Guide: European Championship 15 June

» Updated: July 16 2024

» Published: June 14 2024

Guide: European Championship 15 June
Photo: Genre image/Envato Elements

What: Hungary–Switzerland, Group A

When: Saturday 15 June, 15.00.

Where: Rheinenergie Stadium, Cologne.

TV/Radio: TV4, TV4 Play, P4 Radiosporten.

+ Switzerland's luxury problem in defence

Switzerland enters its sixth consecutive European Championship with high hopes. The team has reached the finals in every championship since the World Championship 2014, and this year the team is filled with exciting names. Not least in the defence, where national team captain Murat Yakin will have to make tough choices.

Centre-backs Ricardo Rodriguez, Torino, and Nico Elvedi, Mönchengladbach, will be hard to move. At the same time, Manuel Akanji comes from a Premier League title with Manchester City, and Fabian Schär from a fine season in Newcastle, where he was one of the team's best players.

It remains to be seen who will get the chance, and who will be left out of the starting eleven.

+ Switzerland's anger – training pitch too poor

When Switzerland arrived in Germany and their European Championship base in Stuttgart, they quickly discovered that the pitch was not what they had expected. In fact, it was so poor that the federation chose to submit a formal complaint to Uefa, according to AP.

Uefa then offered the Bundesliga club Stuttgart's training pitch, which is 20 minutes away by car, but Switzerland chose to stay at the current one, as they judged it would be too many trips.

What: Spain–Croatia, Group B

When: Saturday 18 June, 18.00.

Where: Olympiastadion, Berlin.

TV/Radio: SVT, SVT Play, P4 Radiosporten.

+ The Group of Death

Giant Spain opens together with constantly underrated Croatia what has been called the "Group of Death". The other teams are Italy and Albania, making it all very uncertain.

For Spain, the recent championships have been disappointments. After the country's super era between 2008 and 2012, where the team won two European Championships and one World Championship, "La Roja" has been eliminated in the group stage three times, and only reached the semi-finals once.

+ Modrić's last championship?

Luka Modrić has been a constant in the successful Croatian national team that has taken a World Championship silver and a World Championship bronze in the last two attempts. Even in this championship, the Real Madrid midfielder is a given starter.

But the question is if it won't be his last.

The 38-year-old was unsure before this season whether he would continue playing after the season, both at club and national team level. Earlier, he has also hinted that a farewell to the Croatian national team is near.

What: Italy–Albania, Group B

When: Saturday 18 June, 21.00.

Where: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund.

TV/Radio: SVT, SVT Play, P4 Radiosporten.

+ Reigning champions – but unclear status?

Italy is the reigning champion, but despite that, the team is not one of the big favourites. After missing the World Championship in Qatar, and also the World Championship in Russia 2018, it is unclear where the Italian national team stands.

Moreover, the team has been criticized for not having particularly big star status, or routine.

Only five starting players from the European Championship final against England three years ago are in this year's squad. Pillars like Giorgio Chiellini, Marco Verratti, and Ciro Immobile have all either retired or been dropped.

Moreover, the team has a new national team captain since last. Luciano Spalletti will try to repeat the success at Wembley 2021.

+ The group's whipping boy?

When Albania ended up in the "Group of Death" in their second championship ever, many probably felt discouraged.

And yes, the team can be seen as the group's big whipping boy.

But the team and the country have not given up beforehand. For even if it's not big club addresses on all players, there is quality in the squad. Among others, players like Kristjan Asllani, Inter, Armando Broja, Chelsea, and Elseid Hysaj, Lazio, are among the players who will try to take Albania further from the group in a championship for the first time.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Trump's Tariff Threats Stir Anxiety
2 MIN READ

