Top Contenders To Win The EURO 2024 Championship

EURO 2024 is closer than ever as the playoffs are played this month.  The UEFA European Championship attracts the continent’s finest talent every four years. Anticipation is high, and fans are eager to witness the tournament. Germany will host the competition from June 14 to July 14, 2024. The identity of 21 out of 24 nations to feature in the competition is already known. Three other countries would join in after the playoffs.

Among the nations in the race to win this year’s tournament, several stand out as formidable contenders. Most countries secured their spot in the final competition in a more impressive style than others. France appears to be in top form again, Portugal is experiencing a resurgence, and England has the talent capable of ending their trophy drought. The focus, however, is on the host nation, Germany, and whether Julian Nagelsmann can rejuvenate a team that has been struggling for some time now.

Let’s look at some of the top contenders to win Euro 2024:

1.     ENGLAND

England are the top contenders at Euro 2024. They missed out on the trophy in 2020, having lost 2-1 to Italy at Wembley. They secured qualification with two qualifier matches remaining. Their qualifier games concluded with two average performances against Malta and North Macedonia, raising doubts about Gareth Southgate’s tactics and selection process. 

Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmar, Ollie Watkins, Marcus Rashford, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bukayo Saka, Kyle Walker, Jordan Henderson, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, and Ben Chilwell are among a pool of players open for selection by Gareth Southgate. Southgate has his hands full in picking out the perfect team to lead the Three Lions to their first major trophy since 1966. 

2.     FRANCE

France is currently the highest-ranked European team. The runner-up at the 2022 FIFA World Cup enters the tournament with a star-studded lineup led by exceptional talents like Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann. Oliver Giroud is likely the top contender for the No.9 spot once more despite his age. France manager Didier Deschamps is tasked with choosing from a pool of impressive Frenchmen playing across Europe. Warren Zaire-Emery, Eduardo Camavinga, Tchouameni, Kolo Muani, Marcus Thuram, Ousmane Dembele, and Kingsley Coman are some of the players expected to make the final list. France possesses the quality necessary to mount a serious title challenge to recreate their victories in 1984 and 2000.

Greece held France in a 2-2 Draw in the final qualifier fixture, ending their chase for a perfect record through the Qualifying stages. They are in Group D of the Euro 2024 Group stages with Netherlands, Austria, and Playoffs Path A winners. After defeating the Dutch team home and away, it would be a confident challenge for Les Bleus in Germany.

3.     PORTUGAL

The 2016 Euro winners replaced Fernando Santos with Roberto Martinez as Head coach after a disappointing World Cup campaign. They have a mix of established emerging talents, including João Félix, Bruno Fernandez, Rafael Leao, Bernardo Silver, Joao Cancelo, Diogo Jota, and Ruben Dias, capable of producing moments of brilliance when it matters most. Cristiano Ronaldo will feature in yet another Euro competition for his country, bringing experience to the team of youngsters.

Portugal concluded their qualifying campaign with a record ten consecutive wins, scoring 36 goals and conceding only twice. The perfect Record sets a strong foundation as they look ahead to the Euro 2024 tournament. They would navigate Group F with Turkey, the Czech Republic, and Playoffs Path C winners.

4.     SPAIN

Spain is another nation blessed with an enormous pool of highly gifted players. The three-time Euro Champions had a shaky start in the qualifying stages but went on to win the Nations League trophy and straight wins in their remaining qualification games.

La Roja might have lost Gavi to a season-long injury. The presence of Pedri, Ansu Fati, Alejandro Balde, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and captain Alvaro Morata is enough to change the tempo of their games in Germany. Luis de la Fuente’s team has the reigning champions Italy, Albania, and the formidable Croatia to deal with in Group B.

5.     BELGIUM

The Belgians have been unbeaten since Domenico Tedesco took over Roberto Martinez as head coach after a disappointing 2022 World Cup campaign. They have arguably the finest strikers and midfielders across Europe. Romelu Lukaku is poised to take on the No.9 role again after scoring a record-breaking 14 goals at the qualifiers. Kevin De Bruyne’s recovery from injury would be a key motivation for the team’s midfield.

