Euro 2024 predictions, fixtures, group standings, results: Monday 17 June
Euro 2024 predictions, fixtures, group standings, results: Monday 17 June
Euro 2024 continues on Monday with another trio of fixtures amid a packed schedule in Germany.
Tournament favourites France make their entrance in the late match, as they go up against Austria in Group D.
They follow the opening pair of Group E games that see Belgium meet Slovakia, after Romania and Ukraine start their respective campaigns in Munich.
*All kick off times in local time.
Group E: Romania vs Ukraine – 15.00
The fourth day of the 2024 European Championships football kicks off with a meeting of underdogs, as Romania meet Ukraine at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
It’s a first competitive meeting between the two nations and an opportunity to stake a claim for a rare appearance in the knockout phase of a major tournament, with Belgium and Slovakia in the other half of Group E.
And then there’s the added impetus for Ukrainian coach Serhiy Rebrov and his squad, as they continue to deal with the horror of the Russian invasion back home.
They’re well tuned up for the competition too, having had to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina then Iceland to make it through the playoff pathway.
It was impressive stuff after being edged into third place in Group C by the might of reigning champions Italy and beaten finalists England.
The Romanians, meanwhile, made it through to Euro 2024 in fine style, going unbeaten in qualifying to top Group I five points clear of Switzerland.
Edward Iordanescu takes charge of his country as they return to the competition for the first time since 2016, when his father Anghel was at the helm.
Group E: Belgium vs Slovakia – 18.00
Belgium and Slovakia go head-to-head for the first time in a competitive fixture on Monday, as they kick off their Euro 2024 journeys in Frankfurt.
Quarter-finalists in both of the last two editions, the Belgians have long-since grown sick of the ‘golden generation’ tag that has stalked them for a decade.
Unfulfilled promise on the big stage has been a blight, with Domenico Tedesco the coach tasked with building on the foundations of Roberto Martinez, who just couldn’t conjure the perfect tune from Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Co.
They came through qualifying Group F strongly, going unbeaten and conceding just four goals despite only pipping Austria to top spot by a single point.
Slovakia also qualified without the need for a playoff, finishing behind only Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in a curious Group J that saw minnows Luxembourg win five times on the way to a third-placed finish ahead of Iceland and Bosnia.
They have never gone beyond the last 16 stage but will fancy their chances if they can fashion something against the pool favourites here.
Group D: Austria vs France – 21.00
Euro 2024 Group D kicks off on Monday night in Dusseldorf, as favourites France tackle Austria.
Les Bleus have had three years to stew on their Round of 16 penalty shootout shock at the hands of Switzerland in the delayed Euro 2020, while agonizing defeat to Argentina in the 2022 Fifa World Cup final by the same method hardly helped.
But they’re in good shape to push for a first Euros title since 2000, which they won against Italy thanks to a David Trezeguet ‘golden goal’ with now-coach Didier Deschamps donning the captain’s armband.
Deschamps conservative style has not endeared him to sections of the French support, but what a box of tricks he has at his disposal with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele all present in Germany.
They qualified at a canter from Group B ahead of the Netherlands, winning seven out of an unbeaten eight and battering sorry Gibraltar 14-0 along the way.
Austria also had a qualifying cakewalk even as they only finished runners-up to Belgium, with a nine-point margin back to Sweden in third spot.
A solid effort in the delayed Euro 2020 three years ago saw them progress from Group C, before pushing eventual winners Italy all the way in an extra time defeat in the Round of 16.
Veteran coaching guru Ralph Rangnick is the man tasked with at least matching that across the German border.
Much of that on-field responsibility will fall on the shoulders of veteran star man Marko Arnautovic, who at 35 could well be featuring in a major tournament for the final time.
Romania v Ukraine
Belgium v Slovakia
Austria v France
Find all the latest Euro 2024 predictions here.