First full day of Euro 2024 saw Switzerland, Spain and Italy earn wins over their respective opponents to kick off their campaign in style.
The Euro 2024 is living up to its biding so far with goals flying in every fixture since the opening day. A match has averaged four goals so far with 16 goals already recorded after four games.
Here is how it went down on the first full day of the 17th edition of Euro in Germany.
Switzerland outclass Hungary in Euro 2024
Clearly the favourite heading into the clash, albeit few fans would have seen little margin between the two, Switzerland was at their battling best against Hungary in the second kickoff in Germany.
Murat Yakin side stormed into an early lead as Kwadwo Duah scored his maiden international goal 11 days after his debut, in the 12th-minute, finising off from a Michel Aebischer’s through ball.
In the build-up to this particular goal, there were 22 uninterruptednpasses put together by the Swiss, the third longest passing sequence leading to a goal at the EUROs on record (since 1980).
Michel Aebischer doubled Switzerland’s lead on the stroke of half-time, goal assisted by Remo Freuler. The Bologna midfielder unleashed a sensational curling strike from the edge of the box, leaving Hungary Goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi no chance at all.
Aebischer, who had waited for five years since his debut before his maiden goal involvement for the Swiss national team finished the first-half with a goal and an assist, becoming the first player to do so in UEFA EURO in the country’s history.
Barnabas Varga pulled one back for Hungary six minutes after the hour mark, guiding his header past Yann Sommer after connecting with a Dominik Szoboszlai cross to the far post to set-up a nervy final quarter of the match.
Substitute Breel Embolo had the final say though, with his fifth goal in his most recent seven international games in the 93rd-minute to finally put an end to any hopes of Hungary comeback.
3-1 it finished to Switzerland, who have now seven and lost just one in their last 10 meetings with Hungary, and in the process move up to second behind Germany on goal difference in Group A.
Up next for Switzerland is Scotland while Hungary faces off with host and group leader Germany.
Spain humbled unlucky Croatia in Euro 2024
In the biggest fixture of the Euro 2024 so far, Spain proved too good for Croatia as they secured a 3-0 win in their encounter in Berlin on Saturday evening.
It was an evenly contested affair with Croatia generating more expected goals and created three big chances. Unfortunately for them, it was their opponent who proved more clinical on the day.
Alvaro Morata opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark. The captain received a through pass down the middle and took a couple of touches to set himself up before firing past the unrushing Dominik Livakovic in Croatia goal.
The goal sees him become only the the second player to reach 10+ goals for Spain in FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship combined after David Villa, who finished his career with 13.
Four minutes later, Fabian Ruiz turned goalscorer to double their lead. He received a simple pass from Pedr and drove his way to a clear path before firing past the goalkeeper.
Dani Carvajal scored in the second minute of extra time of first-half, producing his first-ever international goal on his UEFA European Championship debut, connecting with a Lamine Yamal cross to make it 3-0.
And thus the histories continue to come in Euro 2024 as Lamine Yamal, at 16 years and 338 days, went from becoming the youngest player to ever appear at the tournament to the youngest to register an assist in it.
In Yamal (16years 338days) and Pedri (21years 203days), Spain becomes the first side to have at least two players aged 21 or under to create at least three chances for a side in a game at the UEFA European Championships since Germany against Czechia in June 2004 (Phillip Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski).
Croatia was handed a chance to grab a consolation in the latter stages of the game but Bruno Petkovic saw his effort saved by Unai Simon and albeit Perisic passed the rebound for the striker to score, the goal was ruled out for encroachment.
It finished 3-0 to Spain, who kicked off their campaign in style and could be confident of reaching the next round as early as now.
Defending champions Italy had to do it from behind
Italy has become the first side to win a game after going behind in Euro 2024 following a 2-1 win over Albania to kick off their title defence with all three points.
Albania got off to a wonderful start as Nejim Bajrami opened the scoring 23 seconds into the game, setting a new record for the fastest goal in UEFA European Championship history, beating a time of 67 seconds set by Russia’s Dmitri Kirichenko against Greece in 2004.
It was just as the last time they faced the Azzurri when they scored an early goal in a 3-1 defeat in November 2022.
The lead didn’t last long though, as Alessandro Bastoni leveled matters for Luciano Spalletti‘s men in the 11th-minute with a brilliant header from a Lorenzo Pellegrini’s cross following a worked corner with Federico Dimarco.
Italy take the lead with the eventual match-winner as Nicolo Barella fired home a sensational strike as Albania struggled to clear their lines.
The goal sees him become the only player in the current Italy squad to reach double digits of international goals, and overtaking Francesco Totti on international goals in the process.
The two goalkeepers made sensational saves in ends to keep the scoreline at 2-1 as Italy get their title defence underway with a win, extending winning run against Albania to five.
Up next for Italy is a meeting with Spain on Thursday, while Albania take on Croatia a day before.
