Euro Cup
The beginning of the UEFA Euro Cup dates to 1960, establishing itself as a leading football competition. This contest, governed by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), showcases the ability of men's national teams from UEFA member nations and unfolds every four years. The opening victors of this prestigious event were the Soviet Union, triumphing over Yugoslavia with a 2–1 scoreline after extra time in Paris. The latest edition in London in 2021 viewed Italy Euro Cup team emerging victorious by securing a 3–2 win over England on penalties. Spain and Germany Euro Cup sides have etched their names as the most successful sides in the UEFA Euro Cup history, each clinching victory three times.
Italy and France both teams share the distinction of winning the competition twice, standing as the only teams to achieve this accomplishment more than once. Equally, Yugoslavia reached the Euro Cup Final twice without securing victory. Greece, Netherlands, and Denmark requested the European Championship on their sole appearances in the final, with Denmark stepping in for Yugoslavia in 1992. Italy’s side currently holds the title of defending champions, having secured victory in the Euro Cup 2020 competition against England Euro Cup side on penalties.
Looking ahead, the 2024 Championship, colloquially known as UEFA Euro 2024 or Euro 2024, marks the 17th edition of this quadrennial global football championship. Organised by UEFA for men's national sides of member associations, the contest is slated to occur from June 14 to July 14, 2024, with Germany serving as the host nation.
This will be the third instance of European Championship matches taking place on German soil, the second time in reunified Germany. The tournament, hosted before by West Germany in 1988, saw four games of the Euro Cup 2020 played in Munich. Notably, it will be the inaugural occurrence of the contest in former East Germany, with Leipzig designated as a host city. This also marks the first time a reunified Germany assumes the role of a solo host nation. The 2024 event signifies a return to the traditional four-year cycle, as the 2020 edition was suspended to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tournament will be played in 10 different cities across Germany: Berlin, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Hanover, Leipzig, Munich, and Stuttgart. The opening match of the UEFA Euro 2024 will be played at the Allianz Arena in Munich. It begins with a group stage where 16 teams are divided into four groups, with the top two from each group progressing to the knockout stage. The tournament follows a single-elimination format in the knockout stage and moves to the Euro Cup Final, which determines the European champion.