 21-year-old midfielder will be a key for Germany as well. His club teammate Granit Xhaka, along with Inter keeper Yann Sommer, will be the main men for the Siwss, and Hungary will have high hopes from Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai. As far as Scots are concerned, Andrew Robertson and Scott McTominay are expected to play a big role.

Favourites to qualify for R16

Germany and Switzerland have played regularly in the Euros and FIFA World Cups and will start the competition as favourites to qualify for the R16 from Group A by finishing in the top two.

Euro 2024 Group A Schedule (IST)

Euro 2024 squads

Germany

Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann, Manuel Neuer, Marc-Andre ter Stegen

Defenders: Waldemar Anton, Benjamin Henrichs, Joshua Kimmich, Robin Koch, Maximilian Mittelstadt, David Raum, Antonio Rudiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah

Midfielders: Robert Andrich, Chris Fuhrich, Pascal Gross, Ilkay Gundogan, Toni Kroos, Jamal Musiala, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Leroy Sane, Florian Wirtz

Forwards: Maximilian Beier, Niclas Fullkrug, Kai Havertz, Thomas Muller, Deniz Undav

Hungary

Goalkeepers: Denes Dibusz, Peter Gulacsi, Peter Szappanos

Defenders: Botond Balogh, Bendeguz Bolla, Endre Botka, Marton Dardai, Attila Fiola, Adam Lang, Willi Orban, Attila Szalai

Midfielders: Mihaly Kata, Milos Kerkez, Laszlo Kleinheisler, Adam Nagy, Zsolt Nagy, Loic Nego, Andras Schafer, Callum Styles, Dominik Szoboszlai

Forwards: Martin Adam, Kevin Csoboth, Daniel Gazdag, Krisztofer Horvath, Roland Sallai, Barnabas Varga

Scotland

Goalkeepers: Zander Clark, Angus Gunn, Liam Kelly

Defenders: Liam Cooper, Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Ross McCrorie, Scott McKenna, Ryan Porteous, Anthony Ralston, Andy Robertson, Greg Taylor, Kieran Tierney

Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Christie, Billy Gilmour, Ryan Jack, Kenny McLean, John McGinn, Callum McGregor, Scott McTominay, Lewis Morgan

Forwards: Che Adams, James Forrest, Lawrence Shankland, Tommy Conway

Switzerland

Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer, Yvon Mvogo, Gregor Kobel

Defenders: Ricardo Rodriguez, Fabian Schar, Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, Silvan Widmer, Cedric Zesigner, Leonidas Stergiou

Midfielders: Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri, Remo Freuler, Denis Zakaria, Michel Aebischer, Fabian Rieder, Ardon Jashari, Vincent Sierro

Forwards: Breel Embolo, Steven Zuber, Ruben Vargas, Renato Steffen, Noah Okafor, Zeki Amdouni, Dan Ndoye, Kwadwo Duah