How Team USA became the unexpected darlings of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

When USA opened the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 with a seven-wicket win over Canada on June 1, the result was met with a metaphorical warm applause.

Five days later, their thrilling super-over win against Pakistan made cricket fans and experts sit up and take note. It was a moment that turned Group A – and the tournament – on its head.

When cricket’s powerhouse India scraped past them in New York the following week, USA were still alive in the tournament and favourites to qualify for the Super Eights – a feat they later achieved thanks to a washed-out match against Ireland.

As with most underdog stories, USA’s progression was received by rousing cheers around the world.

In some ways, it is fitting that the USA squad is representative of a multicultural country defined by the tales of immigrants chasing the fabled American dream.

Some of the players were born in the United States.

Others, born overseas, tasted domestic success in their countries of birth and even dreamt of playing international cricket until they seemingly failed and all but gave up.

This group of cricketers draws its experience from playing in India, Pakistan, the Caribbean, South Africa and New Zealand.

An Australian coach, who linked up with them two weeks ahead of the tournament, has led them on this unprecedented run where, against the most formidable odds, they have made it past the first round in their first major international tournament.

But that’s not how the story began.

It began with a combination of timing, luck and shrewdness.

The motley crew that became world beaters

Shortly after USA Cricket (USAC) was granted one-day international (ODI) status by the ICC in 2019, the waiting period for players to qualify for associate countries dropped from five years to three.

USAC immediately went on a recruitment drive to attract talent from across the globe.

Several players heeded the call, while others were scouted from domestic competitions within the country.

Former New Zealand star Corey Anderson, who has a wealth of T20 franchise experience, became eligible to represent USA in 2023.

It was also the year that Harmeet Singh joined the team USA bandwagon. The Mumbai-raised all-rounder shone for India in two ICC Under-19 World Cups and played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) until he was dragged into a damaging fixing scandal, only to be cleared of any wrongdoing. It was enough to stagnate his career but – unwilling to give up – Harmeet moved to the US during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shayan Jahangir was a promising young batter growing up in Karachi who, at one point, represented Pakistan at the under-19 level. He plied his trade in the US domestic leagues during the cricket off-season period in Pakistan before moving permanently to Houston in 2018.

Former South African domestic cricket star Shadley van Schalkwyk made Seattle his home after being unable to break into the Proteas’ side despite taking almost 500 wickets and scoring more than 4,000 runs across formats in the domestic system.

Aaron Jones, USA’s hero with the bat in the tournament thus far, was born in Queens to Bajan parents and represented Barbados until a few years ago.

Steven Taylor, who hails from Florida, has been a key member of team USA since 2019 but once represented Jamaica.

Despite the players’ vastly diverse backgrounds, their head coach Stuart Law – who was appointed in April and took charge in May – emphasises that this is very much a US team.

“These kids came here from other parts of the world for a better life,” Law told Al Jazeera shortly after USA sealed their trip to the Caribbean, where all Super Eights and knockout matches will be played.

“Whether they came here for their children’s education, or their own, not many came purely to play cricket.”

Aaron Jones hit the winning runs in USA’s win over Canada at Grand Prairie Stadium on June 1 [Julio Cortez/AP]

How to ‘Americanfy’ cricket

Law insists that while the players may have been lucky that their arrival in the US coincided with cricket’s emergence in the country, they are united in their cause to play as team USA.

“We have got to try and ‘Americanfy’ this whole cricket thing here in the States,” he adds.

“We need to play aggressive, attractive-looking cricket to make sure that people sit back and go: You know what, these kids are up for a fight.”

The 55-year-old coach, who has been at the helm of several international teams, says team USA’s motto of “fearless but intelligent cricket” suits most of the players.

“They are trying to get better all the time, trying to play the way [they] will be successful in not only winning, but also putting the game of cricket under a spotlight.

The players, with their individual experiences in other countries, have a lack of awe while playing World Cup matches, which was wonderfully demonstrated by their nerve-jangling victory over 2009 champions Pakistan.

Law recounts one of several stories about his players: “Shayan came up to me before the World Cup and said, ‘Coach, we can beat Pakistan!’ I think that belief filtered through to each one of us and we showed it. The belief was there to go and execute under immense pressure, in front of a full house and screaming fans in Dallas.”

The former Australian international cricketer says he has been taken aback by the squad’s ability to be “cool and calm” under pressure.

“They just stand up and fight against teams that we have no right to actually be on the same park as – as some people think – yet we find a way to get the job done.”

Law believes that Anderson, a veteran of three World Cups for New Zealand, has played a vital role in keeping players calm on the pitch.

He describes Monank Patel – who captained the side for the first two matches before sustaining a shoulder injury – as a deep thinker. And Jones – who led the side against India – has impressed Law with his cool-headedness and forthrightness. Both leaders are fiercely competitive.

