Top ten group stage match tickets to buy for Euro 2024

Every four years, national teams in Europe under UEFA face each other in the European Championship to determine which national football team is the best in the continent.

The last version of the historic tournament was held in 2021, shifted from 2020 due to the COVID-19 virus. Italy were crowned champions after beating England in the final. 

Germany will host this year's event from June 14 to July 14 2024. Twenty-four teams will participate in the showpiece, and we expect a lot of drama from day one when Germany and Scotland kick off the tournament at the Allianz Arena in Munich. 

This year's edition is the 17th edition of the tournament, and there are already several discussions, articles and arguments about which team will become champions after 50 matches in Germany. Defending champions Italy and hosts Germany are two constant names on the lips of many, while star-studded France and England are also seen as likely winners.

Before the first ball is kicked in the tournament, let's examine the teams competing for the grand prize.

Who has qualified?

As mentioned above, of the 53 teams that entered the Euro 2024 qualifiers, 24 progressed past the group stage. So there will be 24 teams competing for the grand prize in Germany.

Germany, the tournament host, qualified for the tournament automatically. Belgium, France, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Turkey, Austria, England, Slovakia, Hungary, Albania, Denmark, Netherlands, Romania, Switzerland, Serbia, Italy, Czech Republic, Georgia, Slovenia, Poland, Ukraine and Croatia joins them. 

Portugal was the only team to qualify with a 100% winning record, while England, France, Hungary, Romania and Belgium did not lose a game during the qualifiers. 

Meanwhile, of the 24 teams listed above, 17 have returned from the previous edition, while Albania, Slovenia, Romania, and Serbia are returning after a long time. Notable absentees include Sweden and Russia, who have been barred from the competition due to their ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

Group Arrangement 

This year's edition will have six groups. Each group has four teams drawn from four UEFA pots or groups. These four pots rank teams according to their strength, form, and quality going into the tournament, ensuring that no group is made up of only tough teams.

However, as usual, the seeding system has not completely eradicated the possibility of top teams ending up in one group. For example, Group B features Italy, Spain, Croatia, and Albania, with the latter being the only team outside the top ten in FIFA's current rankings.

With 36 group-stage games to be played between June 14th and 26th, we look at the top ten matches that Euro 2024 tickets buyers can look forward to.

Germany vs Scotland: June 15–Allianz Arena, Munich 

Germany's curtain raiser against Scotland will undoubtedly be one of the most exciting games of the upcoming European Championship. Both sides enter the tournament with high expectations. 

Germany is the most decorated country in the tournament's history, with three titles. Given their status as hosts, they are one of the favourites to win the trophy this year. However, poor form in their last two major tournaments and a lack of stability in the national team have caused many to wonder if they can win their first Euro title since 1996.

Regardless, we can expect a cracking atmosphere and game when Germany, led by Julian Nagelsmann, takes on Steve Clark's overachieving Scotland team at the 75,000-seater Allianz Arena. Given their impressive showing in the qualifiers, the Tartan Army are considered one of the dark horses of Euro 2024. They finished second in their group, winning five times, including against Spain, and losing just once. 

And so Scotland are certainly one of the best teams to watch, and their game against Germany will be entertaining. 

Georgia vs Turkey: June 18–Westfalenstadion, Dortmund

Georgia will play their first-ever European championship game this summer when they meet Turkey in Dortmund.

Both sides took different paths to qualify for this tournament. Turkey qualified automatically after finishing top of their group ahead of Croatia and Wales. However, Georgia snuck through in the playoffs, beating Luxembourg 2-0 before needing penalties to defeat Greece and qualify for their first major finals in their 15th attempt. This will make their first-ever game in a major final an entertaining game. 

Denmark vs England: June 20–Waldstadion, Frankfurt 

England will begin their quest for their first-ever European Championship with a game against Serbia before taking on fellow Group C favourites Denmark in Frankfurt in the second round. 

