Euro 2024 will finally get underway this Friday when hosts Germany face Scotland in Munich in a mouthwatering opening fixture.
Having finalised their squads late last week, all 24 teams have now arrived in Germany to step up their preparations, including England as they look to shake off the disappointment of a 1-0 defeat to Iceland ahead of their opener against Serbia on Sunday evening.
Gareth Southgate received positive news on Tuesday as all 26 of his players took part in training, including England’s biggest fitness concern, Luke Shaw. Scotland also got a left-back boost as Andy Robertson was fit enough to train following his injury scare on Monday.
Injuries have already bitten a number of teams with Netherlands star Frenkie de Jong ruled out of the tournament thanks to an ankle injury and Poland’s talisman Robert Lewandowski not expected to be fit enough to feature in his country’s first match.
Follow all the latest news, injuries and updates ahead of Euro 2024 below:
Double delight for Conor Bradley in Northern Ireland win
Bradley registered his first senior brace with goals in the 16th and 23rd minutes, but Michael O’Neill’s men could not add to that lead despite clear chances for Callum Marshall and Jamal Lewis before half-time.
As expected, Northern Ireland bossed possession but the extra goals O’Neill would no doubt have hoped to see his men conjure against opposition ranked 91 places below them did not materialise after the break.
Mike Jones12 June 2024 17:00
Euro 2024 injuries: Which players are out of this summer’s tournament and who is racing to be fit?
As another packed season of club football comes to an end, the European Championship in Germany is fast approaching.
The summer tournament bookends a busy 2023/24 season and one that has seen repeated calls for action regarding fixture congestion and player welfare.
So it is no surprise that several important players are set to miss Euro 2024 through injury, with many others battling to be fit in time for the opening round of group games, which begins on 14 June.
Mike Jones12 June 2024 16:50
Euro 2024 fitness boost for England as Luke Shaw and John Stones train
Gareth Southgate has been dealing with fitness issues and absentees in the build-up to this summer’s tournament.
But all 26 players trained on Tuesday as England went through their paces for the first time since arriving in Germany the previous night.
Mike Jones12 June 2024 16:30
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann condemns ‘racist’ survey asking if team should have more white players
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann condemned a “racist” survey published by a public broadcaster that asked participants if they would prefer more white players in the national team.
Mike Jones12 June 2024 16:20
Are Germany finally themselves again? Ominous signs show a new team can capture old glories
The source of initial disillusionment was naturally a decade of precipitous decline, after the cathartic lassoing of der vierte Stern in 2014 – “the fourth star” on Germany’s jersey, woven after their World Cup triumph in Brazil.
Mike Jones12 June 2024 16:10
John McGinn’s dancing steals show as Scotland arrive in Germany for Euro 2024
The midfielder took part in a traditional folk dance called a “schuhplattler” as the players arrived in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Steve Clarke’s squad checked into the team hotel before heading off to a local hall, where they met mayor Elisabeth Koch and a typical German band.
Mike Jones12 June 2024 16:00
Which stadiums are hosting Euro 2024 games? Guide to every tournament venue in Germany
Euro 2024 takes place in Germany with a total of 51 matches hosted in 10 cities over 31 days as the continental champions are decided.
Here, the PA news agency looks at each of the tournament venues.
Mike Jones12 June 2024 15:51
Major Tom: Why Germany’s unofficial anthem is poised to be ‘the song of Euro 2024’
Völlig losgelöst von der Erde / Schwebt das Raumschiff, völlig schwerelos.
Completely isolated from Earth / The spaceship floats, totally weightless.
So goes the hook of “Major Tom”, the 1980s hit by German popstar Peter Schilling. And if you haven’t heard it yet, you soon will, because as Germany prepares to host Euro 2024, “Major Tom” is poised to be the song of the tournament.
For German fans, it has already become an unofficial anthem of sorts, with the song back in vogue like so much from the 1980s. But to explain its third life, a quick retrospective is required on its first and second lives.
Mike Jones12 June 2024 15:43
Why Trent Alexander-Arnold is the right answer to England’s biggest Euro 2024 conundrum
If you missed Trent Alexander Arnold’s performance against Bosnia and Herzegovina last week, picture Marco van Basten volleying the skin off a high ball from a tight angle into the far corner; picture Hakim Ziyech swerving a 60-yard pass onto his teammate’s big toe; picture Lionel Messi’s invisible throughball to slice open Netherlands. Alexander-Arnold did all of that in one night.
Even allowing for a little journalistic hyperbole, and noting that he was up against the plucky but toothless Bosnia in a friendly, this felt significant. After years on the fringes of England’s first XI, we saw the effect of Alexander-Arnold as a No 6, an intriguing solution to Gareth Southgate’s conundrum of who to play alongside Declan Rice behind England’s preferred No 10, Jude Bellingham. Reports this week suggest the manager is seriously considering this trio for the first group game, against Serbia on Sunday.
Mike Jones12 June 2024 15:32
Euro 2024 golden boot: Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and the outside contenders in Germany
Europe’s best strikers will be vying for individual honours as well as team success at they aim to top the scoring charts at Euro 2024.
Mike Jones12 June 2024 15:25