Euro 2024 is in full swing, with matchday 2 approaching fast. The German Football Weekly will be covering the tournament & providing some matchday previews for all 51 fixtures! Let the summer spectacle continue…

Croatia v Albania

Only 5 days after the tournament started, the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg may already host the first must-win fixture in the European Championships. Croatia and Albania kick off gameweek 2 after failing to pick up a point in their opening fixtures. For Croatia, the scoreline and manner of defeat were particularly infuriating. Despite dominating possession, and taking more shots than their opponents, Croatia were dispatched 3:0 by a far more convincing Spanish outfit. 

A big theme was the lack of attacking edge in the final third. Croatia created chances en masse but failed to tuck away any of the opportunities. The lack of a convincing number nine since the retirement of Mario Mandžukić continues to plague this side. Andrej Kramarić, for example, has a history of excellence in the Bundesliga, but he has struggled to replicate this quality on the international stage consistently. The TSG Hoffenheim forward has scored just 3 goals across 22 World Cup and European Championship matches. 

Beyond just the lack of finishing quality, Zlatko Dalić must also find a way to inject speed and dynamism back into this aging roster. One option would be to bring the marauding fullback Borna Sosa into the starting lineup and drag Joško Gvardiol back into his preferred centerback role. Sosa has endured a difficult debut campaign with Ajax - Sosa started just 11 league matches all season - but his qualities as an attacking wingback shouldn’t be underestimated. Across his 3 full seasons in the Bundesliga, Sosa contributed 25 assists and regularly counted amongst the most dangerous fullbacks in the division. 

While Albania also suffered defeat in the first match of EURO 2024, the Kuqezinjtë could nevertheless make history with the fastest goal in EURO history. A sloppy throw-in by Italy was pounced on by Nedim Bajrami to give Albania the lead after only 22-seconds. While Italy managed to turn the game on its head by the 16th minute, Albania nevertheless gave a good account of themselves to narrowly bow out without a point. 

Though Premier League forward Armando Broja may be the most recognizable name in the squad, Albania’s success is built around a strong defensive foundation. Since the appointment of manager Sylvinho in January 2023, Albania have conceded just 11 goals in 14 games.

Prediction: Croatia Win

Germany v Hungary

Following an uninspiring 0:0 draw with Ukraine, and an unconvincing 2:1 win over Greece, Germany’s pre-tournament form left many fans wincing at the prospect of an embarrassing defeat to kick off this tournament on home soil. Yet, the German’s bucked the negative trend, running out with a commanding 5:1 victory over Scotland. It is the largest margin of victory a side has ever managed in the opening match of a European Championship, and it gives Germany an almost guaranteed place in the knockout stages with 3 points and a sensational goal difference. 

Just as important as the victory was the morale-boosting effect it had for multiple members of the squad. The youthful duo of Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala both managed to get on the scoresheet, with the latter particularly impressive as he picked up the first man of the match award of the tournament. Alongside his goal, Musiala managed a game-high 5 successful dribbles. 

If Musiala and Wirtz lit up the final third, it was the senior Toni Kroos who facilitated Germany’s pathway into these dangerous zones. It is still mind-boggling to think that Toni Kroos has less than a month of professional football left. The 34-year-old is truly bowing out at the peak of his powers. Germany’s midfield anchor showed his otherworldly qualities again on Friday, instigating the opener with a trademark long-range pass, before leaving the pitch after 80 minutes having completed 101 of 102 attempted passes!

In dire need of 3 points are Germany’s upcoming opponents, Hungary. The highly-rated Hungarian defense looked amateurish in their opening defeat to Switzerland. Individual errors and tactical mishaps saw Switzerland storm out to an early 2:0 lead, and ultimately finish the match with a 3:1 victory. 

Dominik Szoboszlai added yet another assist for the national team after playing a delectable cross onto the head of Barnabás Varga, but more will be needed of the Liverpool ace if Hungary are to stage an upset against the Germans on Wednesday. Fortunately, Hungary knows their way around a fixture against the tournament hosts. The Magyarok have not lost any of their last 3 matches against Die Mannschaft, with Marco Rossi’s side even triumphing on German soil in a Nations League fixture in 2022 (0:1). 

Prediction: Draw

Scotland v Switzerland

Off the pitch, Scotland have been one of the positive surprises at the European Championships. An estimated 100,000 Scottish fans have made the trip to Germany, cheering on their side in the stadium, partying in the streets, and generally taking well to the festival atmosphere. On the field, however, things have looked less glamorous. 

