Euro 2024: Confirmed teams, favourites and everything you need to know about this summer's tournament in Germany

Euro 2024 is now officially underway, with 24 nations dreaming of glory in Germany this summer.

The 17th edition of UEFA's continental championship takes place over exactly a month, from June 14 to July 14, with Italy heading into the tournament hoping to defend the trophy they won at Wembley three years ago.

While West Germany hosted the 1988 event, it will be the first time Germany has staged the Euros since reunification, and the 2006 World Cup hosts are renowned for putting on a great show.

Here, Sports Mole explains how Europe's festival of football will work - and which nations are among the favourites to prevail on 14 July.

When did the tournament kick off?

Friday, June 14 saw the first ball kicked in a month-long event, and as the host nation, Germany are seeded in Group A so played the opening match.

With the eyes of the world upon them, Scotland's Tartan Army marched on Munich for the opening game of Euro 2024, only to be hammered 5-1 at the start of a group stage that runs until 26 June.

Then, following two rest days, the 16-team knockout stage begins on 29 June, with that last-16 phase running until July 2.

The first fallow days of the tournament then follow, with no games scheduled on July 3 or fourth, before the quarter-finals take place on July 6 and 7.

The semi-finals are booked in for July 9 and 10, before the champions of Europe will be crowned in Berlin on July 14.

How will it work?

As in the delayed 2020 finals, the top two in each of six groups will proceed to the knockout phase this summer, along with the four best third-placed finishers.

Specific match-ups in the last 16 will depend on which third-placed teams qualify, so mapping out a potential route to the final can prove tricky.

In the knockout rounds, games that are level at the end of 90 minutes go to extra time; if still tied after another 30 minutes, the match is then decided by a penalty shootout.

As with every championship since Euro 1984, there is to be no third-place playoff, so only two teams will be left standing after the semi-finals.

Group A

Germany

Previous Euros: 13*, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Winners (1972*, 1980*, 1996) Euro 2020: Last 16 Qualification: Hosts Manager: Julian Nagelsmann Fixtures: Denmark (June 29) Results: Germany 5-1 Scotland (June 14); Germany 2-0 Hungary (June 19); Switzerland 1-1 Germany (June 23)

* = including as West Germany

Scotland

Previous Euros: Three, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Group stage (1992, 1996, 2020) Euro 2020: Group stage Qualification: Group A runners-up Manager: Steve Clarke Results: Germany 5-1 Scotland (June 14); Scotland 1-1 Switzerland (June 19); Scotland 0-1 Hungary (June 23)

Hungary

Previous Euros: Four, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Third (1964) Euro 2020: Group stage Qualification: Group G winners Manager: Marco Rossi Results: Hungary 1-3 Switzerland (June 15); Germany 2-0 Hungary (June 19); Scotland 0-1 Hungary (June 23)

Switzerland

Previous Euros: Five, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Quarter-finals (2020) Euro 2020: Quarter-finals Qualification: Group I runners-up Manager: Murat Yakin Fixtures: Italy (June 29) Results: Hungary 1-3 Switzerland (June 15); Scotland 1-1 Switzerland (June 29); Switzerland 1-1 Germany (June 23)

Group B

Spain

Previous Euros: 11, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Winners (1964, 2008, 2012) Euro 2020: Semi-finals Qualification: Group A winners Manager: Luis de la Fuente Fixtures: Georgia (June 30) Results: Spain 3-0 Croatia (June 15); Spain 1-0 Italy (June 20); Albania 0-1 Spain (June 24)

Croatia

Previous Euros: Six, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Quarter-finals (1996, 2008) Euro 2020: Last 16 Qualification: Group D runners-up Manager: Zlatko Dalic Results: Spain 3-0 Croatia (June 15); Croatia 2-2 Albania (June 19); Croatia 1-1 Italy (June 24)

Italy

Previous Euros: 10, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Winners (1968, 2020) Euro 2020: Winners Qualification: Group C runners-up Manager: Luciano Spalletti Fixtures: Switzerland (June 29) Results: Italy 2-1 Albania (June 15); Spain 1-0 Italy (June 20); Croatia 1-1 Italy (June 24)

Albania

Previous Euros: One, Euro 2016 Best result: Group stage (2016) Euro 2020: Did not qualify Qualification: Group E winners Manager: Sylvinho Results: Italy 2-1 Albania (June 15), Croatia 2-2 Albania (June 19); Albania 0-1 Spain (June 24)

