Once again we are delighted to welcome you to an exciting new football publication in conjunction with EURO 2024™. Our partnership with the FAI has seen further collaboration on this literacy project developed by the creative library staff in Monaghan County Library Service as part of the Libraries Ireland Right to Read programme.
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Monaghan County Libraries
HeLLO!
I’m thrilled to welcome you to this new exhilarating European Championships 2024TM publication, in partnership with Monaghan County Libraries as part of the Libraries Ireland Right to Read programme. Throughout this booklet, it will aim to promote literacy and reading in a fun interactive way for our children. It will allow them to dive into the heart-pounding action of the European Championships whilst uncovering several fun facts that make these Championships so special. Tackling puzzles, quizzes, and activities will sharpen critical thinking skills & enhance knowledge of geography and history! This showcases how we can combine the thrill of football with the joy of learning with this activity book!
Finally, I would like to thank our partners in Monaghan County Libraries, Libraries Ireland and our own staff for making this possible.
So, lace up those boots, sharpen those pencils, and get ready to kick-start this learning journey in the most exciting way possible!
Ger
McDermott, FAI Grassroots Director
Ainm
FLAGS & COUNTRIeS
Can you identify the flags and match them to their country on the map.
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2024 eUROPA LeAGUe FINAL weDUBLIN
DNeSDAY, MAY 22ND, 8PM
DID YOU kNOw?
The UEFA Europa League is one of Europe’s most exciting football tournaments!
• The Winner of the Europa League qualifies for the Champions League (Best Football Clubs Championship in Europe) the following year.
• The Europa League Final is played at a different stadium each year.
• The Trophy presented to the winners weighs around 15 kilograms.
HISTORY:
• The Europa League Started in 1971 as the UEFA Cup. It became the Europa League in 2009. The Final is a big event, watched by millions of fans around the world!
• Dublin hosted one previous Final in 2010/2011 season between 2 Portuguese teams Porto VS Braga 1-0
• Who will it be in 2024? Can you guess?
MATCH THe FLAGS!
Match the football clubs to their countries
1 Liverpool 2 Marseille
3 AS Roma
4 Inter Milan
5 Bayer Leverkusen
6 Sevilla
Can you guess which of the these clubs have won the most UEFA Europa League Finals?
PLAYeR TO wATCH:
Meet Caoimhin Kelleher, the rising star goalkeeper from Ireland! He’s currently making waves for Liverpool FC in the Europa League. With his lightningfast reflexes and exceptional shot-stopping ability, Caoimhin is a force to be reckoned with between goalposts.
Keep a close watch during the Europa League.
4
eUROPeAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Using the letters above see how many words you can create. Words As Gaeilge can be used.
3 letter words 4 letter words 5 letter words 6 letter words 7 letter words
5
D YOUR O k
6
FOOTBALL Seek AND FIND
Football Seek and Find Checklist. Count the number of each football item above and write the number in the box.
TROPHY
BOOT
FLAGS WHISTLE GOALS SHORTS RED CARD
7
JERSEY BALL PLAYER / REFEREE
MAZe
Find your way to the Euro 2024 Trophy
8
GOING FORwARD
We will bring the game together and develop a whole game plan…. That creates a life-long love of football through an active and rewarding involvement in the game…
To maximise our potential for boys, girls, men and women, on and off the field with an integrated football system. Further information and the whole Football Pathways Plan can be found at Football Association of Ireland | Football Pathways Plan (fai.ie)
Challenge your parents/guardians to find the following words from the pathways plan in the wordsearch below.
