UEFA Euro 2024 group draw unveiled

The 2024 UEFA European Championship group draw was unveiled in Hamburg on Saturday. Hosts Germany will face Scotland in the opening match of Euro 2024 in Munich and defending Champions Italy will be in the same group as Spain. 

The Germans, three-times winners, will kick off the one-month tournament in Munich on June 14, with the final on July 14 at Berlin's Olympic stadium. Germany will also play Hungary, who came through the qualifying campaign unbeaten, and Switzerland in Group A.

Meanwhile, Italy face a tough task to defend their title, drawn in Group B along with Spain, Croatia and Albania.

Italy defeated Spain on penalties in the semi-finals on their way to winning Euro 2020, but lost 4-0 to the Spanish in the 2012 final. Croatia reached the semi-finals at the last World Cup.

England, runners-up at Euro 2020, are in Group C alongside Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia. England, who needed extra time to see off Denmark in the 2020 semi-finals, start the tournament against Serbia.

The top two in each of the six Euro 2024 groups proceed to the round of 16 along with the four best third-placed finishers.

Final draw:

Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland

Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania

Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England

Group D: Play-off winner A, Netherlands, Austria, France

Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Play-off winner B

Group F: Türkiye, Play-off winner C, Portugal, Czech Republic

The Euro 2024 play-offs semifinals and final will take place on March 21 and 26. The pathways are as follows:

Path A: Poland vs Estonia, Wales vs Finland

Path B: Israel vs Iceland, Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Ukraine

Path C: Georgia vs Luxembourg, Greece vs Kazakhstan

(With input from agencies)