The Munich Arena will be lit up in rainbow colors during the European Championship on June 22 and 23. The occasion is Christopher Street Day in the Bavarian capital, and the European Championship organizers confirmed a corresponding application. A European Championship game will not be held in Munich on those two days. The lighting was a major controversial issue during the 2021 European Championship. UEFA had rejected a request from the city to have the arena lit up in rainbow colors for the third group game against Hungary. The background to the application was the protest against a law passed in Hungary at the time that restricted the information rights of young people with regard to homosexuality and transsexuality.
UEFA justified the decision with the political background of the application, which was also directed against the Hungarian team and the Hungarian fans. Munich will host six matches at this European Championship, including the opening match this Friday between Germany and Scotland. This will be followed by three further group matches on 17, 20 and 25 June, as well as a round of 16 match (2 July) and a semi-final match (9 July). The DFB selection will play against Hungary on 19 June in Stuttgart.
7.43 a.m.: Lamine Yamal can become the youngest European Championship player
The Spaniard Lamine Yamal can become the youngest player in the history of the European Championship on Saturday. The 16-year-old striker from FC Barcelona has a good chance of being in the starting eleven in the first group match against Croatia in Berlin (6 p.m./ARD and Magenta TV). Yamal will turn 17 on July 12.
Lamine Yamal is expected to play against Belgium on Saturday
What: REUTERS
The youngest European Championship footballer to date was Jude Bellingham, then from Dortmund, in 2021 at 17 years and 349 days. Yamal made his debut for Barcelona in the Spanish first division at the age of 15 and became the youngest debutant and goalscorer in the Spanish national team last year in the 7-1 win against Georgia at the age of 16 years and 57 days.
22:51: Ronaldo excels for Portugal
Led by a brilliant Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal won its last test before the European Championship in Germany with ease. Coach Roberto Martínez’s team defeated Ireland 3-0 (1-0).
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Joao Félix gave the hosts the lead in Aveiro in the 18th minute. Ronaldo, who had already been conspicuous in the first half and had hit the post with a deflected free kick, then really got going after the break. The 39-year-old first scored a great goal in the top corner (50th) and followed it up with his second goal ten minutes later.
20:28: Rettig defends sponsorship deal with Nike
DFB managing director Andreas Rettig has once again defended the new sponsorship deal with the American company Nike. “We contacted 13 companies and ultimately negotiated with three of them. What Nike offered was unacceptable. An eight-year contract with a three-digit million euro contract,” explained Rettig after the separation from long-time sponsor Adidas in 2026.
“We cannot explain to our members that this money should be left lying around. And Nike is not a robber’s den. The money helps the development of football in Germany,” said the 61-year-old on Tuesday evening during the “Rheinische Post” Euro talk: “It’s not like the managing director gets a pay rise.” He is also a child of Adidas, said Rettig. “But there was pressure on the boiler in terms of the economic situation,” he said. We have to get rid of this patriotism. “Anyone who doesn’t drive a VW is not a traitor to the fatherland,” said Rettig.
17:04: Pavlovic and the almonds – a never-ending story
National coach Julian Nagelsmann will have to continue to do without Aleksandar Pavlovic in preparation for the opening match of the European Championship against Scotland. The 20-year-old midfielder was also absent from the national team’s training session on Tuesday morning in Herzogenaurach due to an infection. This means that he will probably not be able to play in the opening match on Friday. Sky also reported on Tuesday that Pavlovic will miss the match against Scotland.
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Muscles against body fat
The Bayern professional had already had to forego a possible DFB debut in March due to tonsillitis. At the national team’s media day, Pavlovic reported that he was considering having a tonsillectomy after the European Championships because of the frequent infections.
15:32: Orban in high-risk encounter against Germany
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be watching the German national team’s European Championship match against Hungary in Stuttgart on June 19. The Baden-Württemberg State Ministry confirmed the travel plans on Tuesday. Orbán will also attend his national team’s second match in Stuttgart on June 23 against Scotland.
According to Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens), high-ranking guests from the teams’ respective countries are also expected to attend other games and receptions.
The two games between Hungary and Germany and Scotland are considered high-risk matches by the security forces. Four preliminary round matches and a quarter-final are to take place in Stuttgart. The first group match between Slovenia and Denmark is scheduled for June 16, and three days later hosts Germany will face Hungary. The Ukrainian national team will play against Belgium in Stuttgart on June 26.
14:11: “We are responsible for the mood in the country,” says Kroos
For Toni Kroos, it is very important that the German national players deal sensibly with the special pressure of the home European Championship. “A home tournament is even more special. We have a great responsibility for the mood in the country in the next few weeks. Knowing this pressure, we have to try to enjoy the whole thing,” said the 34-year-old from Real Madrid shortly before the opening match against Scotland this Friday (9 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker) in Munich.
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Kroos returned to the DFB team in March and will end his professional career after the tournament. He could play a maximum of seven games if the German team advances to the final on July 14 in Berlin. “We are capable of beating any team,” said Kroos. At the moment, however, he is only thinking about the first group match. “The game against Scotland will not be decisive, but it will be important. We have to be there,” said the 2014 world champion. The other opponents in the group stage are Hungary and Switzerland.
13:02: Gosens in new role at EM
Robin Gosens will work as an expert for MagentaTV during the European Championships. The 29-year-old Union Berlin defender did not make it into national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s squad. “I’m looking forward to this European Championship in my own country! After I was not nominated, it was clear to me that I would still follow the European Championships as a fan. When the request came from MagentaTV, I quickly realized that I wanted to try out being an expert,” said Gosens.
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He doesn’t shy away from his own colleagues either. Gosens will make his first appearance on Friday evening at the start of the tournament, which will see the opening match between hosts Germany and Scotland in Munich, with moderator Johannes B. Kerner and Michael Ballack. Gosens has also played in the Netherlands and, above all, in Italy during his career. According to media reports, he is about to return to Serie A.
12.38 pm: Next setback for Holland
The Dutch national team has to cope with the next personnel setback shortly before the start of the European Championship. After midfield strategist Frenkie de Jong from FC Barcelona was eliminated from the tournament, Teun Koopmeiners from the Italian Europa League winners Atalanta Bergamo will also miss the European Championship in Germany. The 26-year-old was injured during the warm-up on Monday evening before the final test against Iceland (4:0). Koopmeiners had played a very strong season for Atalanta and was firmly planned by national coach Ronald Koeman as a regular player. In de Jong, Koopmeiners, Mats Wieffer, Marten de Roon and Quinten Timber, the Oranje team is missing five midfielders. De Jong was not fit in time after an ankle injury.
Koeman nominated Ian Maatsen from Dortmund. Maatsen was already in the provisional European Championship squad, but was dropped by Koeman shortly before the start of preparations. The coach left it open whether another player would be called up. The Netherlands will start the European Championship on Sunday in Hamburg against Poland.
11.17 a.m.: Beckenbauer’s widow with a special role
The European Football Championship opens in Germany on Friday. Before the first match against Scotland, there will be a ceremony in the Munich stadium. Heidi Beckenbauer will make a special appearance at the place where her husband’s funeral took place in January. More information here:
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