As we round up the year, international football is taking center stage once again with upcoming events such as the CAF African Cup of Nations, as well as the Summer Olympics Football Tournament both taking place next year.
The UEFA Euro tournament in particular has generated a lot of buzz with the qualifiers producing a number of fantastic matches, as well as superb individual performances. Whilst various teams are still slugging it out in the qualifiers to see who can secure a room in Germany for the 17th edition of the European Championship, eight teams have been guaranteed their spots already.
By virtue of being the host country for the event, Germany’s place in the prestigious tournament was booked a long time ago. The three-time champions will be looking forward to bag their fourth European trophy next summer. The German side will feature the talented Bayern Munich starlet Jamal Musiala, who could play a pivotal role in Germany’s 2024 campaign under the tutelage of new team boss Julian Nagelsmann.
Sealing their qualification with a 3-2 victory over the Austrians, Belgium will be making their seventh appearance at the European Championship. With a pool of accomplished footballing talents including Kevin DeBruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Jan Vertonghen, the Belgian side will be looking forward to possibly securing their first-ever European title.
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe and his comrades have been relentless in the qualifiers, steamrolling their way through six matches and crushing every single one of their opponents this far. Didier Deschamps is still at the helm of affairs, and with his poise and talent which manifests in the tactical grace of Les Blues, he would be hoping to steer his team to their first European Championship in nearly three decades.
In a similar vein to the French team, Portugal have also proven themselves as a serious force to be reckoned with in the build-up to the main tournament, racking up an impressive goal difference of 25. Cristiano Ronaldo will be making his return to what could very well be his final major international tournament, hoping to end his international football career on a strong note.
Austria managed to make it through to the Round of 16 during their last campaign in 2020 before getting knocked out by eventual winners Italy. This time around, they would be looking forward to rewriting their journey. A penalty spot kick from Marcel Sabitzer against Azerbaijan earned Austria a third straight trip to the European Championship. Under the management of Relf Rangnick, the Austrians might be able to take themselves a step further than the previous time.
Boasting a young and talented squad, the Spanish side will be looking to pose some serious challenges to the other teams in the tournament. Spain secured their passage to the Euros 2024 with a 1-0 victory over Norway. With the perfect balance of youth and experience, La Roja are considered one of the favourites to win the Championship next year.
Despite an impressive qualifier run that exceeded expectations, underdogs Turkey didn’t get very far in their last outing at the Euros. This time, they will be seeking to prove a point to the other teams, that they can compete. One of the most intriguing players available to Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella is midfielder Arda Guler, 18, who joined Real Madrid from Fenerbahce in the summer.
For the first time since 1996, Scotland will compete in back-to-back European Championships after winning five of its six qualifiers, including a 2-0 victory over Spain in March. The Tartan Army’s tickets to Germany were also secured by the Spaniard’s victory in Oslo, and with Steve Clarke bringing out the best in players like Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Andrew Robertson, and Kieran Tierney, supporters will be cautiously optimistic.