The Three Lions and their passionate and often lousy fanbase know how to make football games a spectacle, and we expect them to make their side's clash with Denmark a good watch. Denmark will play Slovenia before meeting England in this game. Both sides are expected to have won their first games, so this match is likely to be a battle that will determine the first team to qualify and finish top of their table.  

Netherlands vs France: June 20–Red Bull Arena Leipzig 

France's battle against the current world number six Netherlands would be another epic battle to watch out for in Euro 2024. Both sides have three European Championship titles between them and will be battling for group supremacy when they meet in Leipzig on June 20, with the winner of this tie likely to finish top of Group D. 

France and Kylian Mbappe are sure favourites to win here, but a well-drilled Dutch team led by the towering Virgil van Dijk might prove too powerful to break down. Either way, we expect a classic game in Leipzig on June 20.

Portugal vs Czech Republic: June 18–Red Bull Arena, Leipzig 

Although little attention is paid to Portugal, the 2016 Euro winners are a team to watch in Germany. Since their disappointing World Cup exit and the sacking of former manager Fernando Santos, Portugal has been in impressive form. They were the only team that won all their qualifier games on the road to Germany and are playing an attractive brand of football under Roberto Martinez. 

This game against the Czech Republic will be their first group match of the tournament. Though they are ranked 33 places higher than the Czech Republic, it certainly won't be a walkover for Cristiano Ronaldo's side.

Spain vs Italy: June 20–Arena Auf Schalke, Gelsenkirchen

Spain and Italy will renew their Euro rivalry in Gelsenkirchen on June 20 when they meet in the last group game of the tournament. Both sides have enjoyed better seasons in their football history but still come into this tournament as one of the strongest teams. 

Although they struggled to qualify for this tournament, Italy is the defending champion, while Spain is still a solid side and is ranked one place above Luciano Spalletti's side in FIFA rankings. They are both favourites to win their group, and their faceoff on June 20 could determine who tops the group or who goes home, depending on the outcome of their previous games.

Spain vs Croatia: June 15–Olympiastadion, Berlin 

Croatia's quest to go the distance in another major tournament begins with a massive game against Spain on June 15. The 2022 World Cup bronze medalists have been put in a complex group alongside Spain and Italy. 

While the favourite tag goes to the other two sides, Croatia can show they mean business in Germany if they beat Spain in their first group game. Winning this game in Berlin would boost their morale and set them on the path of qualifying from this group.

Switzerland vs Germany: June 23–Waldstadion, Frankfurt 

Another top game involving Germany is their game against Switzerland in Round Three. Both sides are ranked 16th (Germany) and 19th (Switzerland) in FIFA rankings, so on paper, they are among the top two sides in Group A. 

But before they meet in Frankfurt, both sides would have faced Scotland and Hungary, making this tie a potential three-pointer that would determine the fate of either side. No matter the outcome of their previous games, this game will hold great entertainment and result value.

Slovenia vs Serbia: June 20–Allianz Arena, Munich 

This game is perhaps the least expected on this list, but it is guaranteed to be a box-office fixture.

Slovenia and Serbia may be in the shadows of England and Denmark in their group, but they will both have something at stake when they meet at the Allianz Arena for this game. Slovenia plays Denmark in their first game, while Serbia plays England. Given the quality of their opponents, both sides are expected to lose those games. 

But should any of them snatch a winner or get a point from their first game, getting three points from this meeting will almost guarantee they qualify for the next stage. As such, this tie will be one to watch. 

Ukraine vs Belgium: June 26, MHPArena, Frankfurt 

While Belgium breezed through the qualifiers, Ukraine needed the playoffs to book their place in Germany. But they have been put in a relatively easy group, with Belgium the only team ranked higher than Ukraine in this group.

As such, Ukraine's last group game in Euro 2024 will be one of the best games of the group stages, considering the possibilities that could abound during the game. The war-torn nation may need a win to win the group or may still need maximum points to guarantee their passage to the next round. Belgium will likely be playing to secure the top spot in the group, making this game one to watch in the group stages.