A new edition of the Eurocup starts this Friday, with the opening match between the local team, Germany, and Scotland. There will be 24 teams competing for the continental title, currently held by Italy.
The first match, between Germany and Scotland, will kick off at 4 pm and will be played at the Allianz Arena, the home stadium of Bayern Munich, with a capacity of 75,000 people.
Germany, always a contender in any competition, is looking to end a 28-year drought without a Eurocup title. Their last victory was in 1996 when they defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in extra time. Oliver Bierhoff was the German hero, scoring the equalizer at 73 minutes and the golden goal at 95 minutes. The Germans are also tied with Spain as the most successful teams in the tournament, each with three titles.
In their recent friendly matches leading up to the tournament, Germany did not leave a good impression as they drew 0-0 against Ukraine and won 2-1 against Greece.
In this Eurocup edition, they will face tough competition from other top contenders such as France, England, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Teams like Croatia and Belgium should not be underestimated either, as they are capable of defeating anyone.
This will be the 17th edition of the Eurocup, a tournament that began in 1960 and is held every four years.
Here are the groups for the Eurocup:
Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, and Switzerland.
Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania.
Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, and England.
Group D: Poland, Netherlands, Austria, and France.
Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine.
Group F: Turkey, Georgia, Portugal, and the Czech Republic.
Fans can expect an exciting tournament with fierce competition and unexpected outcomes as the best teams in Europe battle it out for the prestigious title. Stay tuned for thrilling matches and memorable moments throughout the Eurocup.