Are England really the favourites for Euro 2024?

As we gear up for Euro 2024, we’ll explore the competition’s frontrunners, each group, potential Golden Boot winners, and players in the running for other individual accolades like Player of the Tournament.

Who are set for glory at Euro 2024?

The favourites to win the tournament are the usual suspects in the betting, the so-called European heavyweights. However, many of those favourites have pros and cons heading into their campaigns.

England are the current favourites with many of the bookies to lift the trophy. Head coach Gareth Southgate has a host of quality players available to him.

Unsurprisingly, they are the favourites to make the final of the competition for the second straight European Championships.

However, the Three Lions have some defensive doubts, while Southgate’s pragmatic nature may also be a barrier to tournament success.

France are close to the Three Lions in the betting, and Les Bleus will be disappointed not to win the competition. They are second favourites to make it to the competition’s final.

Boss Didier Deschamps’s biggest problem is attempting to fit all the highly talented players into the starting 11.

Germany has been the master of tournament football throughout the years. Their squad has a good mix of young and experienced players ahead of the competition.

Portugal has an excellent squad of players with decent depth and strength. The Selecao are an exciting prospect, and they could well be a team to watch in Germany.

Favourites to top their groups

When it comes to group favourites, it’s pretty simple, as there is one of the competition favourites in each of the groups.

In Group A, Germany is the clear favourite to progress from a group that includes Scotland, Hungary, and Switzerland. The latter are likely to be considered the second favourites mainly because of their experience in major competitions.

Spain is the favourite in Group B. They will face Croatia, Italy, and Albania in what promises to be one of the most interesting groups in the competition. In truth, Croatia and Italy could well challenge La Roja to top the group, with Albania being a major underdog.

England are the big favourites to progress to the group stages from Group C. The rest of the group consists of Denmark, Serbia, and Slovenia. The race for a place in the last 16 could be wide open beyond the favourites.

France is the clear favourite to qualify from Group D. However, the Netherlands, Austria, and Poland are all likely to be highly competitive in the race for qualification.

The heavyweights in Group E are Belgium, who are expected to dominate the group, including Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine. The Red Devils will be highly disappointed if they don’t top the group comfortably.

Portugal is the big favourite to win Group F, while Czechia and Turkey will likely be the main contenders to make it to the last 16. Meanwhile, tournament debutants Georgia will look to give a good account of themselves.

Player of the Tournament

With the best European football players all coming together at the Euros, there is some serious talent set to take to the pitch in Germany.

One of the biggest names in world football, French superstar Kylian Mbappe, is the favourite to be the tournament’s best player.

The forward’s new Real Madrid teammate, Jude Bellingham, is also one of the favourites to star for England in Euro2024. The youngster heads into the competition on the back of a sensational debut campaign in the Spanish capital, having won both La Liga and the Champions League.

Bellingham’s compatriot Harry Kane also enjoyed an excellent debut campaign at German giants Bayern Munich, even if the Bavarians failed to retain their domestic title. The former Spurs star is among the favourites for the award.

Manchester City’s attacking midfielder Phil Foden has enjoyed the best campaign of his career so far, and he is expected to be an influential player for Gareth Southgate’s team this summer.

Germany midfielder Toni Kroos will retire from professional football this summer. He came out of international retirement to feature this summer.

Kroos will look to go out with a bang by guiding Julian Nagelsmann’s team to success.

Another veteran star looking to make a mark on Euro2024 is Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who is the player with the most goals in the history of the European Championships. At 39, this is likely to be his last international tournament.

Young starlets that will shine the brightest at Euro 2024

While some older players are looking to produce, there is also a host of young starlets ready to shine this summer.

Bellingham is the favourite to win the Young Player of the Tournament award, as well as one of the favourites to win the senior award.

German attacking midfielders Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala are expected to be key players for their team and are two of the favourites to win the award. The pair enjoyed strong campaigns at Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich, respectively.

Barcelona and Spain youngster Lamine Yamal, at just 16, is expected to be amongst the frontrunners for the award.

Most prolific forward

The race for the Euro2024 Golden Boot is going to be a fascinating one, with some of the world’s best forward players appearing at the tournament.

Unsurprisingly, French star Kylian Mbappe is the favourite to win the award. However, he has some serious competition from players who have been frighteningly consistent throughout their careers.

One of those is, of course, England’s Harry Kane, who has been a goal machine for close to a decade. The former Spurs man scored 44 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions for Bayern Munich last season.

One man who can’t be kept out of the spotlight is a certain Cristiano Ronaldo. Even in his late 30s, the forward scored 38 goals in competitive action for Al Nassr last season.

Another player who has been prolific in the last decade is Belgian’s all-time top goalscorer Romelu Lukaku. The former Chelsea and Everton man is always likely to be a danger to opposition defences, having scored 85 international goals for the Red Devils.

While England star Bellingham is not a conventional natural forward, he was highly prolific in his maiden campaign at Real Madrid, scoring 23 goals in all competitions.

Who will you be looking out for at Euro2024?