USA fans celebrate before the ICC men's Twenty20 World Cup 2024 group A cricket match between the USA and India outside Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in East Meadow, New York on June 12, 2024. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)
USA fans thronged the Nassau County Stadium in New York for their team’s match against India [Timothy A Clary/AFP]

Saurabh Netravalkar: From ‘rocket scientist’ to cult hero

The biggest cult hero, by far, is Saurabh Netravalkar – the Mumbai-born left-arm quick who successfully defended 18 runs in the super over against Pakistan. Netravalkar’s heroics, combined with his day job as a principal engineer for tech company Oracle, spawned an online frenzy and made him an overnight hero.

Netravalkar played alongside Harmeet at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2010, and was India’s leading wicket-taker in a tournament featuring the Australian trio of Mitchell Marsh, Josh Hazelwood and Adam Zampa, as well as England’s Ben Stokes.

However, by 2015, Netravalkar had relinquished the hope of establishing himself at the senior level and packed up his bags to study computer science in New York.

Law calls Netravalkar a “rocket scientist” compared with the rest of the squad.

“He’s very structured and disciplined, works out his plans in the nets and then asks questions.

“For a guy who doesn’t bowl as fast as some others, he’s got fantastic skills which get batsmen in a lot of trouble. His execution in that super over [against Pakistan] was outstanding.”

The USA coach reveals how the 32-year-old came up to him after the game and said: “Coach, thank you so much for trusting me.”

“I said, ‘Mate, I knew you could do it. You show that in the nets all the time, you show it in the middle. It was a no-brainer.’”

While the USA players are all aged between 29 and 36, they are still young in international cricket – men who have waited a long time for a lucky break or received a second chance. And Law believes more USA cult heroes will surface during the Super Eight stage.

“Ali Khan is another one – he’s got pace, fire and passion,” Law reveals.

“Keep an eye on Harmeet Singh. He’s a warrior on the field. He’s skilful with the bat and with ball.”

The widely experienced coach says the band of brothers assembled under the USA flag are going to put up a stiff fight in the rest of the tournament.

“We are not going to go down without a fight.”

Saurabh Nethralvakar (right) dismissed India’s top batters Virat Kohli (left) and Rohit Sharma in their Group A match [Adam Hunger/AP]



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Team preview: Can Ronaldo lead Portugal to a second title at Euro 2024? | UEFA Euro 2024 News

⚽ Portugal – Key Euros Stats ⚽

Euro appearances: 18
Euro titles: 1
Best finish: Winners (2016)
Euros record: W19 D10 L10
Goals scored: 56
Biggest win: 3-0 (most recent vs Hungary in Euro 2020)
Player to watch: Bruno Fernandes
World ranking: 6th
Team nickname: Os Navegadores (The Navigators)
Group fixtures:

  • June 18: Portugal vs Czech Republic (Leipzig Stadium, Leipzig, 9pm local/19:00 GMT)
  • June 22: Turkey vs Portugal (BVB Stadion, Dortmund, 6pm local/16:00 GMT)
  • June 26: Georgia vs Portugal (Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, 9pm local/19:00 GMT)

How to follow our Euro 2024 coverage: UEFA Euro 2024 on Al Jazeera

It only took six short years for the Euro 2016 champions Portugal to hit rock bottom at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

The devastating defeat to Morocco in the World Cup quarterfinal left them with the unenviable record of just one win in the knockout stages of a major competition since that spectacular Euro 2016 triumph.

In the aftermath of their World Cup exit, coach Fernando Santos called time on his stint with the national team.

As the tears streamed down Cristiano Ronaldo’s face as he walked down the player’s tunnel in Qatar, you felt as though he would follow suit.

Portugal’s darkest moment. A benched Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Fernando Santos look dejected after the match as Portugal are eliminated from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 by Morocco [Paul Childs/Reuters]

Santos’s final act as Portugal manager – even before his side fell to Morocco at the quarterfinal stage – had seen him drop Ronaldo from the starting lineup for each of Portugal’s knockout matches at the Qatar World Cup. That his replacement, Goncalo Ramo, went on to score a hat-trick against Switzerland in the round of 16 felt like the final nail in the coffin of the superstar’s long and illustrious international career.

But it hasn’t proved to be the final act with the now 39-year-old Ronaldo set to play in a record sixth European football championship at Euro 2024 in Germany.

One of the first things Roberto Martinez is reported to have done after taking over as Portugal manager was to meet every member of the 26-man side that had been picked for the World Cup in Qatar. All of them, Ronaldo included, expressed their desire to continue with the national team.

Of those 26 players, 21 have been named in Martinez’s squad for Germany. Among them is 41-year-old defender Pepe, who’s been picked more for his importance off the pitch than on it.

“Pepe’s role in the locker room is important, the way he represents the national team shirt,” Martinez said. “When he is fit, he is a very important player. We have a very interesting dressing room because we have players from different generations.

We have a good mix of experience and youngsters. It’s a list of 26 players that will give a good response.”

Manager Roberto Martinez was brought in to instill a winning mentality in the Portugal players after the disappointment of losing at the quarterfinal stage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 [Pedro Nunes/Reuters]

A new beginning

While the personnel change has been minimal, the energy emanating from the team is hugely different to what it was in Qatar.

A strong qualification campaign has played a role in this – albeit against weak opposition.

