Germany, the host of UEFA EURO 2024, probably had the most favorable draw in the group stage and is certainly the favorite to win first place in Group “A” 

Hungary, Switzerland and Scotland are of equal quality. There will be a big fight between them for the remaining two places (best 3^rd placed teams go to the next phase) leading to the round of 16.

Despite the disappointing games in the last two major competitions (EURO 2020, which was played in 2021, and WC 2022), despite the change of coach due to numerous defeats in 2023, the new coach, Julian Nagelsmann, is creating a new team in which Florian Wirz, the young ace from Bayer Leverkusen and certainly the best player this season, has the freedom that Xabi Alonso gave him at the club. He combined his extra quality with the great possibilities of Jamal Musiala. He added the experience of Gundogan, Toni Kroos, Antonio Rudiger, Joshua Kimmich, goalkeeper Ter Stegen, and Neuer, and the role of “joker” is played by the still best scorer of this generation, Thomas Miller.

Advance to the round of 16 should not be a problem for the Germans. 

However, in the last two editions of the UEFA Nations League, they failed to beat either Switzerland or Hungary in two matches, while the Scots are their “customers” in this century. They played Switzerland 1:1 and 3:3, with Hungary 1:1 and lost 0:1. They were in the same group as Marco Rossi’s team at the previous EURO and played 2:2. The Hungarians led twice. After a draw, they finished the competition, while the Germans were second.

Switzerland has become a football constant. In this century, they missed only three competitions: EURO 2000, 2012, and WC 2002. 

Continuous work in the younger categories gives them stability in the national team. Sometimes, they play better, sometimes worse, but rarely disappointing, so coach Murat Yakin can hope for a passage to the round of 16 for EURO 2024 and even a place among the eight, as in England three years ago. The goalkeepers Sommer, Akanji, Schar, Rodriguez, Zakaria, Xhaka, Freuler, Embolo, Okafor, etc., are all top-level players from top-level teams.

Hungary is back on the European map. They have tied three EUROs in a row, and coach Marco Rossi’s plan is to make a breakthrough and reach the quarter-finals. 

They play hard, disciplined, and fast. The tone is set by Dominik Szoboszlai, the most expensive Hungarian player of all time, but Rossi has great confidence in the other 25 players. The recovery of goalkeeper Gulacsi and defense commander Willi Orban means a lot to the team’s stability.

Looking at the results and the quality of the team, Scotland is, on paper, a shade weaker than the competitors and enters as an underdog in the group. 

Meanwhile, selector Steve Clark created a recognizable game without too much beauty, fighting like “Braveheart” was beating the players. Captain Andrew Robertson and Scott McTominy, footballers from Liverpool and Manchester United, are the most famous names, but Kieron Tierney (Sociedad), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Billy Gilmore (Brighton), and Louis Ferguson, who played brilliantly this season in Bologna, are also famous. They have the capacity to surprise.

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