Group C

Slovenia

Previous Euros: One, Euro 2000 Best result: Group stage (2000) Euro 2020: Did not qualify Qualification: Group H runners-up Manager: Matjaz Kek Fixtures: Portugal (July 1) Results: Slovenia 1-1 Denmark (June 16); Slovenia 1-1 Serbia (June 20); England 0-0 Slovenia (June 25)

Denmark

Previous Euros: Nine, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Winners (1992) Euro 2020: Semi-finals Qualification: Group H winners Manager: Kasper Hjulmand Fixtures: Germany (June 29) Results: Slovenia 1-1 Denmark (June 16); Denmark 1-1 England (June 20); Denmark 0-0 Serbia (June 25)

Serbia

Previous Euros: Five*, most recently Euro 2000 Best result: Runners-up (1960*, 1968*) Euro 2020: Did not qualify Qualification: Group G runners-up Manager: Dragan Stojkovic Results: Serbia 0-1 England (June 16); Slovenia 1-1 Serbia (June 20); Denmark 0-0 Serbia (June 25)

* = including as Yugoslavia

England

Previous Euros: 10, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Runners-up (2020) Euro 2020: Runners-up Qualification: Group C winners Manager: Gareth Southgate Fixtures: Slovakia (June 30) Results: Serbia 0-1 England (June 16); Denmark 1-1 England; England 0-0 Slovenia (June 25)

Group D

Poland

Previous Euros: Four, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Quarter-finals (2016) Euro 2020: Group stage Qualification: Playoff Path A winners Manager: Michal Probierz Results: Poland 1-2 Netherlands (June 16); Poland 1-3 Austria (June 21); France 1-1 Poland (June 25)

Netherlands

Previous Euros: 10, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Winners (1988) Euro 2020: Last 16 Qualification: Group B runners-up Manager: Ronald Koeman Fixtures: Romania (July 2) Results: Poland 1-2 Netherlands (June 16); Netherlands 0-0 France (June 21); Netherlands 2-3 Austria (June 25)

Austria

Previous Euros: Three, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Last 16 (2020) Euro 2020: Last 16 Qualification: Group F runners-up Manager: Ralf Rangnick Fixtures: Turkey (July 2) Results: Austria 0-1 France (June 17); Poland 1-3 Austria (June 21); Netherlands 2-3 Austria (June 25)

France

Previous Euros: 10, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Winners (1984, 2000) Euro 2020: Last 16 Qualification: Group B winners Manager: Didier Deschamps Fixtures: Belgium (July 1) Results: Austria 0-1 France (June 17); Netherlands 0-0 France (June 21); France 1-1 Poland (June 25)

Group E

Belgium

Previous Euros: Six, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Runners-up (1980) Euro 2020: Quarter-finals Qualification: Group F winners Manager: Domenico Tedesco Fixtures: France (July 1) Results: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia (June 17); Belgium 2-0 Romania (June 22); Ukraine 0-0 Belgium (June 26)

Slovakia

Previous Euros: Five*, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Winners (1976*) Euro 2020: Group stage Qualification: Group J runners-up Manager: Francesco Calzona Fixtures: England (June 30) Results: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia (June 17); Slovakia 1-2 Ukraine (June 21); Slovakia 1-1 Romania (June 26)

* = including as Czechoslovakia

Romania

Previous Euros: Five, most recently Euro 2016 Best result: Quarter-finals (2000) Euro 2020: Did not qualify Qualification: Group I winners Manager: Edward Iordanescu Fixtures: Netherlands (July 2) Results: Romania 3-0 Ukraine (June 17); Belgium 2-0 Romania (June 22); Slovakia 1-1 Romania (June 26)

Ukraine

Previous Euros: Three, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Quarter-finals (2020) Euro 2020: Quarter-finals Qualification: Playoff Path B winners Manager: Serhiy Rebrov Results: Romania 3-0 Ukraine (June 17); Slovakia 1-2 Ukraine (June 21); Ukraine 0-0 Belgium (June 26)

Group F

Turkey

Previous Euros: Five, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Semi-finals (2008) Euro 2020: Group stage Qualification: Group D winners Manager: Vincenzo Montella Fixtures: Austria (July 2) Results: Turkey 3-1 Georgia (June 18); Turkey 0-3 Portugal (June 22); Czech Republic 1-2 Turkey (June 26)

Georgia

Previous Euros: None Best result: N/A Euro 2020: Did not qualify Qualification: Playoff Path C winners Manager: Willy Sagnol Fixtures: Spain (July 30) Results: Turkey 3-1 Georgia (June 18); Georgia 1-1 Czech Republic (June 22); Georgia 2-0 Portugal (June 26)