Kids List Fun Club Laughing Goal Love Game Smile Happy Skills School Play Our Plan Activities Maximise System Football Whole Potential Variety Lifelong Integrated Parent / Guardian List 9
FACT FINDING MISSION
Pick a country from each group and research the following facts
Country:
Country colours:
Footballer from this country:
Country Football Manager:
Capital of Country:
Name 2 other cities in this country:
Population of Country:
Name a river or mountain in this country:
5 other interesting facts about this country: eg language, currency etc
Name a famous person from this country apart from football players:
Country:
Country colours:
Footballer from this country:
Country Football Manager:
Capital of Country:
Name 2 other cities in this country:
Population of Country:
Name a river or mountain in this country:
5 other interesting facts about this country: eg language, currency etc
Name a famous person from this country apart from football players:
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Country:
Country colours:
Footballer from this country:
Country Football Manager:
Capital of Country:
Name 2 other cities in this country:
Population of Country:
Name a river or mountain in this country:
5 other interesting facts about this country: eg language, currency etc
Name a famous person from this country apart from football players:
Country:
Country colours:
Footballer from this country:
Country Football Manager:
Capital of Country:
Name 2 other cities in this country:
Population of Country:
Name a river or mountain in this country:
5 other interesting facts about this country: eg language, currency etc
Country:
Country colours:
Footballer from this country:
Country Football Manager:
Capital of Country:
Name 2 other cities in this country:
Population of Country:
Name a river or mountain in this country:
5 other interesting facts about this country: eg language, currency etc
Name a famous person from this country apart from football players:
Country:
Country colours:
Footballer from this country:
Country Football Manager:
Capital of Country:
Name 2 other cities in this country:
Population of Country:
Name a river or mountain in this country:
5 other interesting facts about this country: eg language, currency etc
Name a famous person from this country apart from football players:
Name a famous person from this country apart from football players:
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THe NUMBeRS ADD UP
6. Cristiano Ronald is hoping to participate in his 6th Euro final tournament.
10. Cities will be staging matches: Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich and Stuttgart.
14. Hosts Germany have appeared at more EURO final tournaments than any other nation – this will be their 14th.
3. Spain and Germany have won three EUROs each - more than any other nation.
17. This will be the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship.
23. Each team must submit a 23 - player squad list at least seven full days before the opening match.
24. 24 Teams will take part in the final tournament.
31. The tournament will span 31 days, starting with the opening game in Munich on 14 June and finishing with the final in Berlin on 14 July.
40. Gold medals are presented to the winning team and 40 silver medals to the runners-up.
51. There will be a total of 51 games played across 22 separate matchdays.
16,000. Volunteers will play a huge role in the delivery of a successful tournament in Germany with 16,000 volunteers enlisted to support the tournament.
71,000. A full capacity crowd is expected for the EURO 2024 final at Olympiastadion Berlin.
79,115 The highest ever attendance at a EURO game was 79,115 at the 1964 final between Spain and the Soviet Union in the Bernabeu in Madrid.
4590. A minimum of 4590 minutes of football will be played in EUROS 2024
827 In total, 827 goals have been scored in the course of 336 UEFA European Championship matches.
88. A total of 88 penalties have been awarded over the history of the European Championships
16. The most penalties awarded at one EUROS tournament was in 2020 with 16 penalties awarded.
12
ALL ABOUT Me
13
wATCH OUT
The EUROS 2024 will hopefully be full of unforgettable moments. While you watch the tournament keep an eye out for the following action;
A Penalty A long range goal shot from outside the penalty area A GAA Jerseycounty in the crowd A Penalty Shootout An Own Goal A super save from a keeper A Handball A Hat Trick A Red Card An overhead shot at goal
14
eUROS 2024 STADIA
Stadium Capacity Matches
Olympiastadion 71,000 3 group 1 round 16 1 quarter final Final
Berlin matches
Cologne 43,000 4 group 1 round 16
Stadium matches
BVB Stadion 62,000 4 group 1 round 16 1 semi final
Dortmund matches
Dusseldorf 47,000 3 group 1 round 16 1 quarter final
Arena matches
Frankfurt 47,000 4 group 1 round 16
Arena matches
Arena 50,000 3 group 1 round 16
AufSchalke matches
Volksparkstadion 49,000 4 group 1 quarter final Hamburg matches
Liepzig Stadium 40,000 3 group 1 round 16 matches
Munich Football 66,000 4 group 1 round 16 1 semi final Arena matches
Stuttgart Arena 51,000 4 group 1 quarter final matches
Total number of matches
The Euros 2024 will be held across 10 different venues detailed above. Using the table above calculate the following.
What is the total capacity of all the venues together?
What is the maximum amount of fans that can attend all scheduled matches at Olympiastadion Berlin stadium?
Can you calculate the average stadium capacity of all 10 stadia in Germany?
The capacity of the Aviva Stadium in Dublin is 51,711.
Is the capacity of the Aviva stadium more or less than the stadium average in Germany?
Calculate the difference in capacity between the Aviva Stadium and Olympiastadion Berlin.
Calculate the difference in capacity between the Aviva Stadium and Cologne Stadium.
