Euro 2024

Euro 2024 today: Who is playing? How to watch? What to look out for?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 23 June 2024

Sports Mole rounds up everything you need to know about today's Euro 2024 action, including fixtures, predicted lineups, how to watch and the best storylines.

Mere weeks after a gruelling domestic season concluded for the continent's most celebrated talents, 24 teams and over 600 players are now going again with Euro 2024 supremacy at stake.

Only three years have passed since Italy's exhilarating run to glory at the delayed Euro 2020 tournament, culminating in their penalty-shootout success over England at Wembley in the final, and the Azzurri are present in Germany to defend their crown after their World Cup 2022 failure.

However, the likes of England, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and hosts Germany are among the leading contenders to dethrone Italy as kings of Europe, where the new continental champions will be crowned in Berlin on July 14.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up everything you need to know about today's Euro 2024 action, including which teams are in action, how to watch and what to keep a particular eye out for.

TODAY'S EURO 2024 FIXTURES

Spain's Alvaro Morata celebrates scoring their first goal on June 15, 2024 © Reuters

Albania vs. Spain (8pm | Merkur Spiel-Arena)
Croatia vs. Italy (8pm | Red Bull Arena)

Monday's fixtures sees Group B - aka the Group of Death - come to a conclusion, as Albania tackle Spain at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf at 8pm UK time, while heavyweights Croatia and Italy scrap it out at the Red Bull Arena at the same time.

TODAY'S PREDICTED LINEUPS AT EURO 2024

Albania: Strakosha; Hysaj, Ajeti, Djimsiti, Mitaj; Asllani, Ramadani; Asani, Laci, Bajrami; Manaj
Spain: Raya; Navas, Vivian, Laporte, Grimaldo; Merino, Zubimendi, Baena; Torres, Joselu, Oyarzabal

Croatia: Livakovic; Stanisic, Sutalo, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modric, Sucic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Budimir, Kramaric
Italy: Donnarumma; Darmian, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco; Fagioli, Barella; Chiesa, Pellegrini, Zaccagni; Retegui

HOW TO WATCH TODAY'S EURO 2024 ACTION

Croatia's battle with Italy will be live on BBC One, the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport Website, with coverage starting at 7.30pm - 30 minutes before kickoff - and ending at 10.10pm at night.

At the same time, Albania's showdown with Spain will be broadcast on BBC Two, as well as the aforementioned streaming services.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR IN TODAY'S EURO 2024 MATCHES

Albania vs. Spain

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente on March 26, 2024 © Reuters

For Spain, Tuesday's Group B finale is nothing more than a dead rubber, having already asserted their dominance over Croatia (3-0) and reigning champions Italy (1-0) to confirm their place in the last 16 as group winners.

Luis de la Fuente has confirmed that changes will be coming as a result - one of which will be enforced as Rodri serves a one-game ban for a totting-up of yellow cards - and the likes of Jesus Navas, Martin Zubimendi and Ferran Torres should be among those to benefit from rotation.

While Spain will finish first no matter what transpires, Albania are involved in a heated three-way fight for second place, currently sitting third in the section with a solitary point after their dramatic 2-2 draw with Croatia, where Klaus Gjasula made up for his own goal with a last-gasp leveller.

Level on points with Croatia and two below Italy, Albania will nab second place if they beat Spain and the reigning champions lose to Croatia by no more than two goals, but each of their previous eight contests with Spain have ended in defeat.

Croatia vs. Italy

Italy's Nicolo Barella celebrates scoring against Albania on June 15, 2024 © Reuters

If Croatia - currently sitting bottom of the Group B standings - are to upset the last-16 apple cart and sneak into the top two, they must do something they have not achieved since 1942; beat Italy in a men's football match.

The Azzurri have strung together an eight-game unbeaten streak against the Chequered Ones since losing that inaugural friendly in 1942 - including a 2-1 success at the 2002 World Cup - and simply need to avoid defeat to ensure a second-placed finish.

Meanwhile, Zlatko Dalic's under-performing troops require a victory and a Spain win or draw versus Albania to rise up two places, but failure to do so would see them exit a major tournament with no victories for the first time since the 2006 World Cup.

For Luka Modric, a final Euros appearance beckons if Croatia cannot prolong their German adventure, while a handful of changes are expected on the Italians' end after their shoddy performance in the recent loss to Spain.

WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AT EURO 2024?

Hungary's Kevin Csoboth celebrates scoring their first goal with Dominik Szoboszlai and Roland Sallai on June 23, 2024 © Reuters

Drama happened.

Monday's double-header saw Group A come to its conclusion with already-through Germany taking on Switzerland in a straight shootout for first place, while Hungary and Scotland fought for the right to finish third and potentially advance to the knockout rounds.

Over at the Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Switzerland were on course to stun the tournament hosts and finish top courtesy of a Dan Ndoye effort, only for Niclas Fullkrug's injury-time leveller to cruelly deny the Swiss and ensure that Germany would progress as group winners.

The last-minute drama did not end there, as Scotland's gripping battle with Hungary ticked over to the 100-minute mark due to a horror injury sustained by striker Barnabas Varga, who was stretchered off after a collision with Angus Gunn.

After Scotland were denied what looked to be a stonewall penalty, Hungary's Kevin Csoboth - who plays his club football locally in Budapest - struck the astonishing winner which broke Scotland hearts and potentially saved the Magyars' Euros bacon.