Euro 2024 Second Week in Pictures: drama, emotion and selfies as the group stage ends
A young pitch invader takes a selfie with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo during a Group F match between Turkey and Portugal at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
BERLIN (AP) — The group stage of Euro 2024 offered exciting soccer and colorful celebrations among fans criss-crossing Germany to support their national teams. AP photographers captured the drama on and off the field of play.
Some fans thought Kylian Mbappé looked like a superhero when he played with a mask after breaking his nose in France’s first game. But his superpowers only went so far: even though he scored in the final group-stage match, the French team could only achieve a draw against already eliminated Poland and finished second in their group.
Elsewhere, selfie-seeking fans invading the pitch created problems for stadium security every time Cristiano Ronaldo played for Portugal.
The players get a few days of rest before the round of 16 begins on Saturday. Germany cruised through the group stage undefeated, fueling hopes in the host nation of winning the European Championship for the first time since 1996.
A young pitch invader runs during a Group F match between Turkey and Portugal at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Germany’s Niclas Fuellkrug celebrates with Germany’s Antonio Ruediger after scoring his side’s second goal during a Group A match between Switzerland and Germany at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, June 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner celebrates with Austria’s head coach Ralf Rangnick after scoring his side’s second goal during a Group D match between Poland and Austria at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr Josek)
Slovakia’s Peter Pekarik, right, and Romania’s Florinel Coman battle for the ball during a Group E match at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Denmark’s Rasmus Hojlund, right, and Serbia’s Nemanja Gudelj challenge for the ball during a Group C match between the Denmark and Serbia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Romania’s supporters cheer prior to the start of a Group E match between Belgium and Romania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Romania’s Razvan Marin, front, celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal against Slovakia during a Group E match at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Denmark’s Joachim Andersen, left, and Serbia’s Dusan Vlahovic challenge for the ball during a Group C match between the Denmark and Serbia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze celebrates after scoring on a penalty kick during a Group F match between Georgia and Portugal at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Kylian Mbappe of France during a Group D match between the France and Poland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Servicemen of Ukraine’s 65th brigade watch a Group E match between Slovakia and Ukraine of the Euro 2024 soccer tournament, at the frontline in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Andriy Andriyenko)
Ukraine fans react during a public screening of the Euro 2024 soccer match between Ukraine and Belgium in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Babenko)
Ukraine’s Roman Yaremchuk reacts after a missed scoring opportunity during a Group E match between Ukraine and Belgium at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Dutch fans gather before a Group D match between the Netherlands and Austria at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Donyell Malen of the Netherlands, front right, lies on the pitch after he scored an own goal during a Group D match between the Netherlands and Austria at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Cody Gakpo of the Netherlands, left, is challenged by Adrien Rabiot of France during the Group D match between the Netherlands and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
England’s Jude Bellingham reacts at the end of a Group C match against Slovenia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. The match ended in a 0-0 draw. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
English soccer fans gather prior to a Group C match between England and Slovenia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Scotland’s Stuart Armstrong, left, and Hungary’s Willi Orban, right, challenge for the ball during a Group A match between Scotland and Hungary at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, June 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Scotland’s goalkeeper Angus Gunn, up, collides with Hungary’s Barnabas Varga, right, during a Group A match between Scotland and Hungary at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, June 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Scotland fans are dejected at the end of a Group A match between Scotland and Hungary at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, June 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Croatia’s Luka Modric reacts at the end of Group B match between Croatia and Italy at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Monday, June 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Turkey’s Hakan Calhanoglu (10) celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a Group F match between Czech Republic and Turkey at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Hamburg, Germany, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Turkish supporters cheer at the stand ahead of a Group F match between Czech Republic and Turkey at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Hamburg, Germany, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
