Euro 2024 First Week in Pictures: Germany’s bright opening, records set, Mbappé the masked star
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony ahead of the Group A match between Germany and Scotland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Friday, June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
BERLIN (AP) — The European Championship in men’s soccer started in a celebration of color, pride and goals for host nation Germany on June 14. After the opening ceremony in Munich, a 5-1 win against Scotland gave Jamal Musiala a stage to shine. The month-long Euro 2024 tournament kept its high standards through 18 games in the first week. European fans are back in stadiums in big numbers at a more accessible and affordable tournament than the World Cup. Ukraine’s team has reminded viewers of the war at home. Tournament records were set. The 16-year-old Spain star Lamine Yamal is the youngest ever player. The fastest ever goal was scored in 23 seconds by Nedim Bajrami for Albania against Italy. Christian Eriksen came back to score for Denmark three years after suffering cardiac arrest on the field at the last Euros. The biggest star at Euro 2024, Kylian Mbappé, will now be the masked man to protect his nose that was bloodied and broken in France’s first game.
Germany’s Jamal Musiala, left, celebrates with Maximilian Mittelstadt after scoring his side’s second goal during a Group A match between Germany and Scotland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Friday, June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Germany’s Niclas Fuellkrug, center, scores a disallowed goal during a Group A match between Germany and Scotland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Friday, June 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Switzerland’s Kwadwo Duah celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during a Group A match between Hungary and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Fans smile before a Group C match between Denmark and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Spain’s Dani Carvajal, left, celebrates with Spain’s Lamine Yamal after scoring his side’s third goal during a Group B match between Spain and Croatia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr Josek)
Spain fans kiss as they celebrate at the end of a Group B match between Spain and Croatia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Spain won 3-0. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Albania’s Nedim Bajrami celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during a Group B match between Italy and Albania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
An Italian fan poses for a photograph prior to the Group B match between Spain and Italy at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
A close up of the tatoo of Poland’s Tymoteusz Puchacz during the Group D match between Poland and the Netherlands at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Hamburg, Germany, Sunday, June 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Wout Weghorst of the Netherlands, right, celebrates his side’s second goal with his team mates during a Group D match between Poland and the Netherlands at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Hamburg, Germany, Sunday, June 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr Josek)
Denmark’s Rasmus Hojlund rollos on the ground after losing his boot in a challenge during a Group C match between Slovenia and Denmark at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, June 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Denmark’s Christian Eriksen celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the game during a Group C match between Slovenia and Denmark at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, June 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Slovenia’s Erik Janza, left, celebrates after scoring a goal that was deflected in during a Group C match between Slovenia and Denmark at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, June 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
England’s Jude Bellingham, left, celebrates with England’s Trent Alexander-Arnold after scoring the opening goal during a Group C match between Serbia and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Sunday, June 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
People attend a public viewing of the Euro 2024 soccer match between England and Serbia on a training ground in a residential area in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A young girls stands at an installation ahead of the Group E match between Romania and Ukraine at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Monday, June 17, 2024. A poignant installation has been unveiled ahead of Ukraine’s first match at the European Championship. A destroyed stand from Kharkiv’s Sonyachny stadium that was built for Euro 2012 has been displayed in a square in Munich ahead of the team’s opener against Romania. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Ukrainian players sing their national anthem prior to a Group E match between Romania and Ukraine at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Romania’s Andrei Ratiu celebrates after the Group E match between Romania and Ukraine at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Kylian Mbappe of France receives a treatment after suffering an injury during a Group D match between Austria and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
France’s Kylian Mbappe adjusts his face mask during a training session in Leipzig, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. France will play against Netherland during their Group D soccer match at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament on June 21. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Czech Republic’s goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek (1) stops a shot by Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo during a Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after Czech Republic’s Lukas Provod scoring the opening goal during a Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr Josek)
Czech Republic’s Lukas Provod (14 and David Doudera celebrate after Provod scores the opening goal during a Group F match between Portugal and Czech Republic at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
Slovenia’s Zan Karnicnik, front, celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during a Group C match between Slovenia and Serbia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
England’s Harry Kane celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a Group C match between Denmark and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
England’s Harry Kane, left, challenges Denmark’s Andreas Christensen during a Group C match between Denmark and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Spain’s Lamine Yamal, center left, celebrates as Italy’s Riccardo Calafiori lies on the pitch after he scored an own goal during a Group B match between Spain and Italy at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
