Euro 2024 data drop: Everything you need to know about the opening round of matches
The opening games of an international tournament always bring plenty of excitement.
Ahead of some intriguing matchups to kick off Euro 2024, we’ve delved into Twenty3’s Toolbox to look at all the relevant data.
Germany vs Scotland (Friday 14th June, 8pm)
The opening game of this summer’s tournament sees hosts Germany take on a Scotland side that impressed in qualifying.
Steve Clarke’s outfit proved effective on the counter-attack, averaging just 47.84% possession and hurting teams in transition thanks largely to the quality of Scott McTominay and John McGinn.
After such a strong qualifying campaign, expectations will be higher for Scotland than at Euro 2020. Having said that, their recent friendly performances have been underwhelming and an xG overperformance of 4.53 in qualifying suggests their may be some level of reversion to the mean.
Germany, of course, did not have to qualify, but expect Julian Nagelsmann’s side to be on the front foot in Munich.
In their 2024 friendlies, they have allowed an average of 8.99 passes per defensive action and managed seven high turnovers per 90 minutes. The intention will be to control possession and in areas where they can hurt the opposition.
Hungary vs Switzerland (Saturday 15th June, 2pm)
With Germany expected to progress as Group A winners, the clash between Hungary and Switzerland already looks like an important one.
The Swiss will look to dominate possession, as they did throughout qualifying: no side averaged more of the ball (65.07%) than Murat Yakin’s outfit.
Hungary, by comparison, averaged 57.43% possession and were not afraid to take a quicker route to goal: they made 2.75 direct attacks per match to Switzerland’s 2.4.
Marco Rossi’s team also ranked third in qualifying for long passes completed per game (31), so their meeting with Switzerland will be something of a clash of styles.
The Hungarians were particularly effective from set-pieces, leading the way for shots from free-kicks, thanks largely to the quality of Dominik Szoboszlai.
Switzerland, meanwhile, will look to engage with a high line — no team succeeded with more offside traps per match (2.6) — and dictate the tempo of the game.
Spain vs Croatia (Saturday 15th June, 5pm)
As always, big things will be expected of Spain at this summer’s tournament.
They will be the favourites against an ageing — but still dangerous — Croatia side.
La Roja were far more effective as an attacking unit in qualifying, scoring 3.13 goals per game to Croatia’s 1.63.
Luis de la Fuente’s team utilised their press more efficiently, too, averaging 36.75 completed ball recoveries in the opposition half to Croatia’s 31.38.
Spain completed more passes per game than any other country in qualifying (652.75), although Croatia were not far behind in second (610).
With both sides at their best when controlling possession, this should be an intriguing encounter.
Italy vs Albania (Saturday 15th June, 8pm)
Luciano Spalletti’s Italy will be strong favourites in their opening game against Albania, but they remain a work in progress.
The Azzurri will expect to see plenty of the ball, having completed 531.88 passes per game in qualifying to Albania’s 382.75.
Italy are also energetic out of possession under Spalletti, ranking fifth for loose ball duels won per 90 (16.38).
Albania are likely to take a direct approach and attempt to make use of their height advantage: only four teams won more aerial duels per game in qualifying (21.88).
Sylvinho’s side also ranked fourth for attacking duels won per match (29.75), so they could cause problems for an Italy defence that is not invulnerable.
Poland vs Netherlands (Sunday 16th June, 2pm)
Poland will need to be more adventurous as an attacking unit if they are to make a mark at Euro 2024.
They scored just 1.5 goals per game in qualifying, and in their opener face a Netherlands side that netted a far healthier 2.13 times per match.
The Dutch will look to keep the ball on the ground, given Poland’s aerial prowess: only two teams won more aerial duels per game (23.8).
Ronald Koeman’s unit will aim to win possession high up the pitch, having ranked third in qualifying for dangerous ball recoveries in the opposition half per match (6.25).
Poland’s cautiousness is likely to result in a tight affair: they conceded an xG of just 0.68 per game in qualifying, compared to the Netherlands’ 0.81.
Slovenia vs Denmark (Sunday 16th June, 5pm)
Denmark have good pedigree at the Euros and they will be the favourites when they face Slovenia.
Kasper Hjulmand’s side were behind only Switzerland and Spain for average possession (64.64%) in qualifying.
They also ranked first for number of sequences ending in the final third per game (91.2) and forward passes attempted per game (199.1).
The Danes are hard to get off the ball, then, and Slovenia will need to be at their best to nullify them.