Portugal

Previous Euros: Eight, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Winners (2016) Euro 2020: Last 16 Qualification: Group J winners Manager: Roberto Martinez Fixtures: Slovenia (July 1) Results: Portugal 2-1 Czech Republic (June 18); Turkey 0-3 Portugal (June 22); Georgia 2-0 Portugal (June 26)

Czech Republic

Previous Euros: 10*, most recently Euro 2020 Best result: Winners (1976*) Euro 2020: Quarter-finals Qualification: Group E runners-up Manager: Ivan Hasek Results: Portugal 2-1 Czech Republic (June 18); Georgia 1-1 Czech Republic (June 22); Czech Republic 1-2 Turkey (June 26)

*= including as Czechoslovakia

Who are the Euro 2024 favourites? Who might win the Golden Boot?

After the identity of all 24 teams was confirmed following the playoffs, England were quickly installed as favourites to go one better than in 2021, while most bookmakers have France and hosts Germany among the front-runners too.

Iberian rivals Spain and Portugal sit just behind that top trio, with reigning champions Italy joining Belgium and the Netherlands among the longer shots for continental glory.

En route to the finals, six teams stayed unbeaten through qualifying - France, England, Portugal, Belgium, Romania and Hungary - and the Portuguese squad of Roberto Martinez was the only one to have won every match.

The Selecao wrapped up their group having scored 36 goals and conceded just two, but the overall top scorer was Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, who racked up 14 goals in just eight games.

Cristiano Ronaldo (10), Kylian Mbappe (nine), Harry Kane (eight) and Denmark's Rasmus Hojlund (seven) were left trailing in his wake, but all four could be in contention for the European Championship's Golden Boot in July.

What other notable names will be appearing?

The goal-getters listed above will likely again steal most of the headlines throughout the tournament, with Cristiano Ronaldo already guaranteed to make history going into a sixth European Championship and Kylian Mbappe set to become Real Madrid's latest Galactico after the tournament.

There are plenty of other legendary figures set to grace this summer's Euros, though, not least amongst the host nation, with Toni Kroos having confirmed that he will retire from football after the tournament.

It would not be a huge surprise to see fellow centurions Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller also playing their last Euros, while Kroos's great midfield partner at club level Luka Modric will surely bid farewell to this stage too.

Forty-one-year-old Pepe will have his last dance on the international scene with Portugal too, and unsurprisingly he will be the oldest player due to appear at the finals after Scotland cut goalkeeper Craig Gordon from their final selection.

At the other end of the scale, France's 18-year-old forward Warren Zaire-Emery will look to become the latest in a long line of youngsters to truly announce themselves on the biggest stage, while England boast some notable youngsters of their own.

It is Spain's Lamine Yamal who is set to make yet another slice of history, though; if the Barcelona starlet plays in Germany - which he likely will - then he would become the youngest player ever seen at the European Championship, with his 17th birthday not coming until the day before the final.

The venues

Nine of the stadiums used at Germany 2006 will see action this summer, in addition to the Dusseldorf Arena, with Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena having also played a part in hosting the continent-wide finals of Euro 2020.

Three years ago, the Bavarian venue could only welcome a reduced number of spectators due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it will surely be full to the brim this time around.

The atmospheric Signal Iduna Park, home of Borussia Dortmund's famed 'yellow wall', will also host several group games, plus a last-16 tie and one of the semi-finals.

Major cities such as Bremen and Monchengladbach were left out, but the 10 selected stadia are spread across all the main regions of Germany.

Full list of venues for Euro 2024:

Berlin: Olympiastadion (70,000 capacity) Cologne: Cologne Stadium (47,000) Dortmund: BVB Stadion Dortmund (66,000) Dusseldorf: Dusseldorf Arena (47,000) Frankfurt: Frankfurt Arena (48,000) Gelsenkirchen: Arena AufSchalke (50,000) Hamburg: Volksparkstadion Hamburg (50,000) Leipzig: Leipzig Stadium (42,000) Munich: Munich Football Arena (67,000) Stuttgart: Stuttgart Arena (54,000)

The final

Bringing a month of relentless competition to its climax, Berlin's Olympiastadion plays host to the Euro 2024 final on Sunday, July 14.

The cavernous stadium has already hosted several significant matches in football history, including during the 1974 and 2006 World Cups - notably the latter's epic final, between Italy and France.

More recently, it served as a venue for the 2011 Women's World Cup and the 2015 Champions League final that pitted Barcelona against Juventus.

On this occasion, the Euro winners will not only lift the trophy and be crowned kings of the continent, but they will also go on to compete with the Copa America champions for the 2025 CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions, in a contest more commonly known as 'the Finalissima'.