Portugal went unbeaten across their 10 Euro 2024 qualifiers, scoring the most goals, 36, of any team and conceding the fewest, two.

Martinez isn’t lacking for firepower in a front line that includes players of the pedigree of Bernardo Silva, Diogo Jota, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix and Rafael Leao. But crucially, he has opted to remain with Portugal’s most famous player, Ronaldo, as the talisman of the attack.

Since Martinez took over in January 2023, Ronaldo has started 10 games out of a possible 12 matches, only missing the other two fixtures due to suspension and load management protocols.

The former Real Madrid superstar’s impressive 10 goals in Euro 2024 qualification put him second on the goalscoring charts behind only Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku.

Ronaldo will remain the focus of Portugal’s forward line at Euro 2024, despite being 39 years old [Borut Zivulovic/Reuters]

Questions remain

When assessing Portugal’s chances at Euro 2024, the only caveat is that the highest-ranked team in Portugal’s qualification group was Slovakia at world number 48, making any prospective form evaluation against the top contenders a difficult exercise.

At the Euro 2024 group stage, they will face a much sterner test with matches against the Czech Republic, ranked 36, Poland, ranked 28, and Turkey, ranked 40.

After a year in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr, all eyes will be transfixed on Ronaldo and how well he will fare against top-ranked opposition upon his return to Europe’s premier nations competition.

Martinez’s debut tournament with Portugal at Euro 2024 is of equal intrigue.

During his time as Belgium boss, Martinez guided the team to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup – the highest in their history.

In Euro 2020, Belgium coincidentally knocked out Portugal in the round of 16 but suffered a quarterfinal exit at the hands of eventual winners Italy. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was the lowest point of Martinez’s reign, with the Belgians crashing out at the group stage.

The jury is still out on Martinez’s Belgium tenure and whether or not he underachieved with them. But the one thing he did successfully do with the national side was instill a winning mentality; the Spaniard helped transform Belgium’s reputation from plucky underdogs to serious contenders.

Martinez now finds himself facing a similar task with his current team at Euro 2024.

Many commentators believe the time has come for Portugal to shed the “dark horse” tag they have saddled themselves with in major tournaments. This established – and talent-stacked – squad enters Euro 2024 with the players to win it all but still faces questions about whether they possess the necessary self-belief that was characteristic of the victorious Euro 2016 Portugal side.

⚽ Portugal’s final squad for Euro 2024 ⚽

Captain: Cristiano Ronaldo

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rui Patricio (AS Roma)

Defenders: Antonio Silva (Benfica), Danilo Pereira (Paris St Germain), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting Lisbon), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona), Nelson Semedo (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Pepe (Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Neves (Benfica), Joao Palhinha (Fulham), Otavio Monteiro (Al Nassr), Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)

Forwards: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Diogo Jota (Liverpool), Francisco Conceicao (Porto), Goncalo Ramos (Paris Saint-Germain), Joao Felix (Barcelona), Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rafael Leao (AC Milan).

You can follow the action on Al Jazeera’s dedicated Euro 2024 tournament page with all the match buildup and live text commentary, and keep up to date with group standings and real-time match results and schedules.

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Slovakia’s Schranz sinks Belgium in huge Euro 2024 upset | UEFA Euro 2024 News

Ivan Schranz’s goal in the seventh minute was enough to allow Slovakia to pull off the shock of the tournament so far.

Slovakia caused the first major upset at the European Football Championship 2024 as Ivan Schranz fired the underdogs to a 1-0 win against Belgium.

Francesco Calzona’s side are 45 spots below third-placed Belgium in FIFA’s world rankings.

But they made a mockery of the supposed quality gap between the teams with a courageous performance in Frankfurt, Germany on Monday.

Calzona, who also served as Napoli’s interim boss in the second half of last season, had admitted he would be “delighted” with a draw.

The Italian got more than he could have dreamed of as Schranz left Belgium reeling in the seventh minute after ending his nine-game international goal drought.

Slovakia’s Ivan Schranz scores what turned out to be the game winner in just the seventh minute against Belgium in Euro 2024 [Lee Smith/Reuters]

Key striker Romelu Lukaku missed a host of chances for Belgium and had a late equaliser controversially disallowed by VAR in the 86th minute after a handball by teammate Lois Openda in the build-up.

Slovakia’s unexpected victory blew Group E wide open, just hours after Romania beat Ukraine 3-0 in Monday’s other match in that pool.

It was a bitter loss for Belgium, who are in danger of once again failing to fulfil their potential at a major tournament.

Belgium’s golden generation has lost much of its lustre since they crashed out of the 2022 World Cup in the group stage.

The Red Devils fell at the quarterfinals in the last two editions of the European Championship, making a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup the high-water mark of a talented but underachieving team once hailed as a potential dynasty.

 

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T20 World Cup: Pakistan’s failure down to poor batting, Babar says | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup News

The Pakistan captain apologises for his team’s World Cup performance after they were knocked out at the group stage.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has said the team’s batting let them down at the Twenty20 World Cup as he apologised to fans for failing to reach the Super Eight stage.