Which stadium will host the closest to half a million fans over the whole tournament?
15
ANGLeS AND SHAPeS
Look at the Soccer pitch.
The field of play is divided in two by the halfway line. The centre mark (painted white) is at the midway point of the halfway line. This is where the ball is placed for kick off.
16
Find all the angles on the pitch. Fill in the table below
How many did you find?
Right angles
Obtuse angles
Acute angles
Rectangles
Can you mark the following?
Horizontal Lines
Vertical lines
Perpendicular lines
Parallel Lines
How many different lines of symmetry are there?
What other shapes can you find on the pitch?
Did you know?
The Size of a Soccer pitch is about 100m long by 60m wide
The sidelines of a soccer pitch are called touchlines.
The shorter sides of the soccer pitch are called goal lines.
In official games there are regulations about the minimum and maximum dimensions decided by FIFA (The Federation Internationale de Football Association). The dimensions of a soccer pitch for domestic or international games can vary within the regulations but the rules for international matches are a bit stricter.
For International matches
• Length (Touch line) has to be between 100 metres and 110 metres long
• Width (Goal line) has to be between 64 metres and 75 metres
See the table below with the measurements of some stadiums. Can you calculate the playing area, perimeter and number of laps to complete 5km of each pitch?
Aviva
Olympiastadion
Berlin
Dusseldorf Arena
Frankfurt Arena
Anfield
metres
metres
x 68 metres
x 68 metres
Touchline x Goal Line Playing area Perimeter Number of laps for 5km
106
x 68
105
x 68 metres
100
x 70
105
101
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CALCULATING TIMe
Being able to calculate with time is an important part of football! Calculating time will also be important for all fans of EUROS 2024.
Practise calculating with time. Answer the questions below. Use the blank clock face like a number line to help you work out each answer.
Write your answers in hours and minutes if you can Rough Work Answer
14 minutes + 38 minutes
36 minutes + 24 minutes
39 minutes + 56 minutes
6 minutes + 59 minutes
12 minutes and 51 minutes?
19 minutes + 31 minutes + 27 minutes
What is 12:30pm + 22 minutes?
36 minutes + 42 minutes + 51 minutes
How many minutes from 9:25am to 9:56am?
What is 2:45pm + 36 minutes?
How much time between 3:25pm and 5:15pm?
What is 1.47pm + 1 hour 15 minutes
A football match lasts for 90 minutes. What is this in hours and minutes?
A striker comes on to the pitch after 48 minutes. He scores a goal 23 minutes later. How many minutes into the match does he score?
If Germany score a goal after 12 minutes and Scotland score a goal after 40 minutes. How much playing time is there between the two goals?
A match lasts for 90 minutes. There is a 20 minute half-time break and 4 minutes of added time at the end.
If the match started at 2pm what time does the match finish?
A Substitute plays 41 minutes in one group game, 20 minutes in another game and 33 minutes in another game. What is his total playing time in the three games?
A coach gives his players a two hour training session split into three equal parts. How long did the first part last?
How much time does it take you to get to the stadium for a match if you leave at 09:15am and arrive at 2:35pm?
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FOOTBALL PYRAMID
Write the missing Number in each ball to complete these football pyramids. Each football contains a number that is equal to the sum of the two numbers below it
34 22 19 11 5 4
11 4 32 18 9 12 8 5
76 23 20
2
HeALTHY eATING
Your body needs a variety of foods to stay healthy. Healthy food is food that gives you all the nutrients you need to stay healthy, feel well and have plenty of energy. In Ireland, the Food Pyramid is used to make healthy eating easier. It shows the different food groups and how much of each we need to have a healthy balance diet.
The Food Pyramid organises food into five main shelves - a shelf for each food group. The most important shelf is on the bottom and the least important on the top.
Variety is the key. Your body needs lots of different nutrients to stay healthy - no one food or food group can provide all these. You don’t have to get the balance right at every meal: try to balance out over the day or even the week.
• Have vegetables, salad or fruit with every meal – they are packed with vitamins, minerals and fibre that are good for your health, help you feel full, and protect you from chronic diseases. Eat a variety of colours for the best mix of protective nutrients. At least five servings of vegetables, salad and fruit is recommended for a healthy diet.
• Cereals, rice, pasta, potatoes and breads are great sources of energy.
• Milk, yoghurt and cheese provide calcium and protein. Calcium is needed for healthy bones throughout life.
