While the full focus is on the conclusion of the club season in the coming days, Euro 2024 gets underway in less than a month!
European football’s biggest nations will compete for the trophy in Germany this summer, with the host nation kicking off the tournament against Scotland on June 14.
Italy will enter the tournament as holders after success three years ago, but can the Azzurri become just the second nation, after Spain in 2008 and 2012, to win the European Championship in back-to-back editions?
With managers beginning to name their squads for the finals, we’ve looked at the teams favoured for success. Using odds from betting lounge we’ve ranked the five favourites to win Euro 2024.
Spain – 9/1
Spanish football might not be at the gold standard of their famous generation of 2008-2012 when La Roja won three consecutive major tournaments, but Luis de la Fuente’s side boasts plenty of talent.
The lack of a prolific forward is perhaps a hindrance to Spain’s hopes of success, though captain Alvaro Morata has had the joint-best season of his career with 20 goals in all competitions for Atletico Madrid.
Four goals in five #EURO2024 qualifiers for Álvaro Morata ???????????? pic.twitter.com/4xF92skPPG
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) November 16, 2023
Midfield, as ever, is the strength for the Spanish, even in the absence of Gavi and Pedri with the Barcelona youngsters set to miss the tournament through injury. Rodri will anchor the engine room, while Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and Fabian Ruiz are options alongside the Manchester City metronome.
Lamine Yamal, who became Spain’s youngest player and goalscorer at 16 years and 57 days when marking his debut with a goal in September, is one to watch.
Spain, however, must first navigate a tough group containing holders Italy, World Cup semi-finalist Croatia, and Albania.
Portugal – 9/1
Portugal are going under the radar as contenders for the crown despite a brilliant record under Roberto Martinez. The ex-Belgium boss led Portugal to 10 wins from 10 in qualification, scoring 36 goals in the process, and has won 91.67% of his games in charge to date.
Cristiano Ronaldo will again be expected to lead the line after 48 goals in 47 games for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia this season. The 39-year-old is international football’s record scorer and after becoming the first player to feature and score at five European Championships in 2021, has the chance to extend both records this summer.
????#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/qovm6t0Xot
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) April 26, 2024
Portugal are more than just the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. Bruno Fernandes led qualification for assists (8), Diogo Costa topped the charts for assists (6), while Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva won a treble with Manchester City last season.
Elsewhere, Vitinha has staked his claim for a regular role with an outstanding season for PSG and Rafael Leao brings x-factor in the wide positions. Man for man, Portugal have one of the most talented teams in the tournament.
Germany – 6/1
Germany is the host nation and while the three-time winners have struggled of late, a German team in a home tournament can not be overlooked.
Julian Nagelsmann’s squad is beginning to be leaked in the German media and will contain experienced stars Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Muller, alongside emerging talents.
Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz are the most exciting of the new generation and the latter has starred during Bayer Leverkusen’s historic season. The 21-year-old has 18 goals and 19 assists for the newly-crowned Bundesliga champions, who are targeting a treble.
Toni Kroos ????#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/jgrHy05HJ8
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) February 22, 2024
Toni Kroos is also back after being persuaded out of international retirement and will join Real Madrid teammate Antonio Rudiger in the squad.
France – 4/1
France finished as runners-up at the World Cup in Qatar and will start Euro 2024 as a leading contender this summer.
Les Bleus are stacked with talent, a side that will be spearheaded by Kylian Mbappe. Having announced his decision to leave PSG, the club’s record scorer will hope to celebrate international success before his inevitable move to Real Madrid.
Mbappé ????????#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/kXnf968Gtk
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) January 17, 2024
In Spain, Mbappe will join Eduardo Camavinga, Ferland Mendy and Aurelien Tchouameni, each of whom could form part of the French challenge. Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud will provide experienced support in attack, as Didier Deschamps looks to join Berti Vogts as the only men to win the European Championship as player and coach.
England – 10/3
England have gone into major tournaments from positions of strength before but rarely have the Three Lions been so heavily backed for success.
Gareth Southgate’s star-studded squad will be led by Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who have been two of European football’s most influential players during debut seasons at Bayern Munich and Real Madrid respectively.
Phil Foden and Declan Rice have been standouts of the Premier League campaign, and there’s experience of tournament football throughout the team. World Cup semi-finalists in 2018 and Euro 2020 runners-up, the Three Lions have come close under Southgate in recent years.
???? Bellingham ➡️ Kane ????#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/EGzWYFho2p
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) January 15, 2024
The weight of history is against England, who have never won the Euros, but this looks like the nation’s best chance in two decades.
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