“We are going on a bike trip in Scotland,” emails David. “We saw how many Scottish fans are in Munich, living it up in the beer gardens. We wonder if anybody will be home when we arrive in Glasgow tomorrow?”
Switzerland fans.
Germany fans.
Scotland fans.
Italy fans.
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“Ran a sweep at work today and only had nine names in the hat at 9am,” emails Matt.
“By 1pm it was full and a new one started. I can safely say Euros Fever started around midday.
“Teams as biscuits? England. Rich Tea. Very strong, but then add the dunk ...”
A quick breakdown of the content on offer over the next month.
We’ve got Euro 2024 team guides, a complete guide to all 622 players, tables, fixtures, live scores, and Golden Boot standings for when the goals start flying in.
All the latest Euro 2024 content can be found here on our tournament homepage.
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Chelsea are unsure over whether to press ahead with a move for Jhon Durán despite being given permission to discuss personal terms with the Aston Villa striker.
Villa are ready to offload the Colombian, who is valued at £40m. Some at Villa are believed to have raised questions about his attitude and Chelsea are conducting background checks. His wage demands are another potential obstacle. Chelsea have been trying to cut their wage bill and have adopted a policy of handing out long and heavily incentivised contracts.
Serbia will take inspiration from Iceland’s recent victory at Wembley as they plot to surprise England on Sunday, according to their centre-forward Dusan Vlahovic.
The meeting in Gelsenkirchen will be Serbia’s first at a European Championship in its current form and the hope is that a talented but mercurial side will step up to the plate. They bowed out after the group stage of the past two World Cups but Vlahovic, who forms part of a potentially formidable attack, sees a blueprint for early success in the way England were tamed a week ago.
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A bit more from England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford below after his media session around lunchtime. Firstly, on arriving at his fourth major tournament with his country:
“It’s always exciting,” Pickford said. “To be my fourth one is quality. I’ve got to keep performing for my club, which I think I have done. It’s a major honour to be in my fourth major tournament.”
How important is John Stones? “With Stonesy, I remember playing in Germany at Under 19 level, and he’s really stepped up [with Manchester City and England] … I’ve known him for a long time. Top player … he’s one of the best centre-backs in the world. For England he’s been quality, the amount of caps he’s got. Top lad as well.”
It will be a new-look England back four. Does that matter? “It doesn’t affect me. A lot of the lads I’ve played with anyway over the last 12 to 18 months … everyone who’s in the squad is there for what they’ve done for their club.”
England kick off against Serbia on Sunday and you can read our team guide for the Three Lions here:
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If only the Germans had a word for “zeitgeist”. There’s a football tournament starting here on Friday, not that you would necessarily know it. Indeed, from a cursory trawl of Thursday’s media what was most striking of all was the absence of Euros-buzz, the suspicion that there are bigger priorities out there. “CANCER,” screamed the front page of Bild, just in case you were thinking of getting too excited. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is missing the opening game to attend the G7 in Italy. The sports bulletins were dominated by the sudden resignation of the Borussia Dortmund coach, Edin Terzic. On the Kicker website, the first Euro 2024 news appeared some way below a story about RB Leipzig’s summer transfer business.
Luka Modric, England’s tormentor-in-chief at the World Cup back in 2018, will be 39 in September. But don’t talk to him about swan songs just yet, writes Aleksandar Holiga:
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Manchester United 'bid for Everton's Branthwaite'
In non-Euro 2024 news Manchester United have reportedly lodged a £45m bid for the Everton defender, Jarrad Branthwaite. He is of course in Germany with the England squad at the moment, so he’s got more than enough on his plate.
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What have Euro 2024’s photographers been up to? Here are some examples:
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Germany fans answered coach Julian Nagelsmann’s call to “please be loud” on Friday, descending on Munich’s medieval Marienplatz in their thousands to party with Scotland supporters before the opening match of Euro 2024.
Scottish fans clad in kilts have dominated the city centre for the last few days, playing bagpipes, chanting and endearing themselves to the locals, but Germany fans emerged to join the excitement.
“I’m really happy it is getting started now and I am sure there will be a great atmosphere. I think there will only be a few times that Germany hosts a tournament like this, so we need to make the absolute most of it,” said Benny Kuehnel, 32, a software developer from Stuttgart.
Jutta Huelsheger, 54, had travelled across Germany to be in the Munich fan zone in the city’s Olympic Park for the opening game. Eight hours ahead of kick off, it was a struggle to find a spot in front of the giant screen by a lake. The fan zone will hold 25,000 spectators. “I wanted to be here for the opening game, to absorb all the atmosphere and joy. I’m amazed at how full it is already,” she said.
Germany have won four World Cups and three European Championships but their stellar tournament reputation has been somewhat tarnished by a series of failures since their 2014 World Cup victory in Brazil. They went out of the next two World Cups in the group stage, their worst showing in more than 80 years, and exited the last Euros in the round of 16. Fans are desperate for a fresh start and some new hope.
