The Euro, the premier continental competition between national teams, kicked off on June 14 with thrilling matches.
Germany, the host nation, routed Scotland in the opener.
Join us to see how the first round of Euro matches played out.
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Index
Euro
Germany 5-1 Scotland
The hosts defeated Scotland comfortably in the inaugural match.
In the first minute, Rüdiger made a beautiful pass to Wirtz, who shot with his left foot, and Gunn made a face save.
In the 10th minute, Kroos switched play to Kimmich, who found Wirtz at the edge of the box. The midfielder struck first-time and opened the scoring for Germany.
In the 18th minute, Gündogan delivered a perfect pass to Havertz in the box. The forward passed to Musiala, who controlled and struck powerfully to score Germany’s second goal.
In the 41st minute, Kimmich crossed into the box, and Gündogan’s header was saved by Gunn. On the rebound, Gündogan was fouled by Porteus, who was sent off after a VAR review. Havertz scored from the penalty, placing it beyond the keeper’s reach.
In the 58th minute, Musiala passed to Gündogan in the box, who miscontrolled, and the ball fell to Füllkrug. He shifted to his right and fired a rocket into the top corner, leaving the keeper no chance. Germany led 4-0.
In the 87th minute, Robertson took a free kick into the box, and after a scramble, Rüdiger scored an own goal, giving Scotland a consolation goal.
In the 90+3rd minute, Emre Can placed a shot from the edge of the box to seal a 5-1 victory.
Photo: Stefan Matzke – sampics/Getty Images
Hungary 1-3 Switzerland
Switzerland played well and beat Hungary, with a stunning late goal from Embolo.
In the 12th minute, Aebischer made a beautiful pass to Duah behind the defense, and the forward calmly scored past the advancing goalkeeper to open the scoring for the Swiss.
In the 20th minute, Vargas stole the ball in defense, drove into the box, and forced a great save from Gulácsi with his shoulder.
In the 45th minute, Aebischer received the ball at the edge of the box, shifted to his right, and curled it in. 2-0 for Switzerland.
In the 65th minute, Szoboszlai crossed for Varga, who appeared behind the defense to head in and reduce the deficit.
In the 74th minute, Schar rose high from a corner and headed just wide.
In the 90+3rd minute, Embolo capitalized on a defensive error and chipped the goalkeeper, sealing a 3-1 victory.
Photo: Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP
Spain 3-0 Croatia
Spain put in a solid performance and decided the match against Croatia in the first half.
In the 7th minute, Lamine Yamal surged down the right and passed to Morata, who shot from outside the box, but Livaković made the save.
Spain opened the scoring in the 28th minute. Fabian Ruiz passed to Morata, who sped into the box and struck with his left foot to score the first goal.
In the 30th minute, Kovačić drove into the box and shot, but Unai Simón saved comfortably.
In the 32nd minute, Fabian Ruiz dribbled past two defenders and scored with a cross-shot. 2-0 for Spain.
In the 40th minute, Majer controlled on the right wing after a pass from Kramaric and crossed for Gvardiol, who shot across the goal. Unai Simón fluffed his clearance, but Budimir couldn’t capitalize.
In the 45+2nd minute, Lamine Yamal crossed, and Carvajal tapped in. It was the right-back’s first goal for Spain.
In the 52nd minute, Pedri set up Yamal, whose placed shot was spectacularly saved by Livaković.
In the 54th minute, Unai Simón made a series of saves from Croatian attempts, denying Stanisic, Budimir, and Kramaric in quick succession.
In the 78th minute, Unai Simón’s mistake in possession led to Petković, who dribbled past the goalkeeper but was fouled by Rodri. Despite the clear chance, Rodri only received a yellow card. Petković’s penalty was saved, and Perišić’s follow-up was ruled out for Croatian encroachment.
Photo: Kacper Pempel/Reuters
Italy 2-1 Albania
Italy came from behind to beat Albania, who scored the fastest goal in Euro history.
Just 23 seconds into the game, Albania took the lead. Dimarco’s throw-in was controlled by Bajrami, who shifted to his right and blasted past Donnarumma.
Italy quickly sought to respond. Chiesa passed to the middle of the box, Scamacca let it run, and Pellegrini’s shot skimmed the post.
In the 11th minute, Pellegrini’s short corner with Dimarco led to a cross for Bastoni, who headed in to level the score.
Italy turned the game around in the 16th minute. Albania’s defense cleared poorly, and Barella struck first-time, leaving the goalkeeper rooted.
In the 33rd minute, Scamacca set up Frattesi, who attempted a chip. Strakosha saved, and the ball hit the post.
In the 59th minute, Scamacca played in Chiesa, who shot with his left foot, narrowly missing the target.
