Photo Credit: UEFA
From predictions to dark horses, we’ve got you covered with the perfect Euro 2024 preview.
Luca Hanlon, Contributor
On June 14, 2024, host country Germany will take on Scotland at the Allianz Arena to kick off 2024’s highly anticipated edition of the European Championships, more frequently known as the Euros.
While there are still three spots up for grabs pending the results of qualifying playoffs, there’s still much to discuss. While Italy, spearheaded by player of the tournament Gianluigi Donarruma, managed to capture only its second-ever conquest in the last edition of the Euros, the Azzuri followed that up by failing to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This was the second time in a row Italy has missed out on international football’s premier competition. So who will win? Which nation will surprise fans worldwide, either again or for the first time? And which players do we think will impress the most?
Tournament Winners: France
Honourable Mentions: England
When choosing a favorite to win the competition, it’s hard to look past Les Bleus. Arguably the strongest squad in the competition, they’ve participated in the last two World Cups. They narrowly missed out on winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, despite possessing a depleted squad throughout the tournament. It’s worth mentioning that the two-time Euro champions experienced an underwhelming tournament last time around, bowing out to Switzerland in the round of 16, with talisman Kylian Mbappe missing the decisive penalty after a goalless tournament for him. I still think they’ll have too much for the likes of England, a strong contender with one of their strongest squads to date, who France knocked out in Qatar in the quarter-finals almost a year and a half ago.
Dark Horses: Austria
Honourable Mentions: Turkey, Denmark
I could’ve picked Turkey, now with a fit Arda Güler, or Denmark for having made the semi-finals in the previous edition, but I went with Austria. Despite being drawn into a tough group with the likes of France and Holland, Austrians seem to be fond of Ralf Rangnick and the progress made so far under the leadership of the father of the gegenpress.
Players to Watch: Jude Bellingham & Florian Wirtz
Honourable Mentions: Xavi Simons, Warren Zairre-Emery
The 2023–24 campaign has been the year of Jude Bellingham. Following his record move from Borussia Dortmund, the 19-year-old midfielder has been the talisman for Real Madrid in the absence of an out-and-out goal-scorer after the departure of Karim Benzema.
If there’s a national team that can benefit from individual brilliance, it’s Germany. Die Mannschaft has undergone a crisis in recent years, falling out of the last two editions of the World Cup in the group stage, not to mention a round-of-16 exit to England in Euro 2020. Florian Wirtz has been instrumental in Bayer Leverkusen’s stellar season as they seek to win the Bundesliga and end the dominance of Bayern Munich. A German win on home soil will certainly rely on Wirtz’s performances, at least to some extent.
From historic cities and star-studded lineups, Euro 2024 promises to be an exciting tournament that you won’t want to miss. The action all starts on June 14, 2024.