Pakistan fell to the tournament’s biggest upset when the USA, a tier-two member of the game, beat the 2009 champions via Super Over. The defeat by archrivals India then left Babar’s side with a mountain to climb to advance.

India and USA bagged the two Super Eight slots from Group A while Pakistan finished third after Sunday’s laboured three-wicket victory against Ireland.

“Thank you so much for supporting us, and sorry for that performance,” Babar said after the match in Florida.

“I know the fans and the team are saddened by this. It is not any one player’s fault. We all made a mistake.”

Babar had stepped down as captain of all three formats after Pakistan failed to make the knockout stage of the 50-over World Cup in India last year, but was reinstated as white-ball skipper ahead of the 20-overs showpiece in the US and the West Indies.

Amid subpar performances at the tournament, talk of rifts within the camp surfaced, while Pakistan Cricket Board’s chief promised “major surgery” on the team after their exit was confirmed last week.

Pakistan’s batting was a huge disappointment as they failed to make the most of the powerplay overs and could not get partnerships established.

“The pitches here helped the fast bowlers a little but I think overall our batting did not click,” said Babar.

“We lost two crucial matches even when we were in charge.”

All-rounder Imad Wasim has said the team needed a complete reset of their approach to white-ball cricket and Babar agreed.

“Every player has to think because cricket has become very fast. With modern cricket, you must have game awareness,” he said.

“You know that the strike rate here is [low] … I think it’s about game awareness and common sense.”

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Euro 2024: Mbappe, Griezmann presence makes France the title favourites | UEFA Euro 2024 News

⚽ France – Key Euros Stats ⚽

Euro appearances: 10
Euro titles: 2
Best finish: Winners (1984, 2000)
Euros record: W21 D12 L10
Goals scored: 69
Biggest win: 5-0 (vs. Belgium in Euro 1984)
Player to watch: Antoine Griezmann
World ranking:
2nd
Team nickname:
Les Bleus (The Blues)
Group fixtures:

  • June 17: Austria vs France (Dusseldorf Arena, Dusseldorf, 9pm local/19:00 GMT)
  • June 21: Netherlands vs France (Leipzig Stadium, Leipzig, 9pm local/19:00 GMT)
  • June 25: France vs Poland (BVB Stadion, Dortmund, 6pm local/16:00 GMT)

How to follow our Euro 2024 coverage: UEFA Euro 2024 on Al Jazeera

Euro 2024 is the fifth successive major tournament that France will enter as favourites.

They’ve made it to the final in three of the past four World Cups and European Championships – and were an Emiliano Martinez save away from being consecutive World Cup champions at Qatar 2022.

This astonishing level of consistency can be credited to the seemingly bottomless pool of talent the nation can draw from.

Take, for example, how the emergence of Mike Maignan and William Saliba has offset the retirements of Hugo Lloris and Raphael Varane. Or how Aurelien Tchouameni has seamlessly plugged the Paul Pogba-shaped hole in midfield.

Similarly, Marcus Thuram’s performances for Inter Milan this season have shown he’s ready for the baton to be passed to him once Olivier Giroud retires. The uninterrupted talent supply chain has crossed over to another French team on the cusp of its next major tournament at Euro 2024.

Culture is key

The team culture that manager Didier Deschamps adopts has added another dimension to their ongoing success.

Despite the global superstars at his disposal, his genius lies in how he gets them to put aside their egos when playing for the national team. The collective supersedes the individual, and it’s a principle Deschamps has adhered to himself.

The reintegration of Adrien Rabiot and Karim Benzema – two players who the manager had fallen out with in the past – before Euro 2020 demonstrated this. Benzema scored four goals in four games at the COVID-19 delayed tournament while Rabiot went on to establish himself as a key pillar in the France midfield.

Deschamps’s management style is the perfect blend of trust and merit. N’Golo Kante’s selection for Euro 2024 is the latest example of this.

The 33-year-old’s career has been beset by injuries in the last couple of years – he last played for France in June 2022 and made just nine appearances for Chelsea in the 2022/2023 season. Following a move last summer to Al Ittihad, where he went on to play 44 games, Deschamps believes Kante can again be an asset to his side.

“He has had a full season, albeit not in a European league as he plays in Saudi Arabia, where he has regained his full physical fitness,” Deschamps said as he announced his squad on French TV channel TF1.

“And I think that with his experience and his background, I’m convinced that our team will be stronger with him.”

The infusion of experience into the squad has been matched by the injection of youth, with 18-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery and Bradley Barcola both earning call-ups.

France coach Didier Deschamps knows he has a team good enough to go all the way at Euro 2024 [Benoit Tessier/Reuters

Griezmann the glue guy

Superstar Kylian Mbappe is the obvious centrepiece to this France side – the 25-year-old topped Les Bleus’ goals (9) and assists (5) charts in their unbeaten qualification campaign for Euro 2024.

However, as was the case in Qatar in 2022, the heartbeat of the team remains veteran forward Antoine Griezmann.

The Atletico Madrid star has been a constant presence in Deschamps’s managerial reign. His record of playing 84 consecutive games for France came to an end in the March friendlies against Chile and Germany, which he missed through injury.

