by Nine nations with borders with Germany qualified for Euro 2024, with six reaching the Round of 16, highlighting the importance of the home-away-from-home advantage in sports as well as the home-field advantage in sports.
Euro 2024 is following soccer’s established trend, which suggests that countries in close proximity to the host nation, typically the host nation itself, will perform well.
Half of the Round of 16 field, including Germany’s neighbors, Julian Nagelsmann’s young team, and Turkey, which enjoys every game like a home fixture due to its large Turkish community, has a strong familiarity with their surroundings.
Austria’s Marcel Sabitzer praised the massive contingent of fans who cheered his team to first place in Group D, stating they are amazing. Netherlands defender Virgil Van Dijk also acknowledged the massive support, stating they need the fans to come with them and cheer them on.
The upcoming match between Germany and Denmark in Dortmund offers an easy and affordable way for fans to travel to the Euros, showcasing the significant impact of crowd noise and adrenaline on players and fans.
Belgium won its first group game in Cologne, with trains taking less than two hours from Brussels. Frankfurt, which is fewer than 300 miles from Zurich, hosted Switzerland’s match.Central train stations are nomadic nomads, with old city centers becoming melting pots of nationalities. This was noted by Ladislao J. Monino in the Spanish newspaper El Pais.
Territorial factors significantly influence soccer tournaments, with evidence suggesting a practical advantage for teams from nearby areas. However, only one South American team has won the World Cup in Europe: Brazil’s 1958 team, inspired by teenage Pele, despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting this claim.
The Euros are compact due to their single-continental teams, but Germany’s size and central location make it an ideal destination for bucket-list trips, especially for countries that require a quick hop over the border.
Scotland supporters have been well-received by locals, while large convoys are arriving to support Croatia, Slovenia, and Hungary in the group stage.
Turkey’s fans are known for their loudness, with Germany’s 2.9 million Turkish citizens estimated to be the most enthusiastic, and the upcoming match between Turkey and Austria is expected to be a thrilling match.
Head coach Vincenzo Montella aims to continue making history by highlighting Turkey’s past two group stage trips in large Turkish-populated areas: Belgium/Netherlands in 2000 and Austria/Switzerland in 2008.