After a superb qualification campaign hopes were high for Scotland to register their first victory at a European Championship, but the Tartan Army were easily thrashed by the far-superior German outfit. It was hard not to question the tactical naivety of manager Steve Clarke. Scotland gave acres of space for Toni Kroos to dictate the tempo, regularly allowed Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz to dominate the half-spaces, and kept the versatile Billy Gilmour on the bench until late in the second half when the match was already long decided. Clarke, and Scotland, clearly are a good match after beating the likes of Spain, Norway, and Georgia throughout qualification, but they will need to quickly learn from their matchday 1 mauling if they want to stand a chance of progressing through the groupstage at Euro 2024. 

A side whose chances of venturing into the knockout stage look firmly intact is Switzerland. Unlike Scotland, Switzerland entered the European Championships with uncertainty reigning supreme. The Swiss national team lacked a convincing number nine, and manager Murat Yakin was regularly berated for tactical ineptitude. However, after just 90 minutes, both concerns seem to be quelled. 

At center-forward, the previously unknown Kwadwo Duah has played himself into prominence. The London-born number nine only made his international debut 12 days ago in a friendly against Estonia, yet his selection has proven a master-stroke. Duah was responsible for Switzerland’s opening goal against Hungary on matchday 1. 

Murat Yakin’s controversial selection of Michel Aebischer in the starting eleven was also an elite tactical ploy. A central midfielder for FC Bologna, Yakin opted to play Aebischer as a left-side wingback in Switzerland’s 3-4-2-1. The move worked a charm, as Aebischer not only set up Duah’s opener but also scored the 2:0 with a superb long-range strike. Perhaps the only question mark remaining after 90 minutes is why Granit Xhaka was awarded the man of the match award rather than one of the influential goalscorers!

Prediction: Switzerland Win

Slovenia v Serbia

Slovenia have still never won a match at the European Championships, but the Slavic state can be happy with their EURO 2024 debut. They played out a 1:1 draw against a talented Denmark. Slovenia rode their luck throughout moments, but they were also well worth a point with a combative and industrious performance. 

Whereas other sides have looked to combine their way up-field, Slovenia embraced their underdog status with a direct and uncompromising route one strategy. No nation completed more long-range passes on matchday 1, with the Slovenian defense often looking to spring the dynamic Andraž Šporar and Petar Stojanović behind the Danish backline. The ploy never resulted in a goal, but it was a constant threat and it put an aging Danish backline into uncomfortable zones. 

Instead, the late equalizer came from Slovenia’s second attacking ploy; long range finishing. 6 of Slovenia’s 11 shots were attempts from outside the penalty area, with the talented Benjamin Šeško often dropping off the backline to pick up loose balls and unleash his elite ball striking ability. Late in the first half he narrowly missed the left corner, and in the second half, he came close to scoring the goal of the tournament with a smashing strike that rattled the woodwork. Fortunately, teammate Erik Janza could go one better, scoring from 25 meters after a clearance landed at his feet. Janza is not a regular goal outlet for Slovenia, but Denmark are clearly a favorite of his. The Górnik Zabrze fullback has scored 2 of his 3 international goals against the Scandinavian outfit. 

A short trip across Croatia leads Slovenia to their next opponent; Serbia. Serbia failed to win their opening match of an international tournament for the 4th competition in a row, but particularly in the second half, there were hopeful signs to take from the defeat. 

After a pretty lifeless first half against title-favorites England, Dragan Stojković made two changes at halftime. The Serbian manager brought on the technically accomplished Ivan Ilić for Nemanja Gudelj and switched from a 5-4-1 defensive shape to a more advanced 3-3-2-2. This allowed Serbia to press England higher up the pitch while taking the measured risk of going man-for-man in the backline. This decision worked wonders, with Serbia having an equal hand in possession, and contributing twice as many shots as their British opposition. Against an inferior Slovenian outfit, Dragan Stojković will hopefully utilize this brave approach from the start. 

Prediction: Serbia Win

Denmark v England

To round out group C, Denmark host England on Thursday evening in the Volksparkstadion in Frankfurt. Denmark were in the lead, and in control, of their fixture versus Slovenia for almost the entire match, but a 1:1 draw leaves them in an uncomfortable position with group favorites England next. 

The biggest issue was undoubtedly the lack of attacking prowess, an issue that looked likely to plague the side when the squads were announced ahead of the tournament. Denmark averaged less than 2 goals-per-game throughout qualification, and an elite number nine has been missing from the talent pool for over a decade. Rasmus Højlund and Jonas Wind both have the potential for goalscoring excellence, however the former is still in development, while the latter is wildly inconsistent. 

