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14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 JUNE 2024 NEWS And there is also European Euro 2024: Dark horse or betting favourite, who will conquer Europe? KARL AZZOPARDI looks at the 24- team football tournament that will be held in Germany between 14 June and 14 July WITH the UEFA Champions League final behind us, and Europe's domestic leagues now done, fans did not have to wait long for their next foot- ball fix, as Euro 2024 starts this week. This year's edition will be the 17th in the competition's history, and will start on 14 June in Germany, as 24 teams square up in a bid to take home the biggest prize in European international football. The opening match will be held at the Munich Football Arena as hosts Germany face Scotland. The ultimate Euro- pean football nation will be decided on the final game on the 14 July in Berlin. Other countries may have lesser ambitions, but there is only one debuting team – Georgia – and the 24-team format means every side in- volved, including the debu- tants, go into the event with a fighting chance of at least reaching the last 16. The favourites England have often arrived at major tournaments over the last two decades as worthy contenders, but going in as fa- vourites will be a new feeling for a squad that is packed with attacking talent. The last edition's finalists are experienced campaigners at the European champion- ships, losing out on penalties at home in Wembley against holder Italy. Headlined by Bayern Mu- nich striker Harry Kane, Real Madrid talisman Jude Belling- ham – fresh from achieving Champions League glory – and Manchester City star Phil Foden, no defences at the Eu- ros will be looking forward to facing England. It also looks as if this will be a make-or-break competition for gaffer Gareth Southgate, who despite improving the squad, has no silverware to show for it. The team which eliminated the Three Lions at the Qatar World Cup, France, are also favourites to lift the trophy. Kane and France star Kylian Mbappé have each scored 12 goals in 18 games over the last three major international tournaments, which is a high- er total than any other Euro- pean players have managed across those events. Antoine Griezmann has also impressed at major tourna- ments. Since Euro 2016, he has been directly involved in more goals (18) than any other Eu- ropean player, racking up 11 goals and seven assists from 25 games at the World Cup and Euros. Les Bleus boss Didier De- schamps has a strong track record too. If he lifts the tro- phy at Euro 2024, he will be- come the first person to win the World Cup and European Championship as both a play- er and head coach. Worthy contenders While England are favour- ites, 10 of the 16 previous UE- FA European Championships have been won by either Ger- many, Spain, France or Italy, and so none of those nations can ever be ruled out of the competition. The hosts, Germany, come off the back of a difficult dec- ade in major tournaments since winning the World Cup in 2014, and suffering six friendly losses since their poor campaign in Qatar. Germany will be making a re- cord-extending 14th European Championship appearance, and, on home soil, they are rated as the third-most likely winners. Spain will battle it out with Italy, Croatia and Albania in what looks poised to be a com- petitive Group B. La Roja, the three-time winners, are rated as the most likely side in that pool to contend for glory. Even though they are short of their previous peak, Spain is rarely beaten easily. Their last five knockout matches at major tournaments have all gone to extra-time and four of them were decided by penal- France forward Kylian Mbappe The UEFA European Championship trophy