Albania almost equalized in the 90th minute. Djimsiti’s long pass found Manaj, who shot as Donnarumma advanced, but the goalkeeper made the save. Final score, Italy 2-1 Albania.
Photo: Matt McNulty – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Poland 1-2 Netherlands
The Dutch created many chances but won by only one goal against Poland.
In the 2nd minute, Gakpo received on the left, cut inside, and shot low. Szczęsny saved and conceded a corner.
In the 9th minute, Schouten passed to Reijnders, who shot from inside the box, narrowly missing the post.
The Netherlands dominated, but Poland opened the scoring. In the 16th minute, Zieliński’s corner was headed in by Buksa.
In the 20th minute, Veerman’s corner found Van Dijk, whose first-time shot was saved by Szczęsny.
The Netherlands equalized in the 29th minute. Aké regained possession and passed to Gakpo, who advanced centrally and shot, benefiting from a deflection off the defense to beat Szczęsny.
In the 42nd minute, the Dutch combined well, and Aké’s pass found Gakpo near the goal, but he shot over.
In the 54th minute, Gakpo counter-attacked and set up Xavi Simons, who missed the target.
After persistent pressure, the Netherlands took the lead in the 82nd minute. Aké advanced on the left and found Weghorst, who scored with his first touch.
In the 89th minute, Piotrowski’s left-wing run ended with a pass to Świderski, who shot first-time. Verbruggen made an excellent save.
The match ended with a 2-1 victory for the Netherlands.
Photo: Kacper Pempel/Reuters
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark
Slovenia and Denmark played to the only draw of the first round.
In the 16th minute, Šeško’s long-range shot narrowly missed the post.
In the 17th minute, Denmark’s throw-in led to Wind’s flick, and Eriksen finished into the net.
In the 66th minute, Šporar’s cross was headed dangerously by Čerin.
In the 76th minute, Šeško’s long-range effort struck the post.
Slovenia equalized in the 77th minute. Janza capitalized on a cleared corner and shot powerfully from outside the box. The ball deflected off the defense and beat Schmeichel.
The match ended in a draw.
Photo: Angelika Warmuth/Reuters
Serbia 0-1 England
England beat Serbia with a Bellingham goal early in the first half.
In the 13th minute, Walker passed to Saka on the right wing. His cross deflected off a Serbian defender, and Bellingham sprinted in to head home.
In the 25th minute, England’s quick counter-attack saw Walker go one-on-one with the keeper, but he shot wide.
In the 59th minute, Birmančević crossed from the left, targeting Mitrović. Pickford fumbled but secured the ball.
In the 77th minute, Bowen dribbled past his marker and crossed perfectly for Harry Kane. The striker’s powerful header was saved.
England secured a narrow 1-0 victory.
Photo: EPA
Romania 3-0 Ukraine
Romania surprised everyone with a comfortable victory over Ukraine, winning 3-0.
Romania opened the scoring in the 29th minute. Lunin made an error coming out with the ball, Dennis Man regained possession, and passed to Stanciu, who struck it first time from outside the box, finding the top corner with a stunning goal.
In the 38th minute, Man cut in from the right to the left and fired a shot that went narrowly wide of the post.
In the 39th minute, Stanciu almost scored directly from a corner, with the ball hitting the crossbar.
Romania extended their lead with another long-range strike. In the 8th minute, Man clashed with the defense and the ball fell to Marin, who struck it powerfully first time, with the ball going under Lunin’s hands. 2-0 for Romania.
In the 11th minute, Man broke into the box and back-heeled it to Ratiu, who unleashed a powerful shot, but Lunin made the save.
In the 12th minute, Romania took a short corner, Man made a brilliant individual play, and passed to Drăguș, who tapped it into the net.
A great win for Romania, giving them hope for the rest of the Euro.
Photo: Reuters
Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
Belgium and Slovakia produced the only upset of the first round of the Euro.
Belgium had two Lukaku goals disallowed after VAR reviews.
In the 2nd minute, Doku sped forward, broke into the box, and passed to De Bruyne. The midfielder didn’t connect properly, and the ball fell to Lukaku, who shot from close range, but Dúbravka made a great save.
In the 6th minute, Belgium made a mistake in their buildup, Schranz flicked it to Kucka, who shot, and Casteels saved. On the rebound, Schranz put it in the back of the net, scoring the only goal of the match.
In the 20th minute, Dúbravka made an error coming out with the ball, and Trossard shot over the goal.
In the 35th minute, De Bruyne took a corner, Onana headed it, and Dúbravka made the save.
In the 39th minute, Kucka delivered a precise cross, and Haraslín struck it first time. Casteels made a great save and sent it for a corner.
In the 41st minute, Carrasco played a beautiful through ball to Lukaku, who, one-on-one with the goalkeeper, missed a great opportunity.
