The group stage of the 2024 European Cup in football is witnessing its strongest matches on paper today in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, when defending champion Italy meets Spain for the fifth time in a row in the continental championship, while England, dreaming of a first continental title, seeks to achieve its second victory when it meets Denmark in Frankfurt.
In the second group, Spain and Italy seek to build on their victory in the first round, after Italy overturned its deficit against Albania to a 2-1 victory, and Spain defeated Croatia 3-0.
The match is considered revenge for Spain, which lost to Italy in the last two editions, 2-0 in the 2016 edition of the round, then on penalties in the 2020 edition’s semi-finals, but Spain beat Italy 4-0 in the 2012 edition’s final after they tied 1-1 in the group stage. They also met in the 2008 quarter-finals, when Spain won on penalties. Spain has won the title three times, most recently in 2012, and holds the record equal to Germany. In 40 confrontations between the two sides, Spain won 13 times, compared to 11 wins for Italy.
In the second match in Group C, England coach Gareth Southgate, looking for his second successive victory, must solve the dilemma of the best position for Phil Foden, the best player in the English Premier League last season, who failed to repeat his wonderful performances with his City team for his country’s national team. Foden suffers with England because he plays on the left wing, while with City he plays as a playmaker and sometimes on the right side. Within the same group, Serbia, which lost its first match against England, plays against Slovenia, which tied 1-1 with Denmark.
. England coach Southgate is required to find a solution for the best position for his young star, Phil Foden.
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