Without a center-forward to rely on, it was the veteran Christian Eriksen who took matters into his own hands. The Manchester United midfielder scored Denmark’s opener after 17 minutes. It was arguably the moment of the matchday. Whereas last tournament’s gameweek 1 was overshadowed by Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest, this tournament, he is in the headlines for bringing fans off their seats in potentially his final outing in international football.

Tasked with keeping the 32-year-old silent are England. Gareth Southgate’s winning streak in the opening match of an international tournament remains intact, however, his perfect record was under threat with an extremely passive match against Serbia. After Jude Bellingham took the lead after 13 minutes, England seemed to stop playing, reverting into a pragmatic defensive shell that got the absolute minimum out of the individual talent at their disposal. For a side so rich in talent, it was frankly sickening to see England reverting to long punts up the field in the hopes of sustaining their narrow lead against an inferior Serbian outfit. 

A player who looked particularly disconnected was England’s captain, Harry Kane. Across 90 minutes, The FC Bayern forward took just 24 touches and registered 1 shot. The 30-year-old is a powerful force in international football, but the European Championships have always proven a difficult competition for England’s record goalscorer. Across 12 matches, Kane has scored just 4 goals, with the former Tottenham-ace now failing to score across 7 groupstage matches in Europe’s premier international competition. 

Prediction: Draw

Spain v Italy

Germany registered the biggest victory on matchday 1 with a 5:1 thumping of Scotland, but Spain were arguably the most convincing side with a statement 3:0 victory over Croatia. Luis de la Fuente showed the new image of Spanish football: limited possession, electric forwards, and dynamism in attack. It’s a 180° change from the Tiki-Taka football that Spain prioritized throughout the last decade, but it's a system that can bear fruit at the highest level. 

The key for this tactical construct are Spain’s two electric wingers, Nico Williams, and Lamine Yamal. The latter was particularly influential on Saturday, not only becoming the youngest player to ever feature at a European Championship but also dazzling the crowds with his silky skill and trickery. The 16-year-old (!) registered the most shots on the pitch and completed the second-most dribbles behind Croatia’s Mateo Kovačić. His direct opponent, Joško Gvardiol, counts amongst the most talented defenders in world football, yet on gameweek 1, the teenage Spaniard made the Manchester City defender look amateurish. 

It would be impossible to mention Spain’s victory without a nod towards the man-of-the-match, Fabián Ruiz. The 28-year-old played a delicious through-ball to Álvaro Morata to set up the opener, and only 4 minutes later, he carved his way through a maze of Croatian tackles to score the 2:0. In the past, Fabián Ruiz has struggled to live up to his hype in the Spanish national team. The 28-year-old had never started a tournament fixture for Spain ahead of Saturday’s encounter, but with Gavi’s omission, and Sergio Busquets’ international retirement, there is a spot available in midfield for Ruiz to finally shine on the big stage. 

Like Spain, Italy also have a side filled with talent making their first steps at an international tournament. One of these is Riccardo Calafiori, an imposing 22-year-old centerback who announced himself on the world stage on Saturday with a commanding performance in defense. The Bologna centerback made a game-high 3 interceptions and formed a commanding wall with the 25-year-old Alessandro Bastoni.  With Gianluca Scamacca failing to score in his 4th international fixture in a row, The Azzurri continue to have question marks going forward. But, the backline is nevertheless a major positive in Italy’s hopes of retaining their title. 

Prediction: Italy Win

Slovakia v Ukraine

Slovakia entered the European Championships as one of the heavy underdogs, yet the Slavik state ended matchday 1 with one of the biggest victories in the nation’s history. A 1:0 triumph over Belgium sent Slovakia onto cloud nine on Monday, leaving them in pole position to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time since 2016. 

The key goal scorer was 30-year-old Ivan Schranz, capitalizing on a catastrophic Belgian mishap to fire home from close range. Schranz is not a routine goal outlet - the winger has scored just 4 goals across 24 national team caps - but his 7th-minute strike will put him down in Slovakian folklore. 

Slovakia’s upcoming opponents, Ukraine, also endured a memorable fixture… for all the wrong reasons. Many pundits' dark horses for the title were picked apart by a combative and disciplined Romanian outfit. The star-studded front line of Mykhailo Mudryk, Artem Dovbyk, and Viktor Tsygankov barely had a sniff of goal, and at the back, Ukraine seemed to fold under the pressure from their Transylvanian opponents. 

Big question marks are being pointed at manager Serhiy Rebrov. The 50-year-old has won only 7 of his 14 matches in charge and made some controversial choices in his starting eleven that probably didn’t play in his favor. Anatoliy Trubin was dropped in net despite playing a superb season with Benfica, while Oleksandr Zinchenko was played at leftback, leaving the equally impressive Vitaliy Mykolenko on the bench for the full 90 minutes. Expect to see some pretty significant changes ahead of Friday afternoon’s all-important second chance. 