Griezmann’s versatility makes him indispensable to Deschamps.

He came of age at Euro 2016 as a second striker, scoring six goals to win the Golden Boot.

At Euro 2020, he often found himself playing on the left of a front-three forward line to accommodate Mbappe and Benzema.

With France reeling from injuries at the 2022 World Cup, Deschamps decided to deploy him in midfield. The experiment worked, with Griezmann notching up the joint-highest assists total in Qatar.

It is a role he will reprise in Germany this summer, and at age 33, this is Griezmann’s last chance to win the trophy that has eluded him in his storied France career.

At 33, France’s Antoine Griezmann knows this is his final chance for Euro glory [Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters]

France’s recent European Football championship appearances have been defined by heartbreak.

At Euro 2016, they lost the final in extra time to Portugal on home soil.

Just when it felt like they were hitting their stride at Euro 2020, they suffered a shock exit to Switzerland in the round of 16.

The World Cup win in 2018 does not do justice to the level of dominance France have shown over the past decade. This year’s Euros presents a golden opportunity for Les Bleus to seal their legacy as one of the best national sides in history.

⚽ France’s final squad for Euro 2024 ⚽

Captain: Kylian Mbappe

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham United), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Lens)

Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Marseille), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), William Saliba (Arsenal), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid), Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders: N’Golo Kante (Al Ittihad), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain), Youssouf Fofana (AS Monaco)

Forwards: Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain), Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Internazionale), Randal Kolo Muani (Paris Saint-Germain), Olivier Giroud (Los Angeles FC)

You can follow the action on Al Jazeera’s dedicated Euro 2024 tournament page with all the match build-up and live text commentary, and keep up to date with group standings and real-time match results and schedules.

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Euro 2024: Portugal vs Czechia – Ronaldo, Schick resume Golden Boot battle | UEFA Euro 2024 News

Euro 2020’s top goal scorers, Cristiano Ronaldo and Patrik Schick, will face off in their Euro 2024 group opener in Germany.

The joint top scorers at the last European Championship will face each other as Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal play Patrik Schick’s Czech Republic in their Euro 2024 Group F opener at Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena.

Ronaldo and Schick both scored five at the COVID-delayed Euro 2020 and are likely to shoulder the goal-scoring burden for their sides this time around.

The tournament could be Ronaldo’s international swansong, although the 39-year-old appears as hungry for goals and adulation as ever as he prepares to kick off his sixth Euros on Tuesday.

While he may have moved away from Europe’s elite to play in Saudi Arabia, the goal-getting instincts of the leading scorer in men’s international football seem as razor-sharp as ever.

Having finished second-top scorer in qualifying with 10 goals and smashed 35 in 31 league games for Al Nassr last season, the seemingly ageless Ronaldo warmed up for the tournament with a brace in their final friendly against Ireland.

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo will play in his sixth European Football Championships at Euro 2024 in Germany [Darko Bandic/AP]

While Ronaldo lifted the trophy in 2016, he may still be harbouring a sense of unfinished business on the international stage.

Having sat out most of that final eight years ago through injury, he has failed to propel Portugal to further glory at two subsequent World Cups and at Euro 2020, when they were knocked out in the last 16.

This has been one of Portugal’s most gilded generations but with Ronaldo and 41-year-old defender Pepe in the twilight of their careers, Euro 2024 has the feel of a last hurrah.

With a squad bulging with talent, Portugal will be, on paper, one of the best teams in Germany. They won all of their 10 games in the qualifiers, scoring 36 and conceding twice.

Yet their manager Roberto Martinez knows all about the pitfalls of leading a supremely talented bunch of players at international tournaments, having failed to turn Belgium’s so-called “Golden Generation” into tournament winners.

Martinez, however, also knows he has arguably the game’s best in Ronaldo.

“We have 23 players. We create competitiveness and the game makes decisions,” he said earlier this month. “But Cristiano is prepared to help the team and give everything he can give. And there is no other player in the world of football who can bring what Cristiano can to the dressing room.”

Schick, who won goal of the tournament at Euro 2020 for his stunner against Scotland from the halfway line, will spearhead a Czech side with very different expectations.

The Czechs finished second in qualifying behind Albania, winning four of their eight matches in a group that also included Poland, Moldova and the Faroe Islands.

With Schick absent from the final rounds of qualifying, they found goals hard to come by but, fresh from winning the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen, he seems to have shaken off the injuries that hampered him and that could spell trouble for Portugal.

Portugal vs Czechia kicks off at 2100 local time (19:00 GMT) on Tuesday, June 18.

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Euro 2024: Hamburg police fire shots at axe-wielding person at fan parade | UEFA Euro 2024 News

The incident comes hours before the German city staging a Euro 2024 match between Netherlands and Poland.

The German police have fired shots at a person who allegedly threatened officers with a pickaxe and an incendiary device on the sidelines of a Euro 2024 football fan parade in central Hamburg, according to a police post on social media platform X.

A major police operation was under way and the suspect was receiving medical care for injuries, the post on Sunday added.

The incident occurred in the St Pauli district of the city as Poland and the Netherlands prepared to play against each other in Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion at 3pm (13:00 GMT) on Sunday.

