Last Updated on June 12, 2024 9:52 pm by Erwin Noguera
The UEFA Euro is coming closer with its 2024 edition, and all the fans are eager to see one of the best continental tournaments in the world. Among the many high-quality national teams, there are some of the best in the world, including the big five nations: England, Italy, Spain, France, and Germany.
All qualified more or less quietly to the tournament, alongside some interesting underdogs like Belgium, Croatia, and the Netherlands. Starting this weekend, we’ll have some of the best action International football can offer, while we wait for the Copa América that, alongside the Olympic games, will bring us a crazy summer soccer-wise.
UEFA Euro 2024 favorites
England (4.20)
The Three Lions have the highest expectations for the big date in Germany. Since 2018, they have been major favorites in big tournaments, mostly due to their squad full of stars and the success of English teams in the Champions League recently.
The position of the biggest star is debated between Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, and Phil Foden, but whatever the case, with those names in attack, anything less than a final would be a massive disappointment.
France (4.95)
The French may boast the most balanced squad in the tournament, as they have big names in almost every position on the pitch. Except for the center-forward position, where they still tend to rely on veteran Oliver Giroud, they have some of the biggest world stars of the game, with Kylian Mbappe, now a Real Madrid player, as the biggest name by a margin.
Germany (6.50)
The locals have been in a result crisis since their disappointing 2018 World Cup, where they fell in the group stage as defending champions. They somehow managed to qualify for every major tournament to later disappoint on the big stage. Now is their chance to change the pace, as since Julian Nagelsmann’s incorporation and Tony Kroos’s comeback for one last dance, the results have improved massively.
Although always being a nation known for their excellent goalkeepers, their stand-out stars this time are in the offensive midfield zone, with Wirtz and Havertz sharing the position, although the latter has played more as a number nine recently.
Spain (7.50)
The Iberics were another team going through a results crisis in big tournaments. However, theirs stopped last summer when they won the Nations League, with a magnificent Rodri pulling the strings of the team. The Manchester City midfielder is the standout point of a team that has plenty of youth, thus why most bookmakers put them a little behind the first three.
However, the Spanish are playing well and should be one of the most reliable “underdogs” in recent times.
UEFA Euro 2024 outside picks
Portugal (8.50)
Some bookmakers put the Portuguese over Spain, so they have tobe mentioned one way or another. This should be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last dance, although with the Portuguese Astro, you never know. They have one of their most complete and balanced generations in history and retain some names that won this trophy in 2016, like El Bicho and Bernardo Silva.
Italy (15)
The defending champions have been underestimated again, just like the last time. If we have to give one thing to the bookmakers, the team doesn’t seem to have improved since their unlikely triumph. Actually, they suffered another major setback later, failing to qualify for Qatar 2022.
The stand-out name should be Nicollo Barella, as the reliable midfielder has been the heart of an excellent Inter.
Belgium (16)
The Belgians feature a side with a healthy balance of youngsters and veterans, contrary to the last World Cup. However, even if they have an excellent offense with Lukaku, De Bruyne, Doku, and a couple more, there are still many doubts about their defensive department, as the generational change in that regard has not been as smooth.
UEFA Euro 2024 Players to watch for
Jude Bellingham (€180.00m)
With his excellent conflagration season at Real Madrid, the pivot now turned into a false nine, has matched Kylian Mbappe, Haaland, and Vinicius as the most valuable player in the world (23 goals and 11 assists).
Kylian Mbappe (€180.00m)
Independently from the success of France in the Euros recently, Mbappe always finds a way to shine at the big stage. Currently the best player in the world for many, he comes from another excellent season in terms of goal contribution and expects to fulfill his dream of winning the Champions League with the White House next season (43 goals and 7 assists).
Phil Foden (€150.00m)
The young forward had his conflagration with Manchester City last season, when he was the first name in the squad sheet and the key to unlocking many difficult games. He expects to be the same for his national team, although he is one of the names who has never managed to truly shine with the Three Lions (27 goals and 12 assists).
Harry Kane (€100.00m)
The best center forward in the world is running out of chances to get his coveted first official title as a player. Number-wise, he comes from an excellent season with a Bayern Munich team that had many flaws, and he should be one of the names in charge to take England to a title they need to evade the negative focus of the press and fans (44 goals and 12 assists).
Cristiano Ronaldo (€15.00m)
At 39 years of age, El Bicho is in search of another international title to close what has been a marvelous chapter in football history. He had a magnificent season in the Saudi Pro League, and even outside the tropers of the major soccer leagues, he still shines in the minds of his many fans (44 goals and 11 assists).
Our prediction for the UEFA Euro 2024 podium
1. France
2. England
3. Italy
4. Portugal
Best Players
1. Nicollo Barella
2. Kylian Mbappe
3. Jude Bellingham
Disappointments
Spain
Belgium
England’s massive and expensive forward line as a whole
EN 
ES 
PT 
PT_BR