With only a week away from kickstarting Euro 2024, major football enthusiasts and experts from around several sports journals and websites have started to pick their favorites for Europe’s most prestigious title.
Sportslila also ranks the top 10 teams of Euro 2024, with standards set by their recent international success and inevitable form of players.
Denmark
The Scandinavians have often been termed the dark horses in recent times. Though they lagged behind all as they crashed from a World Cup group stage exit. This time too, they can be seen as the quite convincing side to make a good comeback in Germany.
Italy
The four-time World Champions have not been considered favorites in the recent history of football. Despite all odds, they emerged as winners of Euro 2020 and would enter Germany crowned as defending champions.
Italy earned a late entry into the main stage of Euro 2024, though nothing seemed to worry the Italian boss, Spalletti. After they missed the contention for the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, they would at least like to make it to the knockout stage of Euro 2024.
Croatia
Since the 2018 World Cup, this has been a constant name among favorites in major FIFA tournaments. Often referred to as the over-achievers, this Euro might mark the end of a glorious reign in the history of Croatian football, as most of their senior pros are on the wrong side of 30.
They are still contending for one of the best midfield trios in Europe, with Modric, Kovacic, and Brozovic, yet this will be a tough phase for Dalic’s side as they are placed alongside European giants Spain and Italy.
Germany
The hosts have not shown any form or even the slightest of international dependency since their famous victory over Argentina in the finals of the 2014 World Cup. However, with recent flourishment under new boss Julian Nagelsmann and raising their standards against teams like France and the Netherlands, they are considered a great side.
He has the likes of Kimmich, Gundogan, and Kroos, who returned from international retirement. With a world-class attack line, the Germans would advance over a group of soft competitors.
Netherlands
The Dutch’s can be placed over many due to their recent unstoppable form. However, the only major concern for Koeman and co. would be the lack of de Jong and lack of form for the players around the D-box, which has been the only reason behind some of the failures they have faced in recent times.
Van Dijk’s men, if they have the caliber to contest with big opponents, would look to advance through the group placed along with France and Poland and inform Austria.
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Spain
Having had one of the most exciting seasons with the Spanish boss De La Fuente, they once again seem to be at the top of the world with their exciting set of campaigners.
Despite the absence of Gavi, they will have the likes of Pedri, Yamala, and Rodri in the midfield alongside Oyarzabal and Morata, who wear the captain’s armband alongside the peaks of his career.
England
The finalists of Euro 2020 made it to Euro 2024 in a very convincing way. They have not yet been able to end their trophy drought since 1966, making it the longest for a team of this caliber.
Lacking the likes of Sterling, Rashford, and Grealish, whom Southgate decided to opt out due to their bad form,. With major concerns in the defense line as well, the three-lions would make it to the semis for the least, but only if Bellingham and Kane are fit and running.
France
The Frenchmen might be able to convince all with their undeniable form since the 2018 World Cup. The two-time World Cup semi-finalists are unconditionally among the top 3 sides in contention for Europe’s most prestigious title, Germany.
After their valiant effort in the Qatar World Cup final, Mbappe would look to lead the French into yet another spine-chilling ride into the knockouts of Euro 2024.
Belgium
Placed among a very winnable group, the Red Devils have been fit and firing again, along with Roma forward Lukaku and this generation’s greatest playmaker, KDB.
De Bruyne is in line to relish a great summer in Germany, and Tedesco would expect quite some reliance from their senior pros.
Portugal
Loaded with greats like Cristiano Ronaldo, Patricio, and Pepe, the Portuguese side has a great blend of experience and youth in Neves, Bruno, Vitinha, and Bernardo Silva. The champions of Euro 2016 have all that it takes to lift the Cup once again in 2024.
Under Roberto Martinez, Portugal has been flourishing, storming past all in the qualifiers and being the top priority side in Euro 2024. This can be the least the young Portuguese men can do to bid adieu to the departing GOAT, who would be probably ending his international career with the Euro.