Three months after Argentina’s dramatic victory over France in the World Cup final, qualifying for Euro 2024 begins this week. While the rest of Europe’s heavyweights begin the qualifying process this week, Germany, as host, is exempt from it. AFP Sport selects some of the upcoming plots.
Italy is back :
Italy was the nation with the most media attention to miss the World Cup in Qatar. In a rematch of the Euro 2020 final, which the Azzurri won on penalties at Wembley, they now begin their defense of the European Championship trophy against England.
Despite the disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign, Roberto Mancini is still in charge, but there are some new players in his team.
Mateo Retegui, a forward who was born in Argentina and is 23 years old, will be a player to keep an eye on. He was Tigre’s top scorer in the Argentinian league last year.
“A long time back they used to express that to play for the public group you should have been brought into the world in Italy. But things have changed in the world, and all national teams have players who have been naturalized or come from other countries,” Mancini stated.
Given that the top two teams in each section advance, Italy and England are expected to advance from qualifying Group C. However, Ukraine might be a problem for those teams because Ukraine plays England on Sunday.
Mbappe takes over as captain because Didier Deschamps needed a new captain after Hugo Lloris’s retirement after the World Cup.
With focus back Raphael Varane likewise remaining down, there is another shift in focus over to France as they get ready to start qualifying at home to the Netherlands on Friday before an excursion to the Republic of Ireland.
Mike Maignan of AC Milan will be the new best-option goalkeeper, while Pleasant midfielder Khephren Thuram got a first call-up – – the child of Lilian Thuram joins his senior sibling Marcus in the crew.
a new era for Spain:
Following their disappointing World Cup performance, Spain fired coach Luis Enrique and appointed Luis De La Fuente as his replacement.
Since 2013, the 61-year-old De La Fuente had led Spain’s youth teams, most recently the Under-23 squad.De La Fuente has overseen significant roster adjustments, including the notable decision to recall Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
There are now no survivors from the team that won Euro 2012 because Sergio Busquets retired and his Barcelona colleague Jordi Alba did not play.
Spain is in qualifying Group A and will play Scotland on Tuesday in Glasgow, followed by a home match against Norway, which will be without Erling Haaland due to injury.
Ronaldo is still playing for Portugal:
Many people were under the impression that Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia following the World Cup meant the end of his time playing for Portugal. However, they were pleasantly surprised to learn that the 38-year-old was included in the first squad that Roberto Martinez, the new coach of Portugal, has assembled.
When asked about his decision to include the former Manchester United and Real Madrid player, Martinez replied, “I don’t look at the age.”With 118 goals, Ronaldo holds the men’s international goal record. With 196 caps, he equals Kuwaiti Bader Al-Mutawa’s world record and holds the European men’s record.
Ronaldo will hope to guarantee that record inside and out and add to his objective count when Portugal faces Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.
In Group J, the 2016 European champions also face Iceland, Slovakia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. – New players on the field – Spain and Portugal aren’t the only European nations with new coaches entering qualifying.
After Louis van Gaal left the Netherlands following the World Cup, Ronald Koeman took over as coach again.
Fernando Santos is now in charge of Poland after eight years in charge of Portugal. Domenico Tedesco, a German born in Italy, has taken Martinez’s place as Belgium’s coach.
Michael O’Neill has returned briefly spell as a mentor of Northern Ireland. He led them to the Euro 2016 semifinals.