euro 24 group a - Historical Football Kits

2024 European Football Championship Group A

euro 24 logo Host nation Germany are currently 16th in the FIFA rankings, a reflection on their poor form over the past decade. After a rocky start following the appointment of Julian Nagelsmann in September 2023 results improved and included wins over France and the Netherlands. The appointment of Steve Clarke as Scotland's chief coach in 2019 ended a long period of decline and under his leadership the team qualified for Euro 20 and Euro 24. The Hungarian side have been in good form and have lost just once in the last 12 months while the Swiss made heavy weather of qualifying.

Kit graphics by Daniel Stoker

Euro 24 Index

European Championships Index

Germany

Scotland

Germany 5 Scotland 1

Fußball Arena München
14 June

After a mercifully brief opening ceremony in which a lot of young people in colourful costumes writhed and wriggled about to no apparent purpose, this match got off to a frenetic start. It was not long, however, before a pattern formed. Germany dominated posession and swarmed around any Scottish player who got the ball, preventing them from building any sort of coherent moves. Wirtz put the hosts ahead (10') and Musiala scored a second nine minutes later. Just before half-time a two-footed tackle led to Porteous seeing red and Havertz converting the penalty. On 68 minutes Füllkrug made it 4-0. A rare Scottish attack led to a high cross cannoning across the German penalty area where the unfortunate Rudiger instinctively nodded his head at the ball, diverting it into his own goal. Can completed the rout, lashing a loose ball home in added time.

Hungary

Switzerland

Hungary 1 Switzerland 3

Cologne Stadium
15 June

With 12 minutes played Kwadwo Duah scored for Switzerland, a goal that was initially ruled out for offside then quickly confirmed by the new VAR technology. Switzerland dominated the rest of the half and went 2-0 up through Aesbischer just bfore half-time. In the second half Hungary were better and pulled one back when Varga met a low, inswinging cross with a diving header. The Swiss looked nervy defending their lead but in added time Orban inexplicably headed a long ball across the face of his own area where Embolo, who had barely kicked a ball in the last 12 months, chested it down and calmly lobbed the goalkeeper.

Germany

Hungary

Germany 2 Hungary 0

Stuttgart Arena
19 June

Germany's dreadful purple and pink strip was given an outing presumably because UEFA's kit police thought their white strip was too similar to Hungary's red, white and green. In any event the Germans had little difficulty in disposing of their opponents and booked their place in the knock-out phase.

Scotland

Switzerland

Scotland 1 Switzerland 1

Cologne Stadium
19 June

Scotland were much better in this game and deserved to take the lead in the 13th minute when MacTominay's shot was deflected off a defender leaving the Swiss goalkeeper stranded. Their advantage was, however, short-lived, Shaqiri equalising with a long-range shot into the top corner 13 minutes later. In the second half Switzerland seemed happy to settle for a point and although Scotland had some good chances, they could not find a winner.

Switzerland

Germany

Switzerland 1 Germany 1

Frankfurt Arena
23 June

With qualification already secure, Germany stuttered in the first half against a surprisingly fluent Swiss side. Dan Ndoye put Switzerland ahead in the 28th minute with a volley at full stretch from Freuler's cross. Switzerland had a goal disallowed in the second half and as the final whistle approached Germany looked like a beaten team. However, in the second minute of stoppage time Niclas Füllkrug met Raum's cross and headed home. Germany finished top of the group and Switzerland came second.

Scotland

Hungary

Scotland 0 Hungary 1

Stuttgart Arena
23 June

Only a win would give either team a chance of progressing as one of the best ranked third-place teams. This made little impression on Scotland who did not create a scoring opportunity until the 54th minute and got their first corner ten minutes later. In the 70th minute Varga, Ralston and Gunn collided in the Scottish penalty area leaving Varga out cold. After a lengthy delay while he received medical attention he was rushed to hospital where it was later announced that he had suffered a broken cheek but was recovering well. After the game restarted Scotland were denied a penalty and at the end of normal time an extra ten minutes were added. Both teams now played with urgency and in the final seconds Hungary broke upfield, Sallai pulled the ball back from the goal line and Csobooth calmly slotted the ball home.