For France, it’s obvious: “Les Bleus”. But the nickname of a selection, if it sometimes refers to the color of the jersey, can also maintain a myth, a legend. Here are the nicknames given to the twenty-four selections which will compete in Euro 2024 in Germany.
Group A
Germany: Männer-Nationalmannschaft
Literally in French: “the men’s national team”. You should know that “Mannschaft”, a term only used since 2006, is no longer popular in Germany. Because judged as arrogant and too reductive, the men’s A team is not the only team in Germany.
Scotland: The Tartan football team
The name comes from tartans, woolen fabric with colored checks, typical of Celtic peoples, and therefore of the Scottish, which adorn kilts in particular.
Hungary: Valogatot
During the 1950s, the Hungarian team was nicknamed “Mágikus Magyarok” (“The Magical Magyars”). “Aranycsapat” (“Hungarian golden eleven”) was also used. But as the level of the selection declined, these nicknames disappeared. To make way for “Valogatot” (“The national team”), less dithyrambic.
Switzerland: the Nati
This is the abbreviation of “Nationalmannschaft”, which simply means “the national team”, in German. The Swiss also have an Italian nickname “Rossocrociati”, which means “the Reds with a white cross”, in reference to the flag. The French-sounding nickname, another language mainly spoken in the country, is used for the young team: “Les Rougets”.
Group A schedule and results
Group B
Spain: La Roja
“Red” refers to the Spanish jersey, but is also one of the main colors of the Spanish flag. It was by the royal decree of May 28, 1785 that King Charles III of Bourbon ordered the use of a flag, a flame and a flag which were yellow and red to identify the ships and boats of the Spanish Navy.
Croatia: Kockasti and Vatreni
“The checkered team” and “Les Flamboyants or les Ardents” The first nickname refers to the twenty-five red and white checks making up the national team jerseys. There is always this number, no more, no less, since it represents the twenty-five Croatian provinces. According to legend, Croatian King Stephen Držislav was captured by the Venetians, and gambled (and won) his freedom on a game of chess. He then incorporated the chessboard into his coat of arms.
Italy: Squadra Azzurra
Literally in French: “The blue team”. But this nickname is mainly used abroad. In Italy, we prefer “Azzurri”. The blue color refers to the House of Savoy (that of Victor Emmanuel II) who became the first king of unified Italy in 1861.
Albania: Kuq e Zinjtë
The Red and Black, in reference to the colors of the flag. The red background represents the blood of the patriots who gave their lives for Albania, the black covers an eagle with open wings representing freedom.
Group B schedule and results
Group C
Slovenia: Zmajceki
Which means “The Dragons”, in reference to the dragon, symbol of the capital of Slovenia: Ljubljana. Because it is on the grounds of this city that according to Greek legend, Jason defeated a monster after finding the Golden Fleece.
Denmark: Danish Dynamite
The “Danish Dynamites” were, basically, the nickname to rename the Danish players who won the Euro in 1992. Since then, the nickname has stuck. Before 1992, the nickname was De Rod-Hvide, “the Red and White”, referring to the flag. These two bands form a cross which is slightly inclined towards the side of the shaft. This cross, also called the Cross of Saint Olaf, is a Scandinavian cross.
Serbia: Beli Orlovi
Which translates to: “the White Eagles”, which refers to the two-headed eagle, which is the symbol of the country. This two-headed bird is found on the Serbian flag or coat of arms.
England: the Three Lions
The Three Lions, in French, are represented on the English coat of arms. We also find the three animals on the coat of arms of the English national team. The lion is a strong symbol of royalty, dear to the English.
Group C schedule and results
Group D
Netherlands: the Oranje
For the Dutch, the color orange is the one that appeared on the country’s first flag, “the Prince’s flag”. It replaced the top horizontal band, which is now red. Orange is also the color worn by the players for their home kits.
France: the Blues or the Tricolores
Although the first nickname is much more used than the second, both refer to the French flag: blue, white and red. Blue is the main color of the French jersey, with rare exceptions such as 2006, when the French team mainly played its World Cup in white…
Poland: Białe Orły
Literally: “The White Eagles”, the animal being the emblem of the Polish nation. It is found on certain flags of the country, but also the coat of arms, such as the Three English Lions.
Austria: Das Team
The Super Team (Nickname of the Austrian national team between 1930 and 1933)
Group D schedule and results
Group E
Ukraine: Zhovto-Blakytni or Zbirna
“Les Bleues et Jaunes” or “The national team”.
Slovakia: Repre or Naši
Abbreviation of “Národná reprezentácia”, which could be translated as “National Selection” or “Ours”.
Belgium: The Red Devils
The origin of this nickname goes back a long way, to 1906, when during the first match of the Belgian national team, a local journalist, Pierre Walckiers, wrote that the Belgians were “real devils”. He himself refers to another sportsman, Camille Jenatzy, who was the first to pass the 100 km/h mark on the road in an electric car of his manufacture. This pilot was nicknamed “the Red Devil”.
Romania: Tricolorii or Sbornaja
“Les Tricolores”, in reference to the flag, or simply “La Sélection” in Romanian.
Group E schedule and results
Group F
Portugal: A Seleção das quinas
If in Portugal the best known term is Seleção (Selection), as in Brazil, there is a longer version to break away from the Brazilian cousin. “Das quinas” means “group of five”, which refers to the five shields present on the Portuguese flag.
Czech Republic: Reprezentace
“The Representation” (The Selection) in Czech.
Georgia: Jvarosnebi
“The Crusaders”: this term refers to a long series of battles and military confrontations led at the beginning of the second millennium by the kingdom of Georgia, then in its golden age.
Türkiye: Ay-Yıldızlılar
For “Moon to the stars” (in reference to the flag of Turkey).
Group F schedule and results