Fan marches were scheduled before the games, and a parade for Dutch supporters was held at 12:30pm (10:30 GMT), around the time of the incident.

Germany is hosting the monthlong tournament that began on June 14.

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England vs Serbia – UEFA Euro 2024: Can England finally win a major title? | UEFA Euro 2024 News

⚽ England – Key Euros Stats ⚽

Euros appearances: 10
Euro Titles: 0
Best finish: Final (2020)
Euros Record: W15 D13 L10
Goals scored: 51
Biggest win: 4-0 vs Ukraine (Euro 2020)
Player to watch: Phil Foden
World ranking: 4th
Team nickname: The Three Lions

Group Fixtures:

  • 16 June: Serbia vs England (Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, 9pm local/19:00 GMT)
  • 20 June: Denmark vs England (Frankfurt Arena, Frankfurt, 6pm local/16:00 GMT)
  • 25 June: England vs Slovenia (Cologne Stadium, Cologne, 9pm local/19:00 GMT)

How to follow our Euro 2024 coverage: UEFA Euro 2024 on Al Jazeera

There’s an inescapable irony to the predicament Gareth Southgate finds himself in going into Euro 2024, which starts with England’s opening match of the tournament against Serbia on June 16 in Gelsenkirchen.

Since taking over as England boss in 2016, the 53-year-old has worked assiduously towards transforming the team’s sporting culture. Club loyalties are no longer fault lines, the bottle-neck pressure that came with donning the jersey has been transformed into a privilege, and incongruity has been replaced by identity.

Far from the individualism that marked England’s “Golden Generation” era, Southgate’s setup has been built around the collective.

But things have now gone full circle. He has successfully managed to break up England’s star culture only to find himself trapped in the spotlight.

Southgate’s legacy is the dominant narrative for England heading into the Euros. The tournament is a referendum on his nearly eight-year reign, with a majority of the English public ready to deem it a failure if they don’t bring back the winner’s trophy from Germany.

England manager Gareth Southgate is trying to steer the national side to its first major tournament victory since the 1966 World Cup [Carl Recine/Reuters]

It is now or never for England

In many ways, Southgate’s been a victim of his own success: He led England to an unlikely World Cup semifinal in 2018; lost the final of the previous Euros in 2021 on penalties; and was a Harry Kane penalty away from possibly knocking out the reigning champions France in the 2022 World Cup.

The Three Lions were 13th in the FIFA world rankings when he was handed the managerial reins in 2016 – today they sit fourth. Since the 2018 World Cup in Russia, they haven’t dropped out of the top five.

England’s consistency over the past six years has become so commonplace, it’s almost taken for granted. It’s easy to forget that before Southgate taking over, England’s last appearance in the semifinal of a major tournament came way back at Euro 1996.

Ultimately, international football is a zero-sum game where success is weighed in silver and the Euros feel like now or never proposition for Southgate’s England.

It’s a proposition that’s been reflected in a bold squad selection denoted by uncharacteristic risk. Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who has been a revelation for Manchester United this season, has been picked despite only making his England debut in March.

Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Kalvin Phillips – all of whom have been key pillars of Southgate teams – have not been picked.

Beyond the sting of raised expectations, Southgate has found himself bruised by the intangible metric of “potential”. With the attacking talent at his disposal, there is a feeling among fans that Southgate’s unwillingness to throw off the shackles has curbed the team’s progress.

What to do with Foden?

Southgate’s judgement will again be tested in his choice of a starting 11, particularly about where he plays emerging star Phil Foden.

The Manchester City attacker has thrived in the central midfield role he’s been deployed in this season by his manager Pep Guardiola. Foden’s 19 goals from that position led City’s charge to a fourth successive league title and saw him named the English Premier League’s Player of the Season.

However, Southgate has been reluctant to play Foden through the middle and has tended to pair Declan Rice with another defensive midfielder. Given the recent injury troubles of Kieran Trippier and Luke Shaw – both of whom have been picked despite making just a combined four league appearances since the start of March – it seems unlikely that will change.

If used correctly, rising star Phil Foden could be a difference maker for England at Euro 2024 [Carl Recine/Reuters]

On paper, England has one of the best squads in the tournament.

Alongside Foden, England’s attack features Real Madrid midfield sensation Jude Bellingham and the Bundesliga top-scorer, Harry Kane. Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins and Rice were all on the Premier League Player of the Season shortlist, and Palmer’s 22 EPL goals were second behind Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot.

The Three Lions went unbeaten during their Euro 2024 qualification campaign and have lost only one game – a friendly to Brazil – in the 12 games they have played since the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

At the Euros, they are drawn in a group that features no side in the world’s Top 20, unlocking a high statistical probability that they will progress to the knockout stages of the tournament.

It is easy to see why England head into Euro 2024 as one of the favourites. The question remains if their performances will match their star billing.

⚽ England’s final squad for Euro 2024 ⚽

Captain: Harry Kane

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

You can follow the action on Al Jazeera’s dedicated Euro 2024 tournament page with all the match buildup and live text commentary, and keep up to date with group standings and real-time match results & schedules.

