STARS ALIGN

Euro 2024, which is set to kick off in Germany on Friday, is a mouthwatering prospect, as France and England lead the heavyweight contenders for a tournament that will be played out in some of the continent's finest stadiums across a soccer-mad nation.

The setting for the monthlong competition is important, given the underwhelming nature of the last Euros three years ago, held all over Europe rather than in one country, and played before limited crowds amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

This time, all fans will descend on 10 stadiums in Germany, many with memories of the unforgettable summer of 2006, when the country staged the World Cup.

It is hoped that this competition will be just as memorable, and for the right reasons, despite security concerns amid a tense global climate and complaints about Germany's creaking rail network.

That 2006 World Cup was won by Italy, who comes into this European Championship as title holder, but it also saw Germany emerge again as a force to be reckoned with after years in the doldrums.

Back then, there were question marks about the host nation's chances, yet it reached the semifinals.

There are similar doubts surrounding Julian Nagelsmann's team this time, given the fact that Germany has exited the last two World Cups in the group stage and was ejected from the last Euros by England in the round of 16.

Host's big hopes

However, it would be foolish to talk down the three-time European champion too much given the players at its disposal.

"I have the feeling that we can win the tournament. And most of the time, my intuition is not too bad," said Nagelsmann, whose team plays Scotland in the opening game in Munich.

There are good reasons why France and England are widely seen as the favorites to raise aloft the Henri Delaunay trophy at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on July 14.

France is Europe's top-ranked nation and has featured in the last two World Cup finals. Its team has evolved since the 2022 final in Qatar, but the quality at its disposal, beyond Kylian Mbappe, is fearsome and it is eager to win a first European Championship since 2000.

"Like other nations, we have the potential to maybe go all the way, but we must not already be thinking about the semifinals or a possible final," warned coach Didier Deschamps.

It is not always the case that everything goes to form. But, if it does, and France and England top their groups, they will be on a collision course to meet in the semifinals at Borussia Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park.

England carries the burden of never having won the Euros. Beaten on penalties by Italy in the final last time around, Gareth Southgate's team lost a nail-biting quarterfinal to France at the last World Cup.

The two men who could give them the edge are Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.

Kane will be at home in his surroundings, having just scored 44 goals in his first season for Bayern Munich.

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Munich's Allianz Arena hosts the first semifinal. The other semifinal venue was Bellingham's home ground for the three years he spent at Dortmund, but he comes to the Euros after a fine first campaign at Real Madrid, fresh from winning the Champions League.

"Are we one of those teams who can win? Of course," said Southgate, whose team is in a group with Denmark, Serbia and Slovenia.

"I'd be an idiot if I said no, but if I said yes, that doesn't mean there's not a lot of work ahead of us."

Absent from the last two World Cups, Italy will be in Germany to defend its European crown, despite losing twice to England in qualifying.

The Azzurri are in a group with Spain, semifinalist at the last Euros, but which has not won a major tournament knockout game in 90 minutes since Euro 2012.

There may be as many as eight realistic potential champions, including 2016 winner Portugal, still led by Cristiano Ronaldo, even though he is now 39.

Belgium and the Netherlands will hope to make an impact too, but the Euros — the third edition since expanding to 24 teams — is richer for the presence of less-fancied nations.

Ukraine is a decent team under Serhiy Rebrov, while Albania, under the Brazilian Sylvinho, appears at only its second Euros. Georgia makes its debut in Germany.

Managed by former France defender Willy Sagnol, and led by Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, its opener against Turkiye on June 18 will be worth watching.

AFP