Explainers

IT wouldn’t be a Euros tournament without an opening ceremony – and SunSport can provide information on when the 2024 edition will take place.Hosts Germany kick-start the tournament with a mouthwatering fixture against Scotland.Luca De Gregorio and Arca Della of Meduza will be performing at the opening concertCredit: GettyWhile Three Lions fans will have to wait until Sunday, June 16 to see England get their campaign away with a tricky Serbia test.But before the first Euro 2024 whistle, fans have the opportunity to see some local artists perform.Find out everything you need to know about the opening ceremony.When is the Euro 2024 opening ceremony?There has been no confirmation of the official Euro 2024 opening ceremony but there will be an opening concert the day before the first whistle.Read more on Euro 2024Euro 2024 festival Stuttgart is set to take place on Thursday, June 13 and it will feature local artists.Admission for the festival is from 5pm BST but the actual concert starts an hour later at 6pm BST before concluding at around 11:30pm BST.Will there be a closing ceremony?Euro 2024 officials have confirmed that there will be an offical closing ceremony.It will take place ahead of the final on Sunday, July 14 at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin which can host approximately 74,475 fans.Most read in Euro 2024The Euro 2024 song ‘Fire’ will be performed which is a tune constructed by Meduza, OneRepublic and Leony.When is the opening Euro 2024 match?
Germany’s opening clash with Scotland will take place on Friday, June 14.
The Euro 2024 curtain raiser is scheduled to kick-off at 8pm BST.
The Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany will play host and it can host approximately 75,024 fans.
Euro 2024 – Prince William gives England team a royal send-off before Southgate’s 26 hopefuls jet off to Germany More

EURO 2024 promises intense action this summer and some of the world’s biggest stars are set to leave it all on the pitch.That is why some players may push the limits, especially when it matters the most, and that will really test the referees’ and VAR’s patience.A red card leads to a one-match suspension at Euro 2024Credit: GettyPlayers will want to avoid Giorgio Chiellini’s stunt on Bukayo SakaCredit: ReutersWho can ever forget Giorgio Chiellini grabbing Arsenal star Bukayo Saka by the scruff of the neck to stop a dangerous counter-attack during the Euro 2020 final when Italy beat England on penalties?Chiellini was only shown a yellow card for that incident, but players competing in this year’s tournament may want to avoid the same stunt as it could cost their teams dearly.How many games do players miss for a red card at Euro 2024?A red card could spell disaster, especially in the knockout stages where all managers will need their best players.That is because any player who is sent off will be suspended for the next match.Read More on FootballAnd any serious offences could lead to a more devastating punishment by UEFA.As per UEFA’s Article 54: “As a rule, a player or a team official sent off from the field of play and/or its immediate surrounds, including the technical area, is automatically suspended for the next match in the competition. “In case of serious offences, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body is entitled to augment this punishment, including by extending it to other competitions.”Funnily enough, the Premier League hasn’t seen a lot of red cards this season with Yves Bissouma and Oliver McBurnie topping the charts with two each.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSScotland given boost ahead of Euro 2024 as major rule change takes step forward More

THERE will be some notable teams not playing at Euro 2024 this summer.The competition kicks off in Germany this summer, with Europe’s top footballing nations aiming for glory.Norway and Erling Haaland will not be at Euro 2024Credit: APEuro 2024 will start on June 14 as host nation Germany face Scotland at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena.England will be among the favourites to go the whole way having reached the final in Euro 2020.Other favourites will include holders Italy as well as France, Spain and Portugal.Georgia will be hoping to cause a shock, having qualified for the tournament for the first time in its history.READ MORE IN EURO 2024Who failed to qualify?There will be plenty of big teams watching the tournament from home this summer.Norway are one nation that failed to book their spot in Germany as they finished third in their qualifying group.Northern Ireland also finished outside of the qualifying places in their group, which Denmark and Slovenia topped.The Republic of Ireland also missed out on a spot after finishing fourth in their group.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSWales did make it to the play offs but were beaten by Poland on penalties meaning they will miss out.Euro 2004 winners Greece also lost their play-off against Georgia and will not be in Germany.England’s tormentors from Euro 2016 Iceland will not be at the tournament as they, too, failed to make it through the play-offs.Sweden, despite making it to the knockout stages in Euro 2020, also finished outside of the qualifying spots.Which players will miss out?With nations such as Norway and Wales not qualifying, there will be some notable stars not on display at Euro 2024.Manchester City hotshot Erling Haaland and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard will have the summer off.Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof, Tottenham Hotspur’s Dejan Kulusevski, Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga, and Newcastle striker Alexander Isak will not be in Germany after Sweden failed to qualify.Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and Brighton’s rising star Evan Ferguson miss out with the rest of the Republic of Ireland.Who qualified for Euro 2024?Here are the six groups for Euro 2024 in full:Group A
Germany
Scotland
Hungary
Switzerland
Group B
Spain
Croatia
Italy
Albania
Group C
Slovenia
Denmark
Serbia
England
Group D
Poland
Netherlands
Austria
France
READ MORE SUN STORIESGroup E
Belgium
Slovakia
Romania
Ukraine
Group F
Turkey
Georgia
Portugal
Czech Republic More

