Euro 2024 is around the corner and 24 nations will compete in Germany this summer for the honour of becoming European champions.
The tournament kicks off on June 14th in Germany, with the final game scheduled for July 13th. There will be 24 teams divided into six groups. Each group’s top two teams, along with the four best third-placed teams advance to the knockout stages.
Here are the groups in full:
A: Germany, Scotland, Switzerland, Hungary
B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania
C: Slovenia, Serbia, Denmark, England
D: Netherlands, Austria, France, Poland
E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine
F: Portugal, Czech Republic, Turkey, Georgia
England
England have consistently been considered among the favorites in recent tournaments, and that won’t change. Alongside teams like France, Spain, Germany, and Portugal, they possess the quality to go all the way.
However, their history includes breezing through the group stages only to falter against top-tier opponents in knockout rounds. This is probably the most talented group the Three Lions have had since the golden generation of the 2000s.
Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden will support Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham.
Gareth Southgate’s job? To put the rest of the pieces together and ensure it clicks.
Key players: Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice
France
France are the favorites to win EURO 2024. Why? They have one of the best international teams, boasting a perfect blend of youth and experience.
A golden generation of players, strong competition across the team, continuity in an experienced coach who has been at the helm since 2012 and perhaps most importantly, they can call on Kylian Mbappe, who is arguably the best footballer in the world.
This group of players will be desperate to put the World Cup final defeat against Argentina behind them and re-announce themselves as the best team in Europe (and the world)
Key players: Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Aurelien Tchouameni
Germany
As hosts, the Germans didn’t have to play any qualifiers, a situation that has starved them of the chance to play adequate competitive matches.
Their games since the 2022 World Cup have all been friendlies, but even those yielded defeats against Poland, Colombia, Japan, Turkey, and Austria. Germany are probably one of the favourites because they’re hosting the tournament, as their form in the past 12 months (W4, L6, D2) has left fans with little confidence ahead of their opening game against Scotland.
However, their last two matches have been victories over France and the Netherlands, which has led to renewed optimism that Germany can make a statement at EURO 2024.
They will rely heavily on Toni Kroos; the elegant Real Madrid midfielder’s decision to come out of retirement has coincided with their recent good form and they’ll hope that Kroos, along with Jamal Musiala, Ilkay Gundogan, and Florian Wirtz can give them what they need to win the Euros on home soil.
Key players: Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Ilkay Gundogan and Toni Kroos.
