National team football is back: Euro 2024 qualifiers kick off in Europe
The Euro 2024, being hosted in Germany, does not require the participation of the host team in the qualifiers. However, other teams are looking for a place in the competition, which is already underway.
Germany prepares for Euro qualifiers with friendlies
Despite not playing the qualifiers, the German team is already preparing for the continental tournament. After the fiasco at the World Cup in Qatar, in which the team was eliminated in the group stage, it will start its preparation with two friendlies: against Peru, on Friday (24th), and Belgium, next Tuesday (28th). ).
New processes in European teams
Meanwhile, other European football powers will take advantage of the qualifiers to start new processes, bringing new faces both in charge and on the pitch. With that, fans can expect many surprises throughout the qualifiers.
Keep an eye on favorite selections
Some teams stand out as favorites in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, such as France, current champions of the tournament, England, runners-up in the last edition, and Spain, which has a strong team. In addition, countries like Italy, Portugal and Belgium should also fight for the title.
Euro qualifiers with guaranteed thrills
With so many quality teams, qualifying for Euro 2024 promises to be exciting, with games played and many surprises. So football fans cannot miss this opportunity to closely follow the European teams in search of qualification for one of the most important tournaments in world football.
Italy start European title defense against England
The Italian team, which failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, is now starting to defend the title of European champion at Euro 2024. And the first challenge will be against England, the team they faced in the final of the last edition of the tournament. .
Roberto Mancini continues as coach of the ‘Azzurra’
Despite not being able to take the team to the World Cup, coach Roberto Mancini is still in charge of the Italian team, bringing some new faces to renew the squad. Among the novelties, the first call-up of Mateo Retegui, a 23-year-old striker born in Argentina and who plays for Club Atlético Tigre, stands out.
Naturalized in the Italian national team
With transition words: Retegui’s call-up to the Italian national team is a demonstration that current football is more open to naturalized players. According to Mancini, the team’s coach, football has changed and nowadays it is common for all teams to have players born in other countries.
Group C favorites Italy and England
Italy and England appear as two of the favorites to guarantee the places in Group C for the Euro 2024. However, Ukraine also promises to give work and will face the English next Sunday. For sure, the group will be very disputed and exciting.
In search of a new European title
With the conquest of the Eurocup in 2021, Italy is looking for another title. England, on the other hand, have never won the competition, but have high expectations and the support of their home fans. The qualifiers will be tight and exciting.
Kylian Mbappe chosen as new France captain
France coach Didier Deschamps needed a new captain following the retirement of national team goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and opted to give the armband to Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappé, 24. So the choice of Deschamps generated controversy in the French press, bothering other experienced players like Antoine Griezmann, who would be thinking about leaving the national team.
Kylian Mbappé, world prominence, holds important titles at PSG and the French national team. At 24, he already has a World Cup, a Euro Cup and several national and international achievements on his resume.
Deschamps decided to award the armband to Mbappé, justifying his choice based on his leadership, on-pitch performance and off-pitch behavior. “Kylian meets all the criteria to take on this additional responsibility,” said the coach.
New responsibilities for secondary players
Due to the international retirements of Raphaël Varane and Karim Benzema, along with the absence of important players due to injury such as Pogba, Nkunku, Lucas Hernandez, Kanté, Dembéle and Kimpembe, Deschamps will need to delegate new responsibilities to players who until then had a secondary role in the first games against Holland and Ireland.
Mike Maignan, from Milan, should be the new starting goalkeeper, while the newcomers to the list are substitute Brice Samba (Lens), defender Jean-Claire Todibo (who replaces the injured Wesley Fofana) and midfielder Khéphren Thuram (Nice), who joins his older brother Marcus on the list, both sons of former right-back Liliam Thuram, world champion in 1998