After the opening game, where Germany secured a commanding 5-1 victory over Scotland on Friday, the Euro 2024 enters its second day on Saturday. The second game of Group A between Hungary and Switzerland will already provide an indicator of the group’s underdog behind the host nation. This will be followed by the kickoff of Group B, known as the infamous “group of death,” featuring Spain, the European champion of 2008 and 2012; Croatia, a semi-finalist in the last two World Cups; and Italy, the reigning European champion, who missed the last two World Cups and is under pressure at the Euro (times in Beirut).
16:00: Hungary vs. Switzerland
This Hungary-Switzerland match in Cologne might not promise a spectacle at first glance. However, it pits two interesting teams against each other: Switzerland, who knocked out France in the last Euro, may not play flamboyant football, but they are consistently solid and always tough to beat. Didier Deschamps can attest to that.
19:00: Spain vs. Croatia
Undoubtedly the highlight of this first day of the Euro, and a match not to be missed under any circumstances. In a very tough group, where poor Albania is likely to struggle, every misstep will be fatal. Among Spain, Croatia, and Italy, it’s impossible to single out a clear favorite, and the winner of this first clash at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium will have taken a significant step towards qualification.
Spain, a semi-finalist in 2021, comes in with a team lacking major stars but featuring a mix of experience (Carvajal, Nacho, Rodri, Oyarzabal) and youth (Pedri, Yamal, Nico Williams), crafted by Luis de La Fuente, who revived La Roja after the 2022 World Cup failure (round of 16). Croatia, on the other hand, retains its usual core with Gvardiol, Kovacic, Brozovic, and Modric, continuing to play their perpetual role as underdogs at full strength.
22:00: Italy vs. Albania
What is Italy truly worth? Unqualified for the last two World Cups (2018 and 2022), victorious in between at the Euro (2021), and ultimately qualifying for this edition at the last day of the qualifiers after a 0-0 draw against Ukraine: that’s the Squadra Azzurra’s record over the past six years. Although they come in as the titleholders, they offer few guarantees.
The team consists of immensely talented players in every line (Donnarumma in goal, Di Lorenzo or Bastoni in defense, Barella in midfield, Chiesa and Scamacca in attack), but so far, they haven’t found the right formula to reclaim their status under Luciano Spalletti’s leadership.