Matjaž Kek’s outfit were fairly direct in qualifying, ranking fourth for long passes attempted per match (51.2).
Getting the ball up to towering frontman Benjamin Šeško will be the aim, although patience and discipline will be required against this high-quality Denmark team.
Serbia vs England (Sunday 16th June, 8pm)
England kick off their Euro 2024 campaign with a tricky test against Serbia.
Dragan Stojković’s side are a dangerous opponent, particularly from crosses and set-pieces into the box.
No team in qualifying had more shots from headers per game (4.38) and they ranked second for crosses completed per 90 (9.13).
England will look to nullify that threat by controlling the contest: despite averaging 62.64% possession in qualifying, no team lost the ball fewer times per game (80.13) or conceded fewer non-penalty shots per game (4.13).
Gareth Southgate’s outfit also ranked first for passing accuracy (91.4%) and second for attacking duels won per match (30).
Romania vs Ukraine (Monday 17th June, 2pm)
A clash between two of the less fancied nations at Euro 2024, both teams will likely feel they need to win if they are to progress to the knockout stages.
Romania were slightly more productive in front of goal in qualifying, averaging 1.6 goals per game to Ukraine’s 1.5.
Notably, Edward Iordănescu’s unit were impressively combative out of possession, winning more loose ball duels per match than any other side (18.2).
Romania tended to be more direct, attempting 50.3 long passes per game to Ukraine’s 40.3 in qualification.
The former were also more front-footed out of possession, averaging 8.69 passes per defensive action to Ukraine’s 11.42.
Belgium vs Slovakia (Monday 17th June, 5pm)
Few teams were as convincing as Belgium in qualifiying. The numbers make for daunting reading for those of a Slovakia persuasion.
Domenico Tedesco’s side averaged three goals per game and ranked first in a host of per 90 metrics: dribbles completed (23.86), attacking duels won (35.71), successful attacking actions (36) and non-penalty goals conceded (0.15).
Slovakia, unsurprisingly, could not match such impressive numbers, although they are unlikely to be fearful heading into this contest.
Francesco Calzona’s team are brave out of possession, ranking fourth in qualifying for pressing duels attempted per game (47.3) and second for offside traps per 90 (2.5).
To stand a chance against Belgium, they will need to get everything right off the ball.
Austria vs France (Monday 17th June, 8pm)
France were the most potent attacking team in qualifying, scoring a remarkable 3.63 goals per match.
Didier Deschamps’ charges, who many expect to win the tournament, had more shots per game (19) and completed more link-up plays per 90 (29.38) than any other side.
Their opening game against Austria will be an interesting tactical battle. Ralf Rangnick’s outfit are set up to counter-press and did so with great effect during qualification, while France typically look to hurt teams in transition.
Les Bleus ranked first in qualifying for dangerous ball recoveries in the opposition half per game (6.63), but Austria were not too far behind (5.25).
The Austrians typically look to harry their opponents incessantly, ranking second in qualifying for duels attempted per 90 (212.75)
This could be a captivating contest between two teams that are at their best when turning over the ball in advanced areas.
Turkey vs Georgia (Tuesday 18th June, 5pm)
Expect plenty of direct running and attacking intent when Turkey face Georgia.
The two teams ranked fourth and fifth respectively in qualifying for dribbles completed per game (16.88 vs 16.5).
They were also among the frontrunners for attacking duels won per match (28.88 vs 28).
Turkey will expect to see more of the ball against European Championship debutants Georgia. The former averaged 55.24% possession in qualifying to the latter’s 43.69%.
But Vincenzo Montella’s side will need to be wary of the threat Georgia pose on the break: they ranked third in qualifying for post-shot xG in counter-attacks per game (0.21).
Portugal vs Czech Republic (Tuesday 18th June, 8pm)
Portugal are among the favourites to win Euro 2024 after an exceptional qualifying campaign.
They scored 3.6 goals per game and ranked first for xG per match (2.64), xG conceded per match (0.37) and non-penalty shots on target per match (7.5).
No team had more direct attacks per 90 (3.6) and there was a formidable, free-flowing look to Roberto Martínez’s side.
The Czech Republic, by comparison, scored just 1.5 goals per match, although they ranked second for shots from headers (3.5) and aerial duels won (27.63) per game.
Additionally, no team completed more ball recoveries per 90 (100.75) than Ivan Hašek’s outfit.
They will need to be at their direct and physical best if they are to challenge Portugal.
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