The Euros are just a couple of sleeps away as fans gear up to watch the football carnival for the next months in absence of club football. Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo remains the biggest crowd-puller in the competition as fans try to witness the great of the sport, giving possible one last go at another international trophy.
The only hurdle for supporters is that tickets, not for the Euro fixtures but to only witness Ronaldo train are going for eye-watering prices, starting from $430 and going all the way up to $870.
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Portugal will face Czechia, Turkey, and Georgia in their group with the opening encounter scheduled for June 18. However, prior to the serious business, there will be an open training session on Friday (Jun 14), for which 6,000 free tickets have been allocated. According to an ESPN report, these tickets are now being resold at exorbitant prices.
“There were several tickets offered for €400 ($430) while others were on sale for €800 ($870) on the German website kleinanzeigen,” the report mentioned.
Ronaldo is in the final stretch of his career and fans are eager to catch a glimpse of the megastar who no longer plays in the European leagues. Ronaldo has been in Saudi Arabia, playing for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr for the last couple of seasons, which means fans in Europe have been unable to watch him in action.
The Portuguese is the leading goal scorer in men’s international football with 128 goals in 204 official matches. He will be playing his final Euros, having featured in six previous editions, winning one (2016) and finishing runners-up (2004) in another.
The Al-Nassr star scored twice in the friendly match against Iceland on Tuesday (Jun 11) to indicate he was all prepared for the big tournament.
“I know I don’t have many years of football left. It’s a gift to play year after year, after 35. I’m 39 and every year is about enjoying [myself]. To score for the national team is special. The national team is the love of my life, winning the Euros would be a dream,” said Ronaldo after the match.
Euro 2024 – ready reckoner
The opening match of the continental tournament will see hosts Germany take on Scotland in Munich on June 14. The Euro 2024 final will take place on July 14 in the capital, Berlin.
A total of 24 teams, divided into six groups will take part in the tournament, playing 51 matches in total. Ten cities have been chosen as venues across Germany – Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich and Stuttgart.
Groups and teams:
Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland 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: Turkey, Georgia, Portugal, Czech Republic
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