On June 18, in the opening round of Group D in the European Championship, France defeated Austria 1-0 to secure a winning start. All five teams that have previously won the World Cup completed their first-round matches with victories and a combined total of just two goals conceded.
In this edition of the European Championship, host Germany kicked things off with a convincing 5-1 win over Scotland, igniting the tournament with an energetic display. The “Matadors” Spain dominated Croatia in the first half, securing a 3-0 victory and making a powerful statement.
The defending champions, Italy, faced setbacks against Albania but managed to overcome a one-goal deficit with two consecutive goals, ultimately turning the match around for a 2-1 win. England had a more challenging encounter against Serbia but still secured a 1-0 victory thanks to Jude Bellingham’s decisive goal. France triumphed over Austria 1-0, with the winner resulting from an own goal created by Kylian Mbappe.
In the opening round, all five European World Cup-winning teams emerged victorious, with Germany and Italy conceding both goals. The continental giants collectively resisted any upsets.