Fabian Schroeder, a 33-year-old engineer, strolled through the fan zone in a Germany football shirt and a red kilt. “This is to create good relations,” he said. Asked if he thought Germany might relive the party atmosphere it enjoyed when hosting the 2006 World Cup, he said: “I hope so. The country needs it.”
Mention that tournament and many Germans get misty eyed, recalling a summer of sunshine and an unprecedented freedom to wave their national flags and explore their identity as a relatively newly reunified country. The World Cup triggered a wave of support for the Germany team that reached the semi-finals, with millions packing into the fan zones set up across the country every evening.
Scottish fans praised their German hosts. “We’ve had a really great time so far. The Germans have been very friendly,” said Duncan Kellock, 70, from Alva near Stirling in Scotland. “I don’t think you can find a better host country,” said Robert Holland, a 52-year-old solicitor from Edinburgh. (Reuters)
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From roof top lounges to city meadows, most famously the so-called ‘Fanmeile’ at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, spots which Germans refer to simply as ‘Public Viewing’ have sprung up across the country, from where fans can watch the Euros on large screens. Accompanied by kiosks serving beer and sausages, they are popular during tournaments even with non-football fans, and create an atmosphere which has become one of the major success stories of German football.
Perhaps one of the most unusual Public Viewing spaces though, and attractive to those who might find the regular meeting points a little rowdy, is in Berlin’s Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche, or Memorial Church, on Breitcheid Platz, where musicians will accompany tonight’s opening match - one, on the organ, the other on the piano - in what has been dubbed an ‘Organ Duel’. Sebastian Heindl, representing Germany, will interpret the match as it happens, on the organ, whilst Briton Jack Day, will do the same on the piano, representing Scotland. At half time the musicians will swap instruments.
“Deeper, stormy tones will denote the drama on the pitch, lighter ones dribbling or bell-like tones for the referee’s whistle,” Heindl said in an interview with German media. “If Germany is in possession of the ball, I’ll be playing, if Scotland, Jack will take over”.
The project was inspired by the era of silent film when organists used to accompany film projections, sometimes with a pre-arranged score, sometimes playing off the cuff.
The Memorial Church, under the slogan: “Welcome in Blue”, a reference to its large trademark blue stained glass windows, hopes to be a refuge from the hurly burly of the Euros. “We hope to be a place where fans can come who need a bit of peace and quiet, where they can light a candle, or say a prayer,” a spokesperson said.
Tickets for the Organ Duel are free, and can be reserved here.
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Italy’s linchpin midfielder Nicolò Barella is likely to be available for the champions’ opener at Euro 2024 against Albania tomorrow after recovering from a minor injury, coach Luciano Spalletti said. Asked about Barella’s fitness following a muscle problem, Spalletti said he came through a training session on Thursday with no problems.
“Yesterday he did everything,” the former Napoli coach said, adding the squad were due to hold a light training session on Friday. “We will see what happens today. We will see how he feels,” he said, adding that the medical team had to be careful given Barella’s recent problems. “But as of yesterday evening, everything suggests that he will be available.”
Barella was at the heart of Internazional’s Serie A-winning team last season and was a key member of the Italy side that won Euro 2020. But he missed Italy’s final two friendlies before this year’s tournament with a muscle strain.
Italy will also face Spain and Croatia in what looks like the toughest group , putting pressure on the Azzurri to get all three points in Dortmund.
“The first game is always important and we have two games later that are difficult,” Italy goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Donnarumma said. “A win tomorrow gives us a bit more peace of mind.”
Nearly half of Albania’s squad members play in Italy’s Serie A league, meaning they would be well prepared, Donnarumma added. “They are very, very fast,” he said. “We must be careful not to get stretched because they are very good on the counterattack.” (Reuters)
Pickford: nothing would make England prouder than lifting trophy
Jordan Pickford just had a chat with the media before England’s opener against Serbia.
“[Staying up with Everton was a] big relief … you learn from those experiences … you’ve got lads here, for instance Jude Bellingham, who’s just won the Champions League … those experiences all blend together to help make you successful at a big tournament.”
Was he worried about losing his England place, in view of Everton’s relegation battle? “I always think – how can I get better? It’s always great to have competition. That makes me want to improve. I want to keep pushing forward. They [the other keepers] need to chase me. There’s a lot of good goalkeepers in the setup.
England have kept two clean sheets in seven games: is that a problem? “We’ve played some top opponents. [And Iceland. Ed.] Clean sheets are key to win the tournaments. For us it’s about getting as many clean sheets as we can … we’ll be ready come Sunday.”
Next a question about Harry Kane being the leading scorer in England’s history: “Harry is an example for us to look at,” Pickford says. “Season by season with his club, the goals he scores, and with England … it’s the example we need. In training it’s not nice for a goalkeeper, but it’s playing with the best.”
And next, an inquiry about being one of the leading appearance-makers for England in goal, along with the likes of Peter Shilton and David Seaman: “I just keep focusing on myself. It’s nice to be up there with them sort of legends of goalkeepers … it’s wearing this shirt with pride.”