• Your body needs protein to support growth and maintain a healthy body, so is needed every day. Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts are good ways to get protein in your diet.
• Healthy fats are an essential part of a balanced diet but are only needed in very small amounts.
• Have healthy snacks like fruit, vegetables, low-fat dairy and high-fibre cereals instead of snacks high in fat, sugar and salt like sweets, cakes and crisps. Take a look at some of our healthy snack ideas.
• It’s easy to forget that drinks make up a big part of our diets. Water and milk are the healthiest options, and sugary drinks are best avoided.
20
YOUR FOOD PYRAMID
Compare your food pyramid with the healthy food pyramid. Draw your favourite food in the diagram below.
DO YOU HAVe A HeALTHY BALANCeD DIeT?
Foods I rarely eat Foods I sometimes eat Foods
I often eat
Drinks I sometimes take Drinks I often take
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CODeBReAkeR
Break the code using the information below. The first line lists the alphabet and underneath the green letter is the code. Find the letter on the top row and jot down the green letter. The first two are done for you.
ALPHABeT keY CODe
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z H K P I V E R F D S N C B Q J Z L U O X W M Y G T A HDFQI FIELD LZGI JZEF FRGSCV XSZQBFFCFG HQZX MZQQ BALL CFKZQYW YGSCAW YFZV OFGJFW KFY XSZQ LSGKFG IFHFKIFG LSRKXUW MSSYJ WFQQSU GFHFGFF JASY GFI VZKZX HSRQ JYZIDRV
22
eUROS PAST wINNeRS
OTHeR AwARDS AT THe eUROS 2024
PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
Awarded to the Best Player in the Tournament
TOP SCORER AWARD
Awarded to the Top Goal Scorer in the Tournament
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
Awarded to the best u21 player at the Tournament (aged under 21 at the start of 2024)
MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD
Awarded to a player for outstanding performance during each game of the tournament
TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
Awarded for the best combined team of players at the tournament.
Year Hosts Winner Score Runner up 1960 France Soviet Union 2-1 (after extra time) Yugoslavia 1964 Spain Spain 2-1 Soviet Union 1968 Italy Italy 2-0 (after replay) Yugoslavia 1972 Belgium West Germany 3-0 Soviet Union 1976 Yugoslavia Czechoslovakia 5-3 (penalties) West Germany 1980 Italy West Germany 2-1 Belgium 1984 France France 2-0 Spain 1988 West Germany Netherlands 2-0 Soviet Union 1992 Sweden Denmark 2-0 Germany 1996 England Germany 2-1 Czech Republic 2000 Belgium/Netherlands France 2-1 Italy 2004 Portugal Greece 1-0 Portugal 2008 Austria/Switzerland Spain 1-0 Germany 2012 Poland/Ukraine Spain 4-0 Italy 2016 France Portugal 1-0 (after extra time) France 2020 Europe Italy 3-2 (penalties) England 2024 Germany
23
COUNTRY ALPHABeT
Put the participating countries of the Euros 2024 in Alphabetical order. Do you know the capital of each competing country?
Countries
GERMANY
PORTUGAL
CZECHIA
24
CROATIA ITALY ALBANIA
SCOTLAND HUNGARY SWITZERLAND SPAIN
SLOVENIA DENMARK SERBIA ENGLAND
NETHERLANDS AUSTRIA FRANCE BELGIUM SLOVAKIA ROMANIA TURKEY
Alphabetical
Capital Football team colours
Order
CRISS CROSS PUZZLe
Fit the words in the Criss Cross Puzzle. We have put some letters in to help you get started. 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 7 9 R R O O M BERLIN EUROPE FOOTBALL GAME GERMANY GOAL JERSEY REFEREE SCORE SUMMER 25 N
SPORTS STAR PROFILe
Is your favourite player participating in EUROS 2024?
Complete the profile below of your favourite player/a player in EUROS 2024 or any Sports star you like.
My favorite Sports Star Profile
Name Nickname
Age Height
Where were they born?
Club Country Position
Family Education
Achievements / Records
Some interesting facts about my favorite player
I like this player because
Is this star a good role model? And why?
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Comhairle Chontae Mhuineachaín Monaghan County Council
Compiled by Amanda McCarville & Produced by Monaghan County Libraries. Design & Print by Castle Printing (Castleblayney) Ltd.