EURO 2024 match schedule today: The 'group of death' battle, the champion departs

Champions Italy will kick off EURO 2024 with a match against Albania in the opening match of Group B on the evening of June 15 and the early morning of June 16. In this group, former champions Spain will 'fight' Croatia. Hungary and Switzerland will clash in the remaining match of the first match of Group A.

Hungary and Switzerland duel

Hungary and Switzerland will kick off EURO 2024 with a Group A clash in Cologne at 8pm on June 15 (Vietnam time). The two teams were drawn in Group A with hosts Germany and Scotland. And with Germany beating Scotland 5-1 in the opening match of EURO 2024 in Munich, a win would give Hungary and Switzerland a great chance of making it to the round of 16.

Switzerland (left) and Hungary are determined to win 3 points.

AFP

There is a lot of optimism surrounding Hungary's arrival in Germany after failing to get out of the group stage at EURO 2020. Marco Rossi's side are widely tipped to cause a surprise at this year's tournament. Hungary have lost just one of their last 14 internationals since the start of 2023 and are unbeaten throughout qualifying for EURO 2024 (W5 D3) to top their group for the first time. Hungary are preparing for their third successive EURO finals and enjoyed a 3-0 home win over Israel in their warm-up game before arriving in Germany. But they face a Switzerland side that have won six of their last nine meetings. The encounter will be the second time Hungary have faced Switzerland in a major tournament, having won 2-0 in the 1938 World Cup. However, Switzerland have beaten Hungary in their last two internationals. Switzerland endured a challenging EURO 2024 qualifying campaign, managing four wins and five draws from 10 games to finish second in their group behind Romania. Their poor run then put pressure on coach Murat Yakin late last year, but the 49-year-old retained his job and is preparing for his first EURO as a manager. The pressure will continue on Yakin as he looks to take Switzerland to the last 16 and follow in the footsteps of his predecessors who led the team to a memorable quarter-final run at EURO 2020.

The great battle of the 'group of death'

The opening match of Group B at EURO 2024 will take place in Berlin at 11pm on June 15 (Vietnam time) when Spain take on Croatia. Spain have won the EURO three times, reaching the semi-finals of the most recent edition, while Croatia have never made it past the quarter-finals of the tournament. England, France, Germany and Portugal are considered the favourites to win EURO 2024, while Spain, with their talented squad, are still capable of winning the title this summer. La Roja lifted the European Championship trophy in 1964, 2008 and 2012. They reached the semi-finals of EURO 2020, losing to reigning champions Italy on penalties, and the two teams will meet again in Group B this year.

Spain (left) faces a big challenge against Croatia

AFP

Spain will come into this game in strong form, having won their two pre-tournament friendlies, beating Andorra 5-0 and Northern Ireland 5-1. Luis de la Fuente's side will face Italy in their second Group B game, before concluding the group stage with a clash with Albania, so every point will be crucial in this group. Spain have won six of their 10 meetings with Croatia, most recently in the penalty shootout in the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League final. Croatia's most recent win over Spain was also in the UEFA Nations League in November 2018. The two teams also met in the round of 16 of EURO 2020, with Spain winning 5-3 after extra time. Vatreni's recent World Cup record has been impressive, finishing runners-up in 2018 before finishing third at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Croatia's best ever performance at the EUROs was in 1996 and 2008, when they reached the quarter-finals. Zlatko Dalic's side head into this game full of confidence, having won all six of their last six games in all competitions, notably beating Portugal 2-1 in a friendly. Croatia have lost just two of their last 10 games in all competitions, scoring nine goals in their last three.

The champion sets out

Italy begin their title defence against Albania in Group B, which kicks off at 2am on June 16. While the Azzurri are aiming for back-to-back European Championships, their neighbours are simply hoping to get out of the group stage in just their second major tournament appearance. In their 11th European Championship, Italy are aiming to join Germany and Spain in winning the prestigious Henri Delaunay Trophy three times next month in Berlin. They will also be trying to become only the second team to win back-to-back European Championships, after Spain did so in 2008 and 2012. But few experts consider Luciano Spalletti's side to be among the favourites to win the European Championship this time around.

Italian champions set to ease into Albania clash

AFP

The Azzurri arrive in Germany unbeaten in six games, but the spectre of missing out on the last World Cup still lingers in their minds. Since taking over from Roberto Mancini, who led Italy to Euro 2020, last year, Spalletti has guided the Azzurri to six wins and three draws. But a tough task awaits them in Group B, with Spain, Croatia and Albania all likely to cause problems for an injury-plagued side. Indeed, Albania topped their qualifying group in impressive fashion. After losing their opening game against Poland, they went unbeaten in their next seven games to finish above the Czech Republic. However, the Euro 2024 draw has not been kind to them. Nine of the Albania squad play for clubs in Serie A, Italy's top flight. Italian coach Gianni De Biasi even led Albania to EURO 2016, where they won their only major tournament to date, before being eliminated. Current Albania coach Sylvinho – the first Brazilian to lead a team at a EURO since Luiz Felipe Scolari in 2008 – has a big task to avoid an early exit in Germany. Recent friendly victories over Liechtenstein and Azerbaijan will not convince those who doubt that Albania can get through the “group of death” at this year’s EURO.

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