It’s the first full day of football at the 2024 European Championships in Germany, with a hat-trick of fixtures across the country as the tournament enters full swing on Saturday.
Group B has it all going on as Italy meet neighbours Albania following the tasty clash between Spain and Croatia inside Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.
That comes after dark horses Hungary take on Switzerland in their Group A opener, following the opening night contest in Munich between the host nation and Scotland.
*All kick off times in local time.
Group A: Hungary vs Switzerland – 15.00
An intriguing Group A battle at Euro 2024 pits together Hungary and Switzerland in Cologne on Saturday afternoon.
The pair are fighting it out with host nation Germany and scrappy Scotland for a place in the knockout phase, with the pair having contrasting memories of the delayed Euro 2020 competition three years ago.
It was the group of death to end all groups of death for the Hungarians, who struggled manfully to draws against France and Germany, following an opening loss to a Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Portugal on home turf at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.
But they are nonetheless quietly making themselves a fixture on the big stage, with this marking the third time in a row they have qualified as they take advantage of the expanded, 24-nation format.
The Swiss will always carry the memory of their penalty shootout success against neighbours France three years ago in Bucharest.
It was a fitting finale following a dramatic 3-3 draw after extra time in their last 16 contest, before Spain knocked them out of the quarter-finals in the same fashion in St Petersburg four days later.
Coach Murat Yakin has a settled squad coming into this one, led by vastly experienced captain Granit Xhaka.
Group B: Spain vs Croatia – 18.00
Familiar foes Spain and Croatia meet at the fourth consecutive European Championships, with the pair kicking off Euro 2024 Group B in Berlin on Saturday.
And if the pool opener is anything like the 5-3 bonanza in Copenhagen at the delayed Euro 2020 three years ago, we’re in for a cracker.
That was an extra time success for the Spanish in the Round of 16, who went on to beat Switzerland on penalties before suffering the same fate at the semi-final stage at the hands of eventual winners Italy.
The Azzurri are lying in wait in this pool as well, piling on another layer of drama in a fascinating group.
A golden generation is fading for the Croats, meanwhile, with the likes of legendary captain Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic deep into their autumn years and with more than a staggering 300 international caps between them.
Spain come into the tournament seeking a fourth European title and a first under coach Luis de la Fuente, who has risen through the national ranks to take the top job.
Group B: Italy vs Albania – 21.00
Reigning European champions Italy have a point to prove when they make their Euro 2024 entrance against Adriatic neighbours Albania on Saturday night.
The pair meet at the iconic Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund as the Azzurri make their return to tournament football for the first time since their penalty shootout win over England three years ago – and in their own backyard of Wembley Stadium to boot.
Missing out on qualification for the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar was not in the script.
But a humiliating play-off defeat at home to North Macedonia brought a football-mad nation back down to earth with a thud.
And they nearly met the same fate in qualifying for Germany, too, as they finished second behind the revenge-seeking Three Lions in Group C, avoiding another play-off only by edging Ukraine into third place on goal difference.
Notorious for their watertight defence, the Italians will be making do at a tournament without the might of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci at the back for the first time, as coach Luciano Spalletti leads a new generation into battle.
The Albanians have featured on the continental stage just once before, when they bowed out in the group phase of Euro 2016.
But, under the charge of Brazilian coach Sylvinho, they will relish the chance to irritate some of Europe’s leading lights, not least with their own experienced defence that conceded just four times en route to finishing top of Group E in qualifying ahead of the Czech Republic and Poland.
Hungary v Switzerland
Result prediction | Switzerland to win |
Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
HT / FT prediction | draw / Switzerland to win |
Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Anytime Goalscorer prediction | X. Shaqiri(Switzerland) |
Spain v Croatia
Result prediction | Spain to win |
Over/Under prediction | over 2.5 goals |
HT / FT prediction | Spain / Spain to win |
Team to Score prediction | both teams |
Anytime Goalscorer prediction | Álvaro Morata(Spain), I. Perišić(Croatia) |
Italy v Albania
Result prediction | Italy to win |
Over/Under prediction | under 2.5 goals |
HT / FT prediction | Italy / Italy to win |
Team to Score prediction | Italy |
Anytime Goalscorer prediction | n/a |