Trump's Tariff Threats Stir Anxiety in Hockey Equipment Industry

Swedish NBA Rookie Pelle Larsson
1 MIN READ

Swedish NBA Rookie Pelle Larsson Shines in Miami's Victory Over Washington

Haaland Sidelined Indefinitely with Foot
1 MIN READ

Haaland Sidelined Indefinitely with Foot Injury, City Hopes for Season Return

Södertälje Takes Lead in Heated
2 MIN READ

Södertälje Takes Lead in Heated Semifinal Against Djurgården

17-Year-Old Ivar Stenberg Propels Frölunda
3 MIN READ

17-Year-Old Ivar Stenberg Propels Frölunda to Semifinals

Celina's Late Header Secures AIK
2 MIN READ

Celina's Late Header Secures AIK Victory at Gamla Ullevi

Swedish Referees Selected for European
1 MIN READ

Swedish Referees Selected for European Championship Duty

Malmö FF Fans Face Charges
1 MIN READ

Malmö FF Fans Face Charges for Nazi Salutes During Match

AI Tool Shields Ski Stars
2 MIN READ

AI Tool Shields Ski Stars from Online Hate with Zero Tolerance

Tai Woffinden Sedated After Surgery
1 MIN READ

Tai Woffinden Sedated After Surgery Following Polish Speedway Crash

Halmstad BK Condemns Fans' Taunts
2 MIN READ

Halmstad BK Condemns Fans' Taunts as Billionaire Withdraws Sponsorship

Bukayo Saka Returns to Boost
2 MIN READ

Bukayo Saka Returns to Boost Arsenal Ahead of Fulham Clash

Sweden Eyes NBA Star Pelle
3 MIN READ

Sweden Eyes NBA Star Pelle Larsson for European Basketball Championship

Tearful Gjert Ingebrigtsen Denies Abuse
3 MIN READ

Tearful Gjert Ingebrigtsen Denies Abuse Allegations in Court

Kempe Scores Twice as Kings
1 MIN READ

Kempe Scores Twice as Kings Set New Home Win Record

Ovetjkin Nears Gretzky's NHL Goal
1 MIN READ

Ovetjkin Nears Gretzky's NHL Goal Record with Latest Score

Niklas Edin's Team Bounces Back
1 MIN READ

Niklas Edin's Team Bounces Back with Two Wins at World Championship

Teenager Jakub Mensik Defeats Djokovic
1 MIN READ

Teenager Jakub Mensik Defeats Djokovic to Claim Miami ATP Title

Min Woo Lee Claims First
1 MIN READ

Min Woo Lee Claims First PGA Tour Victory as Svensson Stumbles

Speedway Champion Tai Woffinden Hospitalized
1 MIN READ

Speedway Champion Tai Woffinden Hospitalized After Serious Crash

Haaland Injured in City's FA
1 MIN READ

Haaland Injured in City's FA Cup Win Over Bournemouth

Omar Faraj Scores Five as
2 MIN READ

Omar Faraj Scores Five as Degerfors Triumphs Over Halmstad

Hammarby's Ellen Wangerheim Joins National
1 MIN READ

Hammarby's Ellen Wangerheim Joins National Team for Nations League

Paulos Abraham Shines as Hammarby
2 MIN READ

Paulos Abraham Shines as Hammarby Dominates IFK Göteborg 4-0

Sweden Triumphs Over Finland to
2 MIN READ

Sweden Triumphs Over Finland to Secure World Championship Gold

Brynäs Advances to Semifinals but
2 MIN READ

Brynäs Advances to Semifinals but Goalkeeper Injury Raises Concerns

Hammarby Dominates Göteborg 4-0 in
2 MIN READ

Hammarby Dominates Göteborg 4-0 in Allsvenskan Opener

Vesna Milivojevic Stuns Malmö FF
1 MIN READ

Vesna Milivojevic Stuns Malmö FF with Two Goals in Home Opener

Elfsborg Eyes Revenge Against Malmö
2 MIN READ

Elfsborg Eyes Revenge Against Malmö FF After Dramatic Comeback

Sweden Claims Sixth Straight Bandy
2 MIN READ

Sweden Claims Sixth Straight Bandy World Championship Gold

Police Mobilize for Hammarby March
1 MIN READ

Police Mobilize for Hammarby March in Stockholm

Spaniard López-Chacarra Triumphs in India
1 MIN READ

Spaniard López-Chacarra Triumphs in India as Dantorp Falls Short

Ebba Andersson Triumphs with Double
2 MIN READ

Ebba Andersson Triumphs with Double Wins in Ski Classics Finale

Swede Max Novak's Ski Pole
1 MIN READ

Swede Max Novak's Ski Pole Breaks, Ending Race Hopes in Norway

Sweden's Curling Champs Stumble in
1 MIN READ

Sweden's Curling Champs Stumble in World Championship Opener

Swedish NBA Rookie Pelle Larsson
1 MIN READ

Swedish NBA Rookie Pelle Larsson Shines with 14 Points in Miami Win

Lucas Raymond Sets New Career
1 MIN READ

Lucas Raymond Sets New Career High in Detroit's Win Over Boston

Andreas Nordebäck Achieves Season's Best
1 MIN READ

Andreas Nordebäck Achieves Season's Best with 17th Place Finish in Boston

Aryna Sabalenka Triumphs Over Pegula
1 MIN READ

Aryna Sabalenka Triumphs Over Pegula to Win Miami WTA Title

Jesper Svensson Shines in Tight
1 MIN READ

Jesper Svensson Shines in Tight PGA Tour Battle in Houston