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Team preview: Can Italy repeat as European champions at Euro 2024? | UEFA Euro 2024 News

⚽ Italy – Key Euros Stats ⚽

Euro appearances: 10
Euro Titles: 2
Best finish: Winners (1968, 2020)
Euros Record: W21 D18 L6
Goals scored: 52
Biggest win: 3-0 (vs Turkey and vs Switzerland in Euro 2020)
Player to watch: Federico Dimarco
World ranking: 9th
Group Fixtures:

  • 15 June: Italy vs Albania (BVB Stadion, Dortmund, 9pm local/19:00 GMT)
  • 20 June: Spain vs Italy (Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, 9pm local/19:00 GMT)
  • 24 June: Croatia vs Italy (Leipzig Stadium, Leipzig, 9pm local/19:00 GMT)

How to follow our Euro 2024 coverage: UEFA Euro 2024 on Al Jazeera

Italy arrives at the Euros as defending champions, but the title comes without the aura; it has been gradually eroding since that incredible summer night at Wembley, London, in 2021.

Less than a year after their crowning glory at the Euros, the Azzurri encountered the ignominy of missing out on the 2022 Qatar World Cup after a stunning stoppage time goal saw them lose their playoff semifinal to football minnows North Macedonia.

Their qualification campaign for Euro 2024 was similarly fraught.

After their first two qualifiers – a loss to England and a win over Malta – Italy were rocked by the resignation of manager Roberto Mancini after more than five years in the job.

He was replaced by Luciano Spalletti, whose first game in charge was a 1-1 draw, which also happened to be against their 2022 nemesis, North Macedonia. With only one victory in their first three games, Euro 2024 qualification suddenly looked precarious.

A run of three wins in four matches saw Italy go into the final group game against Ukraine, knowing a loss would see them enter the playoffs. A tense goalless draw secured direct passage to the Euros owing to their superior head-to-head record.

Bet gone wrong

To go along with their qualification woes, the Italian side’s preparations were rocked by a betting scandal that saw the police visit the national team’s Coverciano training centre ahead of their qualifiers in October to question Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo. The duo subsequently left the camp and Tonali was later handed a 10-month ban by the Italian Football Federation.

Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli was also handed a seven-month ban after being found guilty in the investigation, but he was named in Italy’s final 26-man squad for Euro 2024.

His inclusion is indicative of the dearth of attacking options in front of Spalletti.

Zaniolo and forward Domenico Berardi were ruled out of the tournament through injury, while Marco Verratti and Lorenzo Insigne no longer play their club football in Europe and have faded from national favour.

Injuries have hindered Federico Chiesa’s progress, with the 26-year-old Juventus forward yet to recapture the form that saw him light up Euro 2020.

Gianluca Scamacca, who scored 19 goals for Europa League winners Atalanta this season, is expected to lead the front line but he has scored just once for Italy in his 15 appearances.

Giacomo Raspadori is the other striking option at Spalletti’s disposal, but he has managed only 12 goals across the last two seasons.

Sandro Tonali’s 10-month ban for his part in a betting scandal added to Italy’s Euro 2024 qualification woes [Lee Smith/Reuters]

Defence is the best form of attack

All this points to a side that will be built around its defence. Unsurprisingly, Azzurri are not lacking for talent in this department – their 30-man preliminary squad features 11 eleven defenders.

Of these 11, four were from Inter Milan – prior to Francesco Acerbi’s late injury withdrawal – and given the Nerazzurri’s parsimonious defence this year, the remaining three Inter defenders are all likely to start in Germany.

The 22 goals Inter conceded in the Serie A this season are the lowest among all clubs in Europe’s top five leagues. The feat was achieved playing a back-three. So, replicating a system with a group of defenders already comfortable playing in it feels an almost no-brainer for Spalletti’s national team at Euro 2024.

The manager fielded a three-man defence for the first time in his tenure in the March 2024 friendlies against Venezuela and Ecuador, with Italy going on to win both. The sample size is small but the ceiling could be high.

A backline comprising of Alessandro Bastoni and Alessandro Boungiorni – the likely Acerbi replacement – with Federico Dimarco and Matteo Darmian at wing-back is, on paper, one of the best defences at Euro 2024.

But will that be enough to take them deep in the tournament?

Spalletti admitted in an interview with Sky Italia that there are other countries that are at a higher level than Italy but backed his team to compete with them.

“Our target is to return from Germany and hear Italians say, ‘We are proud of you,’” he said.

Italy’s Matteo Darmian (L) and Federico Dimarco will need to fortify the Italian defence if the reigning champs are to hold on to their title at Euro 2024 [Jennifer Lorenzini/Reuters]

Drawn in a difficult group that includes Spain, Croatia and Albania, even a quarterfinal finish would go a long way towards helping Spalletti meet this objective.

If the Italians can pull off an unlikely tournament coup, they will join Germany and Spain as the record three-time European champions.

