European Championship 2024 Group A Preview
Since they are the host, Germany will kick off the tournament and play their first game against Scotland in Munich. Group A is set to be tough, with Hungary and Switzerland being the other two teams making up the four. Germany did not participate in any qualifiers since it is customary for the host nation to qualify automatically for the tournament.
The three other teams in this group had to fight their way through the qualifiers to make it to the grand stage. Group A is among the tournament's top three most challenging groups, with qualification guaranteed for no team. The Germans have a massive home advantage and have been doing well recently, making them the favourites, but the other teams will have something to say about that.
Group A Teams
Germany
Germany has fallen off considerably since winning the World Cup nearly a decade ago. There have been a series of mixed results for Germany after 2014, but ultimately, they ended in disappointment. Their team has also seen a massive overhaul, with new talent stepping up from various clubs across Europe. The team has been playing well recently and is starting to find its footing as the players have matured from prodigies to mature footballers.
The Germans did not play any qualifiers, but they did play a series of friendlies with inconsistent results. They managed to defeat some very big names but were also on the wrong end of some shock results. Overall, the sentiment remains positive, especially considering the players will be eager to prove themselves to their fans in a tournament they are hosting.
Scotland
Scotland superbly started their qualification campaign with five straight wins, including an impressive home victory against Spain. Performances did tail off slightly, but they still qualified with ease, having to settle for second place in Group A of the qualifiers. The Tartan Army, against the odds, secured direct qualification to the Euros. Had this group been judged a few years ago, almost everyone would have ruled out Scotland’s chances of making it to the knockout stages, but this time, it feels like something might be a little different.
Hungary
Hungary were another nation that performed unexpectedly in the qualifiers but, like Scotland, in a positive way. Considering their recent performances, many fans are hyping Hungary for a strong finish in the tournament. Hungary topped Group G ahead of teams like Serbia and Montenegro, but beyond that, they are also on a run of 14 games unbeaten. They will do well to make it out of the group but, at the same time, are capable of beating anyone.
Switzerland
The Swiss have a rich history of solid performances in international competitions. They come into Group A after finishing second in a qualifier group that many expected them to top. Regardless, they did secure direct qualification and are now up against a strong challenge against the other teams in their initial stage of the competition.
Switzerland has several star players who have been instrumental in their clubs' success, but many would argue that their international team lacks strong chemistry. Recent performances have done very little to encourage the fans, but considering the quality of their squad, nothing should be ruled out.
Biggest Game of Group A
The biggest game of Group A is likely to be the third match when Germany faces Hungary in Stuttgart. Germany are the hot favourite, but if they underperform in a major tournament again, it could open the door for another team to capitalise, and that team could be Hungary. A win for Hungary here would help them go to the knockout stages and put them in a place to top their group.
Influential Players in Group A
- Kai Havertz: While there are several exciting prospects in the German national team, Kai Havertz could turn out to be one of the most influential players in the tournament. Havertz has had a significant resurgence with Arsenal and has improved his form significantly since his Chelsea days.Ironically, Havertz did play as a left-back in one of Germany’s recent games, but that is unlikely to happen again as he is a pure forward who can even play as a striker. Havertz has a very high work rate even when he is not on the ball, and he will be one of the most interesting players to watch for this tournament.
- Granit Xhaka: The former Arsenal man made history with the Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen this season, winning the domestic double. Xabi Alonso made the Swiss Leverkusen’s backbone, and his passing and influence have been key on multiple occasions for the Spaniard. Xhaka will be pivotal in captaining his national side, and fans will be eager to see how he leads his team.
Possible Final Standings
We have to back Germany to top this group. They are playing at home with superior players, so it would be a shock if they could not reach the last 16. The second spot is very much up for grabs and could go to any of the other nations in this group. We are backing Hungary to finish second with recent performances, with Scotland just missing out on third. Switzerland could surprise us, but we have been left feeling underwhelmed by their recent performances.
1. Germany
2. Hungary
3. Scotland
4. Switzerland
List of other Groups Participating in The European Championship of 2024: