Euro 2024: When is it? Which groups are England and Scotland in?

The countdown to the biggest tournament in European football is on.

The European Championship (or Euros for short) is an international tournament which sees teams from across the continent battling it out to be crowned champions of Europe.

There will be two home nations represented at the tournament - after England and Scotland both qualified for this summer's competition.

But what can we expect and which countries should we be looking out for?

Here's everything you need to know about Euro 2024...

Are you excited for the Euros? Which team will you be supporting? Let us know in the comments below!

Where is Euro 2024 taking place?

The final will take place at Berlin's Olympiastadion on 14 July

Three-time winners Germany are the host nation for this summer's tournament - the 17th edition of the competition.

West Germany hosted the tournament back in 1988, however 2024 will be the first time the country has staged the European Championship since reunification.

When is Euro 2024 taking place?

Germany hasn't hosted a major men's football tournament since the 2006 World Cup

Euro 2024 takes place from Friday 14 June to Sunday 14 July.

The opening match (at 8pm UK time) sees hosts Germany take on Scotland in Munich, at the Allianz Arena - home of Bayern Munich.

The final will take place a month later at the Olympiastadion in Germany's capital Berlin.

Which cities are hosting Euro 2024 matches?

Stadiums across Germany will host Euro 2024 matches

There will be 51 games staged across 10 stadiums over the course of the month.

Germany have 10 host cities for this summer's tournament:

What is the tournament format?

Who will be crowned European Champions and get their hands on the Euro trophy this summer?

Twenty-four countries will take part in Euro 2024 - split into six groups of four teams.

After all the group stage matches have been played, the top two teams from each group will proceed to the round of 16, along with the four best third-placed finishers.

The winners of each round of 16 match will then progress to the quarter-finals, with the semi-finals and final to follow.

Is there a Euro 2024 mascot?

Meet Albärt - Euro 2024's official mascot

Albärt the teddy bear is the official mascot for Euro 2024.

Organisers decided to choose a teddy bear as a tribute to the popular children's toy, which is said to have originated in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century.

Albärt was chosen following a vote, involving among others, schoolchildren from across Europe.

Who are the current champions?

Italy won Euros 2020 and are the defending champions

Italy are the defending champions, having won the previous tournament which took place in 2021.

They beat Gareth Southgate's England side on penalties in the final, after the game finished 1-1 after extra-time.

The result meant that Italy lifted the trophy to take their second Euros titles to add to their four World Cup wins.

Which countries are taking part?

As hosts, Germany automatically qualified for Euro 2024

The tournament will begin with a group stage consisting of six groups of four teams.

Here are this year's groups:

Which group are England in and when are they playing?

Euro 2024 will be Gareth Southgate's fourth major tournament as England manager

England have been drawn in Group C alongside Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia.

The Euro 2020 finalists will begin their campaign on Sunday 16 June against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen. The game kicks off at 8pm UK time (9pm local time).

Their second group match is in Frankfurt against Denmark on Thursday 20 June. Kick-off is 5pm UK time (6pm local time).

England will then face Slovenia in their final group game, which takes place in Cologne on Tuesday 25 June at 8pm UK time (9pm local time).

Which group are Scotland in and when are they playing?

Scotland have qualified for back-to-back Euro tournaments for the first time in their history

Scotland are in Group A along with Hungary, Switzerland and Germany.

In fact, the Tartan Army get the glamour of playing in the tournament's opening match against the hosts in Munich on Friday 14 June. The game kicks off at 8pm UK time (9pm local time).

Scotland will then face Switzerland in Cologne on Wednesday 19 June. Kick-off is 8pm UK time (9pm local time).

Their final group match, on Sunday 23 June, sees them go up against Hungary in Stuttgart at 8pm UK time (9pm local time).

Scotland have never made it past the group stages of a European tournament. Could Euro 2024 be the turning point for Steve Clarke's side?

What is the name of the Euro trophy and when was it created?

The Henri Delaunay Cup will be presented to the captain of the winning team

The official name of the Euro trophy is the Henri Delaunay Cup.

It's named after Uefa's first general secretary who came up with the idea of having a European competition for national teams.

The original Henri Delaunay trophy was presented at the first ever Euros tournament in 1960, however the trophy that's currently awarded is actually a different cup.

Uefa decided that they wanted to improve on the quality and size of the trophy as they felt the original one was too small - so a new trophy was commissioned and made, ready for the Euro 2008 finals.

How big is the Euro trophy and what is it made of?

In 2008, Spain were the first country to lift the updated version of the Euro trophy that's still awarded today

The current Euro trophy weights 8kg and is 60cm tall (which is 2kg heavier and 18cm higher than the original trophy).

It is made of sterling silver and the names of the winning countries are engraved directly onto the back of the trophy.

Do the winners get to keep the Euro trophy?

The winning team has their country's name engraved on the Euro trophy

The winners of the Henri Delauney Cup get to keep the trophy for four years, until the next tournament.

Which countries are favourites to win Euro 2024?

France lost to Argentina on penalties in the 2022 World Cup final

France, who narrowly missed out on lifting the World Cup in 2022, are one of the favourites to go all the way in Germany.

But it won't be easy as there are plenty of other teams hoping to become European champions.

Italy will be looking to defend the title they won in 2021, and England who were runners-up three years ago, will be aiming to go one better this time round.

And finally, Germany will have the advantage of home support and are also expected to do well this summer.