Football

Euro 2024: A Comprehensive Guide to the Upcoming TournamentThe UEFA European Football Championship, commonly known as the Euros, is one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the world. The 2024 edition of the tournament will be held in Germany from June 14 to July 14, 2024.Host Cities and StadiumsThe tournament will be hosted in 10 cities across Germany: Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Stuttgart. Each city will host three group stage matches and one knockout match.Participating TeamsA total of 24 teams will participate in Euro 2024. The teams have been divided into six groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage.Group StageThe group stage will take place from June 14 to June 26. The teams will play three matches each, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage.Knockout StageThe knockout stage will begin on June 29 with the round of 16. The eight teams that advance from the group stage will be paired off in single-elimination matches. The winners of the round of 16 will advance to the quarterfinals, followed by the semifinals and the final.Key Players to WatchSome of the key players to watch in Euro 2024 include:* Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)* Kylian Mbappé (France)* Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)* Harry Kane (England)* Robert Lewandowski (Poland)Favorites to WinThe favorites to win Euro 2024 are France, England, and Germany. France is the defending champion, while England and Germany have both been in impressive form in recent years.History of the EurosThe UEFA European Football Championship was first held in 1960. The tournament has been won by 10 different countries, with Germany and Spain being the most successful teams with three titles each.Impact on GermanyEuro 2024 is expected to have a significant impact on Germany. The tournament will bring in millions of visitors and generate billions of euros in revenue. It will also be a major opportunity for Germany to showcase its footballing infrastructure and culture.

Euro 2024: Germany to Host the 17th Edition of the UEFA European ChampionshipGermany will host the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship, also known as Euro 2024, from June 14 to July 14. The tournament will feature 24 teams, including Georgia, which will make its European championship debut.This will be the third time that the European championship will be held on German territory, and the second time in reunified Germany. West Germany hosted the tournament in 1988, and four matches of the multi-national Euro 2020 were played in Munich.The tournament will return to its usual four-year cycle after the 2020 edition was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Italy are the defending champions, having won the 2020 tournament against England on penalties in the final.The venues for Euro 2024 are:* Olymplastadion Berlin* Fubbal Arena Munchen* Westfalenstadion* Stuttgard Arena* Arena AutSchalke* Frankfurt Arena* Volksparkstadion* Dusseldorf Arena* Cologne Stadium* Leipzig StadiumThe 24 participating teams are grouped into six groups:* Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland* Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania* Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England* Group D: Poland, Netherlands, Austria, France* Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine* Group F: Turkey, Georgia, Portugal, Czech RepublicThe full schedule (time in IST) is as follows:

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has extended its exclusive broadcast and digital rights for UEFA club football competitions, including the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, Super Cup, and Youth League. The renewal covers the 2024/25 to 2026/27 seasons, granting SPNI access to over 1600 matches across its channels and OTT platform, SonyLIV.The UEFA Champions League will undergo a format change in 2024/25, with four additional clubs participating in a new league phase. This will increase the number of competing clubs to 36, ranked together in a single league format. The change aims to provide more opportunities for top teams to compete and enhance the excitement of the tournament.Additionally, UEFA's premier club competitions will no longer have a break in January, ensuring non-stop European club football from August to May. SPNI will continue to telecast select UEFA Champions League matches in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, recognizing the growing popularity of regional language coverage.SPNI has been the home of UEFA Champions League since 2017 and will continue to broadcast the final at Wembley Stadium in London, England. The network also holds the rights to UEFA EURO 2024, Bundesliga, Emirates FA Cup, and Roshn Saudi Pro League.The renewal of SPNI's UEFA rights ensures that Indian audiences will continue to enjoy the highest level of European club football, featuring top teams and players like Real Madrid, Manchester United, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland.