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Who could we support In Euro 2024, now that Cymru are not going?

Stephen @StephenJBaker takes a look at the groups and muses on who he’ll temporarily shout for in Euro 2024. Let him know what you think.

In a few weeks’ time, what is now a rare event in World Football is going to happen. For the first time since 2018 an International Football tournament will take place without Cymru. Yes, there has only been two but….

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Since the World Cup in Russia, where we didn’t qualify on moral grounds (I will not admit that we weren’t good enough) we have had Cymru to support. This summer, some of us will have to return to the old pattern and pick another team to get behind.

So, let’s go through the Groups and see who we might follow in Euro ‘24. Maybe you’ve been tempted to buy a shirt, but then after seeing the price decide to get on Duolingo and learn how to say ‘I hate VAR’ in their language instead.

Group A

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Naturally we are drawn to our Celtic cousins but who will we follow in the Second Round? They kick off the tournament against Germany on the 14th June, not expecting to win. Their big matches are actually against the other two sides. 

Can’t say I ever said ‘Can’t wait to get home to watch the Hungary match’ and I’m neutral on Switzerland. I will be shouting for them against Germany for the sake of Scotland getting through to the Second Round for the first time. Speaking of the Germans, not the most likeable side in world football but tournaments are always better when the host go far. It will have to be Scotland in the Group Stage then get caught up with the Hosts making a run for it.

Group B

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Do we go with the favourites Spain and Italy or do we go with Croatia? Croatia is a similar size to Cymru and they always have a cool shirt. We’ve played Croatia a lot, so we know all their players.

Albania I know next to nothing about. They probably beat us in the fourth match of one of our qualifying groups between 1994-2014, thereby leaving us no chance of qualifying. So, we give them a miss.

It would be too easy to go with Italy or Spain, unless you are a fan of Yards Rolled After Contact.

Group C 

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The other three!

Group D

Poland

Netherlands

Austria

France

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I still haven’t gotten over the Playoff Final, so there is no chance of me supporting the first team. I’m petty like that.

I’ve always had a soft spot the Netherlands. The great players they have had over the years and like us they’ve managed to underachieve. Plus their shirts are always stunning.

France is always a good follow, even if it’s just to see how they manage to shoot themselves in the foot.

Austria will only be there for the group stage, so it will be the Netherlands in this group. Plus think of the nights in the pub Dai will have if they go far!

Group E 

Belgium 

Slovakia

Romania 

Ukraine

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It will be nice for Belgium to be in a tournament knowing they won’t have to face us. But that means we will probably get them in the next World Cup qualifiers. I can’t support them in this tournament.

I still haven’t got over that match in 1993, so that’s no to Romania (told you that I was petty).

 Sorry to Slovakia but there is only one team to support in this group and fingers crossed they will go far and help boost the country’s moral. Good luck Ukraine.

Group F

Türkiye 

Georgia 

Portugal

Czechia

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Group F or the Group of Anyone But Ronaldo. Can’t say I will want to support any of the teams in this group after they have played Portugal, but it would be nice to see Georgia make a go of it. Out of the four teams by process of elimination it will be Georgia.

So these are the teams, from across the groups, that I will be supporting because Cymru are not in Germany.

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Group A – Scotland (then Germany)

Group B – Croatia

Group C – The other three

Group D – Netherlands

Group E – Ukraine

Group F – Georgia

These are not the teams I think will win;; will just have a little fun supporting them during the summer.

What teams will you support?