WITH the Uefa Euro 2024 tournament rapidly approaching fans are awaiting to see their nation battle it out in Germany.As the European Championship unfolds the points standings in each group will shift, ultimately deciding which teams will move on to the knockout rounds.Germany host the Uefa Euro 2024 tournament this summerCredit: EPABut for countries winning their game is not the only deciding factor to proceed into the knockout stages.Additional factors such as head-to-head, goal difference and goals scored come into play if teams end up level on points in their group.How does the group stage work?The Uefa Euro points system is clear and simple – rewarding teams based on their performance during matches.
Win: A team earns 3 points for a victory.
Draw: Both teams in a draw receive 1 point each.
Loss: A losing team earns 0 points.
READ MORE IN EURO 2024Teams are ranked in their groups according to the number of points they have earned, and the top teams will progress to the knockout rounds.What happens if teams are tied on points?If two or more teams are level on points at the end of the group stage, a head-to-head record is used as the first tie-breaker to determine their final rankings.This is followed by goal difference and goals scored in the matches between the teams in question, followed by most wins and then disciplinary records across the group as a whole.Should two teams be tied on points, goals scored and conceded at the end of the group stage – with no tiebreaker separating them from any other team – a penalty shootout will dictate their final placings.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSCan third place qualify for the knockouts?The format will be the same as for Euro 2020. The top two in each of the six final tournament groups will proceed to the round of 16 along with the four best third-placed finishers.Again this will be determined by points won, goals scored and conceded at the end of the group stage.The tournament then enters into knockout football with a round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-final and final.When does Euro 2024 start?The Euro 2024 final tournament is scheduled to run from June 14 to July 14, 2024. The group stage will conclude on June 26, followed by the knockout stage starting on June 29.The final will take place on Sunday, July 14.What are the groups?Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, SwitzerlandGroup B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, AlbaniaGroup C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, EnglandGroup D: Poland, Netherlands, Austria, FranceREAD MORE SUN STORIESGroup E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, UkraineGroup F: Turkey, Georgia, Portugal, Czech RepublicPLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament. More

EURO 2024 managers have all now officially named their squads for the huge tournament in Germany this summer.Each gaffer will know the importance of utilising their squad through the gruelling tournament.Substitutions play a crucial part in footballCredit: GETTYEngland boss Gareth Southgate will have a 26-man squad at his disposal at Euro 2024Credit: GettyThis can be through means of rotation for certain games or the use of substitutions during matches.SunSport has all the details you need to know about the substitution rules at Euro 2024…How many substitutes are teams allowed to make at Euro 2024?Each manager can make up to five substitutions per match as long as they are made during three stoppages.A sixth will also be available during extra time in the Euro 2024 knockout stages.Read More on FootballUefa’s Article 56 states: “Up to five of the substitutes listed on each team’s match sheet may take part in the match. “Additionally, a sixth substitute listed on the match sheet may take part in knockout matches exclusively during extra time. “A player who has been substituted may take no further part in the match. Each team may use a maximum of three stoppages in play to make substitutions (one additional stoppage in extra time can be used). “Substitutions made before the start of the match, during half-time, between the end of normal playing time and extra time, and at half-time during extra time do not reduce the number of stoppages in play that can be used.Most read in Football”After the match sheets have been exchanged, no changes are allowed. Before the match has kicked off, the following exceptions are possible:”Any of the players indicated on the match sheet as forming the starting 11 who cannot start the match due to physical incapacity may be replaced by one of the substitutes listed on the match sheet.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”The substitute in question may then be replaced by a registered player not previously listed on the match sheet, so that the quota of substitutes is not reduced. During the match, five players may still be substituted.”Any of the substitutes listed on the match sheet who cannot be fielded due to physical incapacity may be replaced by a registered player not previously listed on the match sheet.England 2 Belgium 2: Jude Bellingham’s last-gasp leveller saves Gareth Southgate’s blushes after lacklustre display”If none of the goalkeepers listed on the match sheet can be fielded due to physical incapacity, they may be replaced by registered goalkeepers not previously listed on the match sheet.”The club concerned must, upon request, provide the UEFA administration with the necessary medical certificates. “Any change made to the players indicated on the match sheet as forming the starting 11 after the match sheets have been exchanged without providing due medical evidence is considered as a substitution, and the number of substitutions available to the team during the match is reduced accordingly. The replaced player may take no further part in the match. More