It’s exciting to think that Euro 2024 is just a few short months away, isn’t it? The groups have now been drawn and we know how the group fixtures will shape up (apart from the 3 playoff winners to be added in March) and the knockout games from there. There are loads of ways to get involved with the prestigious summer football tournament. You can play a Euros football predictor game with your mates, get involved with the sticker books and the cards, plan big family parties and BBQs where your English, Scottish (and maybe Welsh) families and friends can come together to watch the big match.
What will Germany be like as a host for the Euros, though? Let’s break it down and see why we think they will do a fine job as host.
Getting to Germany
Germany’s location in Europe makes it one of the easiest places to travel to from any part of Europe. From the UK you can fly to most German cities in around 2 hour or less, and there are plenty of flights from the majority of UK airports without breaking the budget. There are great options to fly to non-host cities for cheaper than host cities too. Other ways to get to Germany include driving, as well as an extensive train network across Europe that allows for cost-effective travel in and out of the country. Recently, the overnight European sleeper train has made a return, with a route from Brussels to Berlin overnight.
Transport in Germany
It is simple to get around Germany once you are there. The Autobahn is extensive, reliable and well-integrated, making it easy to drive around the whole country. Roads are well-designed and maintained, and public transportation is fantastic and efficient, with inter-city rail networks second-to-none. Under-fives travel for free on Deutsche Bahn (DB) trains, whilst kids ages between 5 and 14 travel free when travelling with a paying adult. Whichever way you choose to travel around Germany and within the host cities, you’ll find it cost-effective and reliable, without large distances between different locations in the country.
Legacy of World Cup 2006
The World Cup was hosted in Germany back in 2006, and it is widely held as one of the best World Cups in modern times for the ‘fan experience’. It was a great festival of football, with fantastic stadiums, that were either brand-new or renovated for the tournament, a welcoming host country, that was easy to get around and offers so much to tourists away from just the football itself and the host cities. In 2016 there was a similar feeling to France hosting Euro 2016, as a similar size country, with plenty for fans to enjoy. The legacy of 2006 for Germany was massive, as the Bundesliga has grown in popularity in the years since, as a destination for football fans from the world over. Germany legend, Philipp Lahm, has since said about 2006 as the first time a reunified Germany had hosted a tournament; “As a society we grew together again, became more connected and were able to present ourselves to the world. We could show people who we are.” 2006 was fantastic for the country, brought with it confidence that has grown since and will help Germany be a great host once again in 2024.
Host Cities
The host cities at Euro 2024 showcase the biggest and the best that Germany has to offer. The stadiums are historic and incredible, and each city has its own unique culture, cuisine, and history to offer tourists. The host cities are:
- Berlin
- Leipzig
- Munich
- Stuttgart
- Hamburg
- Dortmund
- Dusseldorf
- Cologne
- Gelsenkirchen
- Frankfurt
If you’re looking for a Euros cup predictor game to get stuck into next summer with your pals or colleagues, this guide will surely get you excited about how great Germany will be as a host country. If you can’t travel to watch games, why not get involved at home and have some fun predicting results and seeing your chances of winning grow as the tournament progresses.