⚽ Italy’s final squad for Euro 2024 ⚽

Captain: Gianluigi Donnarumma

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris St Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham Hotspur)

Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Raoul Bellanova (Torino), Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino), Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Inter), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Gianluca Mancini (Roma)

Midfielders: Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Nicolo Fagioli (Juventus), Michael Folorunsho (Hellas Verona), Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan), Jorginho (Arsenal), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)

Forwards: Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Genoa), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio)

You can follow the action on Al Jazeera’s dedicated Euro 2024 tournament page with all the match buildup and live text commentary, and keep up to date with group standings and real-time match results & schedules.

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Team preview: Yamal, Rodri key to Spain championship charge at Euro 2024 | UEFA Euro 2024 News

⚽ Spain – Key Euros Stats ⚽

Euro appearances: 11
Euro titles: 3
Best finish: Winners (1964, 2008, 2012)
Euros record: W21 D15 L10
Goals scored: 68
Biggest win: 5-0 (vs Slovakia at Euro 2020)
Player to watch: Lamine Yamal
World ranking: 8th
Group fixtures:

  • 15 June: Spain vs Croatia (Olympiastadion, Berlin, 6pm local/16:00 GMT)
  • 20 June: Spain vs Italy (Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, 9pm local/19:00 GMT)
  • 24 June: Albania vs Spain (Dusseldorf Arena, Dusseldorf, 9pm local/19:00 GMT)

How to follow our Euro 2024 coverage: UEFA Euro 2024 on Al Jazeera

The meekness of Spain’s dramatic exit from the 2022 Qatar World Cup has overshadowed what’s been a relatively successful period for the star-studded team.

Spain reached the semifinals of Euro 2020, where they were knocked out on penalties by eventual champions Italy.

In June 2023, they won the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Nations League – their first title since the team’s memorable Euro 2012 triumph.

The Nations League victory was significant for three main reasons.

First, beating Croatia in the final on penalties exorcised the demons of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where Spain shockingly failed to score a single penalty in their round of 16 exit to Morocco.

Second, there were huge volts of confidence from a late win over Italy in the Nations League semifinal and beating Italy and Croatia, both of whom are in the same Euro 2024 group as Spain.

Third, new Spain manager Luis de la Fuente getting a taste of silverware early into his reign ensured buy-in from his players as they head into Euro 2024.

New Spain coach Luis de la Fuente is leaning on young players like Lamine Yamal to perform at Euro 2024 [Yiannis Kourtoglou/Reuters]

Smells like teen spirit

De la Fuente is no stranger to success with the national team.

He won the Euros with the Spanish Under-19 and Under-23 teams and was in charge of the national side that won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

So, it comes as no surprise that the squad he’s picked for Euro 2024 is young and hungry for success.

Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal, 16, has made the cut while fellow La Masia graduate Fermin Lopez, 21, has earned his first call-up to the national side.

Twenty-one-year-olds Pedri and Nico Williams also feature in De la Fuente’s 26-man squad.

Yamal is almost certain to start for Spain at Euro 2024 and in doing so, he’ll become the youngest-ever player to make an appearance at the European championship.

The sublimely talented winger has already set a list of extraordinary records in his young career: youngest scorer for his club team Barcelona, youngest scorer in LaLiga history and youngest scorer for the Spanish national team.

While Yamal is the main attraction in this Spain side, its most important player is Manchester City star, Rodri.

The 27-year-old defensive midfielder has emerged as the de facto leader of the national side.

His partnership in the midfield with Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi – a duo De la Fuente dubbed the “best midfielders in the world in their position” – will be key to Spain’s chances at the Euros.

Villarreal’s Alex Baena, who has the most assists in the LaLiga this season, and Aleix Garcia, a key member in Girona’s Champions League qualifying campaign, are other sound options for De la Fuente to call upon in midfield.

Defensive midfielder Rodri is Spain’s on-pitch leader [Juan Medina/Reuters]

One step forward, one step back

Center forward is an area of concern for Spain.

Alvaro Morata will lead the line in Germany, but the Atletico Madrid forward’s form has tailed off after a strong start to the season. He has scored just twice since the start of March.

Joselu has managed a respectable 17 goals for Real Madrid this season, including a stunning brace against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinal, but he’s far from being a bankable option in international match play.

Given the makeup of the Spain squad, which along with being youth heavy also includes seven players above the age of 30, it’s tough to predict which way their campaign will swing.

Entering Euro 2024 in Germany as a near-unknown entity under a new manager making his major tournament debut could end up working in Spain’s favour.

⚽ Spain’s final squad for Euro 2024 ⚽

Captain: Alvaro Morata

Goalkeepers: Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad), David Raya (Arsenal), Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao)

Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Aymeric Laporte (Al-Nassr), Nacho Fernandez (Real Madrid), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)

Midfielders: Rodrigo (Manchester City), Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Fabian Ruiz (Paris St Germain), Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Pedri (Barcelona), Alex Baena (Villarreal), Fermin Lopez (Barcelona)

Forwards: Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid), Joselu (Real Madrid), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ayoze Perez (Real Betis), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

You can follow the action on Al Jazeera’s dedicated Euro 2024 tournament page with all the match build-up and live text commentary, and keep up to date with group standings and real-time match results and schedules.

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