Euro 2024 has kicked off with a bang, with only four games played so far but already providing plenty of excitement. Germany set the tone by thrashing Scotland, and since then, records have been broken left, right, and center. The tournament has seen a 16-year-old superstar emerge, goals galore, and impressive performances from young talents.
In terms of goals, the opening four games have seen Germany cruise to a 5-1 victory against Scotland, Switzerland emerge as 3-1 winners against Hungary, Spain secure a 3-0 win over Croatia, and Italy come from behind to beat Albania 2-1. The 16 goals scored in these games mark the highest tally at this point of a European Championship or World Cup since Euro 1976. In fact, three games have seen at least three goals scored before half-time, a feat that had only occurred twice throughout Euro 2020. The only other time this has happened more frequently was at Euro 2004, where it occurred in four matches. With 47 matches yet to be played, it seems likely that this record will be broken.
One of the standout aspects of Euro 2024 has been the emergence of young talent. Spain’s victory over Croatia was impressive in itself, but it was 16-year-old Lamine Yamal who stole the spotlight by becoming the youngest man to play at a European Championship. He even registered an assist, contributing to Spain’s eye-catching start to the competition. Italy also made a statement by naming their youngest Euros starting line-up since 1988, with an average age of only 26 years and 287 days. In Hungary’s game, Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai became the youngest man to captain a team at the Euros at the age of 23 years and 234 days. This tournament has truly become a showcase for the “next generation” of footballers, as former England defender Phil Jagielka observed.
Albania, despite scoring the fewest goals of any group winner in qualifying, made their mark by scoring the fastest goal in Euros history. Nedim Bajrami found the back of the net after only 23 seconds, surpassing the previous record set by Dmitri Kirichenko in Euro 2004. However, despite this early success, Albania’s manager Sylvinho acknowledged that his team could have performed better.
As Euro 2024 continues, fans can expect more thrilling matches, goals, and the continued rise of young talents. The tournament has already provided a glimpse into the future of European football, with a focus on the next generation of players. It’s an exciting time for football fans as they witness the birth of new stars and the breaking of long-standing records.