How does he relax away from training and playing? “The setup is always good. We’ve got a couple of golf courses [at the hotel], and I like my golf.
“Table tennis, dart board … there’s lots of things to do and we all have a bit of craic.
On Sunday’s oppenents Serbia: “[Aleksandar] Mitrovic is a quality player. We’ve got to be ready for them … each individual role, we’ve got to be at our best and keep them at bay.
What about Dusan Vlahovic? “He’s a top player. Two individuals in a very good side. We need to take the game on and get a result.
Who is the best goalie in the world? “There’s a few. [Thibaut] Courtois has had a big injury. Before that I’d say he was the best. You can take your pick. Everyone’s different. Whoever you prefer.”
And finally: a message to the fans? “That’s our goal [winning the trophy]. But you know, the most important thing for us is to win the first game, get out of the group, focus on each game as it comes … it takes a lot of hard work … nothing would make me prouder than lifting that trophy – but you can’t look too far ahead.
“All the England fans will be rooting for us and I know they will have a good few days on the booze. So that’ll be good.”
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Denmark's men refuse pay hike to ensure equal pay
Per Reuters – Denmark’s male footballers have decided to refuse a pay rise for playing for the national team in order to ensure their female counterparts get equal basic pay.
The national football association (DBU) had been looking to ensure equal pay for both teams but players from both squads were not in favour of taking money from the men’s team to pay the women. The players’ union, Spillerforeningen, and the men’s players instead came up with a plan under which the men would refuse a pay rise and both teams would receive the same basic remuneration for appearing for the national side.
A 15 percent decrease in the men’s team insurance coverage also allowed them to upgrade the women’s team coverage by 50 percent as well as that of the Under-21 men’s team by more than 40%. The new four-year agreement with the DBU will come into effect after the European Championship.
“The men’s team chose not to demand any changes in the conditions in their new agreement,” Spillerforeningen’s director Michael Sahl Hansen said in a statement. “It’s an extraordinary step to help improve the conditions of the women’s national teams. So, instead of looking for better conditions for themselves, the players thought about supporting the women’s team. When we presented the plan to the negotiations team, which consisted of Andreas Christensen, Thomas Delaney, Christian Eriksen, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Simon Kjaer and Kasper Schmeichel, they were very happy.”
The plan also includes the players and the DBU jointly creating a clubhouse which can be used by all national teams - men, women and youth teams - as well as a development fund.
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“We will be United In The Heart Of Europe. Over four weeks.” Looking back, it was probably wise of Uefa’s president, Aleksander Ceferin, to add that neat little disclaimer while announcing the official slogan of Euro 2024, to dial back just a touch the tournament’s contractual peace, love and unity obligations.
Three years on from the big unveil in Munich, Uefa is still out there shunning (some) despots, eradicating intolerance everywhere (apart from in major European football leagues) and reaching out with a single trembling hand, Michael Jackson-style, to lower the rifle barrel of the nearest infantryman. But only, let’s be clear on this, for the next four weeks. And we will have to insist everyone promises to keep their eyes fixed on the screen and closes their ears to the noises through the wall.
Six years and 239 qualifying matches in the making, carbon-light but still undeniably grand, Euro 2024 is finally upon us. And it is hard not to drool just a little at the prospect of 51 games in 31 days, a stage for eight of the top-10-ranked teams in the world, to lose yourself in the sound and light of a proper, non-plague-ridden European Championship for the first time since France 2016.
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I’m starting to feel jealous of everyone heading to Munich today. I covered two Scotland matches at last year’s Rugby World Cup, v Tonga in Nice and Romania in Lille. The atmosphere in Nice was fantastic, in particular, and this is going to turn it right up to 11.
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“I am at the game in Munich tonight and we will get pumped but I can attest to the unbelievable atmosphere and great camaraderie between the fans,” emails Colin.
“The big one for me is next week in Cologne. I am 28 years living in Switzerland and have also been Swiss for 21 of them. I suppose I cannae lose. Hopp Schottland!”
Scotland v Switzerland, clearly a crunch encounter in Group A, takes place next Wednesday. Good luck Colin!
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“Just off a flight from London to Munich,” emails Svein. “Packed plane of kilt-bedecked Scots save for a group of six English lads on a stag do, the groom dressed up in a St George’s flag. He tried to start a chant about Scotland going home from the tournament early. He was given short, yet jovial, shrift - and then bought a whisky.”
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Just look at these scenes.
“I’m in the fortunate position of being German by nature, but Scottish by association (and citizenship test), having moved from the Saarland to Glasgow 20 years ago,” emails Ursula.
“Which means my team will definitely win tonight (and my other team will lose at the same time ... it’s going to be emotional).
“I’m planning to celebrate the inevitable in style with Bratwurst, Kartoffelsalat, and (alcohol-free) Erdinger.
“‘Mon the Germans and the Scots!”
