The European Football Championships begin this evening, Friday 14 June, with the match between the hosts Germany and Scotland. Italy, which defends its title, will play its first match on Saturday evening against Albania, again at 9pm.
Here's everything you need to know.
THE FORMULA
There are 24 participating teams divided into six groups of 4. The group stage lasts from 14 to 26 June, the top two in each group plus the four best third-placed teams advance to the round of 16. In the ranking of the best thirds, these are the criteria taken into consideration: points scored; goal difference; goals scored; highest number of wins in the group stage; best fair play conduct in the group (-1 point for each yellow card, -3 points for each double yellow card or direct expulsion); best position in the overall ranking of the European qualifiers (or draw, in case Germany, the host nation, was involved).
After the group stage there are two days of rest before the start of the knockout stage, the final will be played on 14 July at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
THE GROUNDS
GROUP A
Germany
Scotland
Hungary
Swiss
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
Türkiye
Georgia
Portugal
Czech Republic
THE PROGRAM
Friday 14 June
