da lvbet： For some big names, this summer's tournament is a chance to bow out on a colossal high, while for others it's about far more than football

da winzada777： The wait is almost over. Euro 2024 will finally get under way on Friday, when Germany and Scotland face off in Munich in the opening game of perhaps the most wide-open edition in recent memory.

England and France are obviously the top two contenders in most people's eyes, but Portugal, Spain and Belgium have some serious talent at their disposal. Defending champions Italy have yet to quite click under Luciano Spalletti but tournament hosts Germany seem to be slowly but surely moving in the right direction again thanks to Julian Nagelsmann, while Netherlands look like an attractive outside bet.

All things considered, Euro 2024 has the makings of a fascinating spectacle, and not just because of the wide variety of teams set to challenge for the title. There are also several other storylines that will be well worth following over the next four weeks…

Getty Amazing atmosphere

After the ridiculous decision to stage Euro 2020 games in several different countries, resulting in squads racking up an offensive amount of air miles and fans having to fork out a fortune to follow their teams, we once again (and maybe for the final time) have a tournament staged in one country.

In Germany, we also have an ideal host nation, at least from a sporting perspective. The quality of the stadiums is fantastic. Not one has a capacity of less than 46,000 – and they should generate amazing atmospheres for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, Germany is centrally located within Europe and, thus, easily accessible to most visiting supporters. Secondly, Germany boasts a fantastic footballing culture. Even the neutrals in attendance will make their voices heard during the games.

There's obviously no way of predicting exactly how things will pan out ,but if Euro 2024 is anything like the 2006 World Cup, we're set for a terrific tournament that captures the imagination not only of the host nation, but also the entire sporting world.

AdvertisementPride of Ukraine

Even accounting for the Nations League safety net, Ukraine making it all the way to Germany represents something of a minor miracle. The players and their people have been living a nightmare for the past two-and-a-half years, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine having devastated an entire country.

The ongoing war also meant that the national team couldn't play a single qualifying or play-off match on home soil, and yet Sergiy Rebrov's men still managed to get through. "It is impossible to put into words what it means to us," midfielder Giorgiy Sudakov told GOAL. "But there was just this incredible sense of pride."

The goal now is to bring even more joy to their long-suffering families and friends by qualifying for the knockout stage – and they actually have every chance of doing so, having been drawn in the same group as Belgium, Slovakia and Romania. Second spot really is there for the taking for a squad that views Euro 2024 as far more than just a football tournament.

Georgia's debut

The European Championship has too many teams. The format is now farcical. The quality of the competition has been diluted. But more games obviously means more money for UEFA.

Still, for all the justified cynicism surrounding the recent expansion, it was undeniably moving to see the scenes of celebration that followed Georgia qualifying for the Euros for the first time in the nation's history. As delirious fans streamed onto the pitch to embrace the nation's new heroes after the play-off win over Greece at the Boris Paitchadze Dinamo Arena, impromptu street parties broke out all across the country.

"We are so happy! I have never experienced such an emotion in all my life," star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia admitted to .

The draw has not been particularly kind to Georgia, who will face Portugal, Czech Republic and Turkey in Germany. It's difficult to see a team that finished fourth in their qualifying group reaching the knockout stage – even though four third-placed teams will progress.

However, as coach Willy Sagnol told , "What's certain is that no matter who we play, we will never give up – and give everything we have." It's also clear that if Georgia were to even pick up a point, it would spark more beautiful scenes of celebration back home.

GettySouthgate's final shot?

This is it for England. The past eight years have been building towards this moment. After the embarrassment of being knocked out of Euro 2016 by Iceland, Gareth Southgate has restored national pride in the Three Lions.

However, after several near-misses at major tournaments, the pressure is now very much on the manager to finally end 58 years of disappointment by lifting a trophy. Southgate, who is likely to stand down after the Euros, certainly has the players to triumph in Germany, at least from an attacking perspective. England arguably have a more exciting group of forwards than any other country in world football right now.

But will Southgate get the best out of them? He's been accused of being too conservative in the past, but surely now is the time to let them off the leash? After all, attack is probably the best form of defence for a squad that looks worryingly weak at the back.

Will England win the Euros? It's so hard to know. But there's no doubt that their campaign is going to be absolutely compelling because the sense of anticipation is immense. It's now or never for Southgate's side.