🏟️ The German national soccer team is set to face some tough opponents in their group stage of the European Championship 2024 – Scotland, Hungary, and Switzerland. 🇺🇬🇭🇲🇨🇭
First up, on June 14 in Munich, is Scotland 🏴. A relatively infrequent rival for the DFB team, with only 17 games under their belts since 1966. But don't be fooled by the limited history – Germany has maintained an impressive victory rate, evidenced by their last 13 duels, in which they've only lost once. The match will be an important starting point for Julian Nagelsmann's national team.
Scotland
👥 Population: 5.54 million 🏆 Greatest successes: 8 World Cup appearances, 3 European Championship appearances
🎯 Coach: Steve Clarke (60) 🌟 Star player: John McGinn (29/Aston Villa) 🏆 Performance in qualifying: Second in Group A behind Spain 👑 FIFA ranking: 36
Scotland's midfield hero, John McGinn, was a standout in qualifying, enabling second place in their group. The German team should be wary of his skills on set pieces, which have been a powerful weapon on the pitch.
Five-time World Cup participant and three-time Euro competitor, Scotland will be ready to face Germany, with a history of resilience and a strong club-level presence.
🏅 Moving on to Hungary 🇭🇺, we encounter a team with a rich World Cup past. Having secured the runner-up title in 1938 and 1954, Hungary arrives at the Euro 2024 championship as a formidable force.
Hungary
👥 Population: 9.71 million 🏆 Greatest successes: World Cup runners-up in 1938, 1954
🎯 Coach: Marco Rossi (59) 🌟 Star player: Dominik Szoboszlai (23/FC Liverpool) 🏆 Performance in qualifying: Winner of Group G ahead of Serbia 👑 FIFA ranking: 27
The last time Germany and Hungary met was during the Euro 2020 final group match, resulting in a thrilling 2-2 tie. Germany will need to be sharp, especially when facing Hungary's star player, Dominik Szoboszlai, who plays for Liverpool FC.
Hungary's past performances in the World Cup should not be underestimated. Their remarkable wins and losses against Germany, like the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland where they lost 3-8 in the preliminary round, followed by a 3-2 victory in the final against Germany's B team, remain unforgettable until this day.
Switzerland 🇨🇭
👥 Population: 8.70 million 🏆 Greatest successes: 12 World Cup appearances, 5 European Championship appearances
🎯 Coach: Murat Yakin (49) 🌟 Star player: Manuel Akanji (28/Manchester City) 🏆 Performance in qualifying: Second in Group I behind Romania 👑 FIFA ranking: 18
Preparing for the final group match against Switzerland in Frankfurt on June 23, Germany will come face to face with a strong European opponent. Although they have met 53 times, they've never encountered each other in a European Championship, with their last duel occurring in the preliminary round of the 1966 World Cup, where Germany emerged victorious by a convincing 5-0.
Switzerland, known for their interplay and movement on the pitch, has shown strong team cohesion, particularly in their 1-1 draw against Scotland.
References:
Sources:
- Scott McTominay's impressive record in Euro 2024 qualifying with seven goals and crucial late winners against Cyprus and Spain.
- Scotland's 1-1 draw against Switzerland during the Euro 2024 group stage, where McTominay scored the equalising goal in the second match.
- Hungary's 1-0 win over Scotland in the Euro 2024 group stage, securing a significant victory.
- Switzerland's strong performance against Scotland, highlighted by Xherdan Shaqiri's stunning strike from the edge of the box.
