UEFA Euro Cup 2024 starts today: This could be Ronaldo’s last continental tournament, Germany is hosting it; Know the top-5 contenders

Euro 2024, the 17th edition of the European Championship, will be played in Germany from today. The Euro is the biggest international football tournament after the FIFA World Cup, in which the top 24 teams of Europe participate. Due to Covid-19, the 2020 Euro was held in the year 2021. However, now Euro 2024 has returned to its 4-year cycle.

Italy is the defending champion of the Euro Cup. The team won the previous tournament by defeating England on penalties in the final of Euro 2020.

The first match of the tournament will be played between hosts Germany and Scotland tonight at 12:30.

This could be Ronaldo’s last Euro
Euro 2024 could be the last continental tournament (Euro) for Portugal and world star player Cristiano Ronaldo. He may be seen for the last time in national colors in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ronaldo, 39, has played in the last five Euros, winning once in 2016. With a record 130 goals in 206 games, Ronaldo is the top goal scorer in international football and will be looking to add to his tally to help his country win a second Euro title.

In 2016, Ronaldo won the Euro Cup with Portugal.

What will be the format of the tournament

Germany-Spain most successful team
Germany and Spain are among the most successful teams in the Euro Cup. Both teams have 3-3 Euro titles. However, Germany last won the tournament in 1996. While Spain became champion in 2012.

These teams are contenders
1. France
There have not been many changes in the FIFA World Cup 2022 finalist team France. The team will enter the Euro Cup with almost the same squad. The team has Kylian Mbappe. Who is one of the best forwards in the world. France will need to overcome the disappointment of being eliminated from the quarter-finals in Euro 2020. The team has super-sub Olivier Giroud. At the same time, Karim Benzema, who was a legendary player of Real Madrid, is also in the team.

Some good players in the French team are injured. Experienced goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and defender Raphael Varane are out of the team.

Kylian Mbappe is the top scorer of FIFA World Cup 2022.

2. England
England, the finalist of last year’s Euro 2017, always field their best squad. The biggest question for England is not of quality, but of mentality. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden are world class players. The team also includes top players from the English Premier League. But when the knockout round begins and France is in front, the team’s victory is not guaranteed.

England’s Euro qualifying journey has been excellent. The team has defeated teams like Italy. Also, the team’s backline is excellent.

Harry Kane is England’s all-time top scorer.

3. Portugal
Portugal have won their qualifying matches with ease, winning 10 out of 10 games, scoring 36 goals and conceding only two. The team has some world-class players like Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo who have the ability to turn matches around in the last minute.

Portugal has the goal-scoring ability, creativity and some great defenders – all of which are essential to win the tournament.

4. Germany
2014 World Cup winners Germany will benefit from home support. However, their performance in 2023 was poor. The team lost five of nine friendly matches and won only two, but the team has improved since the end of the year, especially after beating France and the Netherlands.

They have some great players like Toni Kroos. There are talented players like Ilkay Gundogan, Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz. At the same time, the team also has the best goalkeeper of this decade, Manuel Neuer. This team can do wonders.

Toni Kroos was one of the key players in the 2014 World Cup winning Germany team. He is playing his last international tournament this year.

5. Spain
Spain won three consecutive international titles between 2008 and 2012. Two Euros and a World Cup. However, since then the team has changed a lot and the team’s performance has deteriorated.

In the 2018 World Cup, 2021 Euros and 2022 World Cup, they played better football than Russia, Italy and Morocco respectively, but lost to everyone on penalties. But then in 2023, they won the UEFA Nations League by beating Croatia, which gave them success and confidence.

Spain may not have much in common with the other teams, but they do have players like Dani Carvalhal, Nico Williams, Pedri, and Dani Olmo who can turn matches around on the international stage. However, they probably have the most room for things to go wrong early on.

Defender Dani Carvajal is one of the most experienced players in the Spanish team. Carvajal recently played a key role in helping Real Madrid win the UCL.