CORPORATE

When the whistle blows in Munich on 14 June to kick off the first match in this 17^th edition of the European Football Championship, between hosts Germany and Scotland, the Macron Hero will be on the pitch too. In each of the 51 scheduled games, the logo will appear on the shirts of the UEFA match officials. Macron has been “Official UEFA Referee Match Kit Supplier” since 2019, so this will be the second UEFA EURO championship, after the 2020 competition, in which Macron be supporting UEFA’s referees, linesmen and VAR officials. The Macron Hero will also appear on the shirts of the two national squads to which Macron acts as technical partner, namely Albania and Georgia, who will be playing for the trophy along with another 22 teams. This is the second time for the Albanian side to reach the final rounds of the European Championship, while for the Georgian team it is a historic first.

Albania has reached this stage of UEFA Euro 2024 with a truly impressive record. For the first time in the nation’s history, the Georgian team finished the qualifying round with 15 points, a +8 goal difference and a series of wins that allowed the ‘Shqiponjat’ to qualify early. Placed in Group B, Albania will play their first match against Italy in Dortmund on 15 June. The team will then go on to play against Spain and Croatia.

The qualifying route taken by Georgia was a bit more tortuous, but just as exciting, as the national side finally qualified for UEFA EURO 2024 only in the play-offs. After beating Luxembourg in the semi-finals, the Georgian side went on to win against Greece on penalties after a hard-fought but goalless draw even after extra time. A historic achievement in the history of Georgian football, the victory was celebrated for days after in the streets of Tbilisi. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and his companions have been placed in Group F along with Turkey, Portugal and the Czech Republic. Like Albania, Georgia too will play their first match in Dortmund, but on 18 June against Turkey before taking on the Czech Republic and Portugal at later dates.

For a whole month, all attention will be focused on the challenges facing Europe’s top footballing nations and on the performance of the ‘team’ of match officials committed to ensuring fair play. We extend our best wishes to all those involved and hope that the competition will be played with mutual respect and all the other values that the Macron Hero stands for on and off the pitch. We wish the UEFA match officials all the best in their difficult and often delicate role, and wish both Macron teams every success in giving their supporters the unforgettable emotions and indelible memories of UEFA EURO 2024.