Prediction: Ukraine Win

Poland v Austria

With Arkadiusz Milik ruled out of the tournament, and Robert Lewandowski injured for the opening fixture, Poland entered their matchday 1 encounter versus Holland with what looked like an insurmountable hurdle to climb. Yet, the Polish outfit shocked the West-European favorites with a 16th-minute lead through Lewandowski deputee Adam Buksa. That the Netherlands ultimately found their way back into the match to grind out a 2:1 win will leave Poland bitter, but it was a sign of promise for a nation many had written off before the tournament had started. 

Robert Lewandowski is expected to return for the fixture versus Austria on Friday, but arguably more important is the form that goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny brings to the pitch. The 34-year-old is often criticized in Poland for his outspoken nature and off-field antics, but the Juventus goalkeeper is a world-class shot-stopper who proved again against the Netherlands why he has been at the top of the game for almost a decade. Szczesny made 6 saves in 90 minutes, regularly standing on his head to keep Poland in the contest. 

Netherlands v France

With the midfield trio of Frenkie de Jong, Marten de Roon, and Teun Koopmeiners falling out ahead of the tournament, there were major question marks about how Ronald Koeman would find a way to dominate the game in the all-important midfield third. However, the skeptics have been answered. Tijjani Reijnders, Jerdy Schouten, and Joey Vermaan formed a dynamic central axis that dictated possession and provided supreme mobility. With 66% possession, only Germany and Italy dominated their fixture to a greater degree after the first set of fixtures at EURO 2024. 

If possession dominance didn’t prove an issue, then it was the lack of efficiency in front of the goal that could have Ronald Koeman worried. Holland took 21 shots against Poland, yet needed until the 83rd minute to finally take the 2:1 lead. Memphis Depay looked selfish and undisciplined in the center-forward role, while Xavi Simons continued his difficult run of form in the Dutch national team. The 21-year-old was exceptional for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga this season - 8 goals & 13 assists - but his national team career has yet to really take off. Across 14 international appearances, Simons has registered just 1 goal and 0 assists. 

With the dynamic duo of Depay and Simons failing to work, it was the ‘big-man’ Wout Weghorst who bailed the Netherlands out from the bench. The towering 1,97m forward is not the most elegant striker in world football, but his record for the national team can not be overlooked. Weghorst has scored 11 goals in 33 national team appearances, with the TSG Hoffenheim striker managing to score at least once in all 3 international tournaments he has appeared in with his country. 

Belgium v Romania

To round off matchday 2 in the Euros, Belgium host Romania at the Rhein-Energie Stadion in Köln. Less than 100 kilometers from the closest border, the match should provide a home atmosphere for The Red Devils who desperately need a victory to kick-start their EUROS campaign. Belgium endured the biggest shock of matchday 1, losing 1:0 to a Slovakian outfit that was pipped by many to finish rock-bottom of Group E. 

Belgium were careless and unimaginative, leading to a tepid football that played into the hands of a fairly limited Slovakian outfit. The backline desperately lacked the ball progression of an injured Jan Vertonghen, while the midfield duo of Orel Mangala and Amadou Onana looked vastly out of their depth when tasked with transporting the ball up-field. Even the so-creative Jérémy Doku had a nightmarish evening. The 22-year-old Premier League winner gifted Slovakia the opener with careless play in his own defensive third, and then Doku failed to find an attacking breakthrough throughout the remaining 77 minutes he was on the pitch. 

Whereas Belgium enter gameweek 2 with sizable baggage, their upcoming opponents, Romania, are enlivened after trouncing Ukraine by 3 goals to nil. It is the biggest win Romania have ever managed at an international tournament and their first victory at a European Championship since 2000. Though the scoreline potentially speaks of a dominant affair, it was an unprecedented level of efficiency that led to Romania’s historic victory. 

Edward Iordănescu’s side held just 29% possession but were absolutely ruthless when presented with possession. The Transylvanian outfit counter-attacked with efficiency and were never afraid to shoot from range. In fact, 6 of Romania’s 9 shots came from outside the box, with two of these resulting in Romanian goals!

Despite the impressive victory, Belgium are still the bookmaker’s favorite to win this fixture, but Romania can take additional confidence from their recent record against The Red Devils. Romania have lost just 1 of the last 5 encounters between these two sides, with 3 of these fixtures even ending in a Romanian victory! 

Prediction: Belgium Win