Euro 2024 set to kick off in Germany on June 14. Glimpses of the grand affair

Euro 2024 kicks off on June 14 in Germany as the continent's footballing heavyweights prepare to fight it out over the next month with the aim of taking the crown away from reigning champions Italy. Germany play Scotland in the opening game in Munich. (AFP Photo)

It is the first time Germany has hosted a major men's international tournament since the 2006 World Cup. (AFP Photo)

Euro 2020 was delayed by a year because of the pandemic, finally taking place in 2021 in front of limited crowds. Matches will be played in 10 stadiums, from Hamburg in the north to Munich in the south. (AFP Photo)

Germans are hoping for a repeat of 2006, when many fell in love with their national team again after a period in the doldrums similar to what they have experienced in the years leading up to this competition. (AFP Photo)

Philipp Lahm, the captain of Germany's 2014 World Cup-winning team and now Euro 2024 tournament director, also hopes the competition will bring people together at a time of division and disunity across the continent. (AFP Photo)

The tournament begins less than a week after far-right parties made significant gains in EU parliament elections, while Europe is still dealing with the crisis of the war in Ukraine. (AFP Photo)

France are Europe's top-ranked nation and have been in the last two World Cup finals. Fresh from sealing his move to Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe is eager to make up for a disappointing showing at the last Euros, when his penalty miss sealed a shoot-out defeat to Switzerland in the last 16. "Kylian is our captain and a great leader. We will need him to be at his best," admitted France coach Didier Deschamps. (AFP Photo)

England have never been European champions, although they came mightily close in 2021 when they lost the final on penalties to Italy. Optimism about their prospects this time is fueled by the fact that star players Harry Kane, of Bayern, and Jude Bellingham, formerly of Borussia Dortmund, should feel so at home on German soil. "We want to make history," said England midfielder Declan Rice this week. (AFP Photo)

The French and English will be on course to meet in the semi-finals if they both top their groups. (AFP Photo)

The prospect of Italy -- who are in the same group as Spain -- successfully defending their title seems slightly remote, but it would be foolish to rule them out. "This Italy team is underrated and very competitive," insisted legendary former Azzurri goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. (AFP Photo)

Portugal, champions in 2016, are genuine contenders even if they are still led by Cristiano Ronaldo, now aged 39 and playing club football in Saudi Arabia. (AFP Photo)

This Euros is the third since the competition was expanded to feature 24 teams, a move that has afforded a chance to some smaller nations, including Georgia, debutants this time. (AFP Photo)