Belgium again boasts of a golden generation of players heading to EURO 2024. There are high expectations from a team that has yet to show for their constant participation at the international level. They are in Group E with Slovakia, Romania, and Playoffs Path B winners.

6. NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands got into the competition with one game to spare at the qualifiers. Ronald Koeman’s re-appointment as head coach has raised many doubts as to whether the former Barca coach can create a vintage Dutch team to lead them to victory at the 2024 Euro. They will face France again in Group D. 

They have youthful and experienced playmakers, including Cody Gakpo, Xavi Simons, Memphis Depay, Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, and Captain Virgil van Dijk. The Oranje will aim to recapture their glory days on the European stage.

7. ITALY

The reigning champions secured entry into the European competition in the final qualifiers game against Ukraine. They have struggled to stand their ground since the departure of Roberto Mancini, who led the team to victory in Wembley. They also missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

New head coach Luciano Spalletti still has lots to do in picking out the perfect team to stage a title defense in Germany. It would be a rough path as they have Spain and Croatia to deal with in Group B. World-class strikers like Ciro Immobile, Federico Chiesa, and Andrea Belotti would have to step up to cover their scoring problems. Players like Nicolo Barella, Federico Dimarco, Jorginho, and Alessandro Bastoni present a strong unit for their famous defensive solidity and attacking flair.

8. GERMANY

Germany will host this year’s European Championship for the first time since the Country’s reunification. The Four-time World Champions have three European titles (1972, 1980, and 1996) and are one of the powerhouses in Europe. The Germans now face the challenge of breaking their title drought since winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Nagelsmann has a flock of experienced athletes at his disposal. It includes the services of youngsters Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, Antonio Rudiger, Joshua Kimmich, and Ilkay Gundogan. With a challenging track record of six losses in their last eleven games in 2023, which led to the shocking firing of Hansi Flick as head coach and the appointment of Julian Nagelsmann, they are determined to bounce back and aim for glory on home soil.

EURO 2024 PLAYOFF’S DATE

In six out of the last seven UEFA EURO tournaments, play-offs have decided the entry of certain nations to the main tournament. However, unlike previous editions, the play-offs for UEFA EURO 2020 introduced a unique format. Teams had to navigate through multiple rounds for the first time. Participation for most sides was determined through the Nations League rather than participating only through European Qualifiers, as seen in previous tournaments. The format was also used in the European playoffs at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

March 21, 2024: play-off semi-finals

• Path A: Poland vs. Estonia, Wales vs. Finland 
• Path B: Israel vs. Iceland, Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Ukraine 
• Path C: Georgia vs. Luxembourg, Greece vs Kazakhstan

March 26, 2024: play-off finals

• Path A: Wales/Finland vs. Poland/Estonia 
• Path B: Bosnia and Herzegovina/Ukraine vs. Israel/Iceland 
• Path C: Georgia/Luxembourg vs. Greece/Kazakhstan

The playoffs are all single-leg knockout matches. If ties are level at the end of regular time, they go to extra time and, if required, a penalty shoot-out.

The Group stage opponents for the Playoffs winners are already known from the Final tournament Draw on December 3, 2024. 

• Group D: Path A winners, Netherlands, Austria, France 
• Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Path B winners
• Group F: Türkiye, Path C winners, Portugal, Czechia

EURO 2024 TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE!

Secure your seats for matches at Euro 2024 through Seatsnet Marketplace. Anticipation is high for the battles about to go down in Germany, where champions seek to expand their cabinet of glories and uncrowned nations strive to make their breakthroughs. The electric atmosphere, crowds, and grandeur of Euro 2024 stadiums amplify the intensity on the pitch. Euro 2024 promises to script another enthralling chapter in its legacy, captivating millions around the globe.

Ensure you get your Euro 2024 tickets early, as demand is soaring by the hour. Explore detailed seat maps to discover your ideal spot for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.