In the 2nd minute of the second half, Haraslín advanced down the left, cut inside, and curled a shot just wide of the post.
Lukaku had his first goal disallowed in the 11th minute. Trossard crossed into the box, Onana headed it across, and the striker put it in the net, but he was in an offside position, and the goal was ruled out.
In the 17th minute, Doku went to the byline and crossed, Dúbravka intercepted, and the ball fell to Bakayoko, who shot, but the defender cleared it off the line.
In the 41st minute, Openda advanced down the left and crossed for Lukaku to score. The goal was disallowed as VAR spotted a handball by Openda.
Belgium applied intense pressure but couldn’t find the equalizer.
Photo: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters
Austria 0-1 France
France defeated Austria with an own goal by Wöber.
In the 8th minute, Rabiot played in Mbappé on the left, who broke into the box and shot towards the far post. Pentz saved and sent it for a corner.
In the 35th minute, Gregoritsch crossed into the box, Sabitzer laid it off for Baumgartner, who was through on goal. Maignan made a spectacular save with his foot.
France took the lead in the 38th minute. Mbappé made an individual run down the right, went to the byline, and crossed. Wöber accidentally turned it into his own net in a bizarre moment.
In the 10th minute of the second half, the French star missed an incredible chance. Mbappé beat the defender, was one-on-one with the goalkeeper, had time to decide, but shot wide.
In the 22nd minute, Kanté passed to Thuram in the box, who struck a low shot, but Pentz made the save.
In the 38th minute, Camavinga passed to Thuram in the box, but the forward’s weak shot was comfortably saved by Pentz.
In the 53rd minute, Posch crossed into the box, and Schmid headed it just wide.
Final score: France 1-0 Austria.
Photo: REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
Turkey 3-1 Georgia
In a highly entertaining match, Turkey defeated Georgia.
In the 10th minute, Yıldız laid it off for Ayhan, who unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box, and the ball crashed off the post.
In the 11th minute, Mekvabishvili shot from outside the box. The ball deflected off the defense, but Günok recovered and made the save.
In the 25th minute, Kadioglu crossed into the box, the defense cleared it, and Müldür struck it first time, scoring a stunning goal.
Turkey doubled their lead in the 27th minute, but the goal was disallowed as Yıldız was offside, with just the tip of his foot ahead.
Georgia equalized in the 32nd minute. Kochorashvili jinked past his marker and passed to Mikautadze, who struck first time, leveling the score.
Georgia created a brilliant collective move, with Mikautadze shooting from near the penalty spot but missing the target.
Turkey regained the lead in the 20th minute with a beautiful goal from Real Madrid’s prodigy. Arda Güler struck from outside the box with his left foot into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper no chance.
In the 25th minute, Kochorashvili exchanged passes with Mikautadze, went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but hit the crossbar.
Georgia applied intense pressure, but Turkey scored another goal. In the 51st minute, the entire Georgian team, including the goalkeeper, was in the box, and on the counterattack, Aktürkoğlu tapped it into the net.
Turkey won 3-1.
Photo: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters
Portugal 2-1 Czech Republic
In the final match of the first round of the Euro, Portugal came from behind to beat the Czech Republic, with a winning goal in added time.
In the 8th minute, Rafael Leão crossed into the box, and Cristiano Ronaldo headed wide.
In the 24th minute, Bruno Fernandes tried a long-range shot, which was dangerous.
In the 32nd minute, Bruno Fernandes made a beautiful pass to Cristiano Ronaldo, who was one-on-one with the goalkeeper but couldn’t score.
In the 45th minute, Cancelo passed to Cristiano Ronaldo in the box. The forward cut inside to his left and shot, but Staněk made the save.
Portugal was applying heavy pressure, but the Czech Republic opened the scoring in the 17th minute of the second half. Coufal laid it off, and Provod struck first time from outside the box, giving Diogo Costa no chance.
Portugal equalized in the 24th minute. Vitinha crossed into the box, Nuno Mendes headed it back into the middle, and the goalkeeper punched it, but the ball hit Hranáč and went into the net for an own goal.
In the 27th minute, Portugal won the ball high up the pitch, and Bernardo Silva struck it powerfully. The ball hit the goalkeeper’s chest and rebounded.
In the 42nd minute, Cancelo crossed into the box, Cristiano Ronaldo hit the post, and Diogo Jota scored on the rebound. However, CR7 was offside, and the goal was disallowed.
After relentless pressure, Portugal scored the winning goal in the 47th minute. Pedro Neto crossed into the box, the defense failed to clear, and Francisco Conceição scored the winning goal for Portugal.
Photo: EURO2024 / Publicity
Written by Henry Miller.
