We are just 81 days away from the start of Euro 2024, when 24 teams will fight to be crowned the best team on the continent of Europe. This week’s international friendlies gave us a good idea of several teams’ strengths and weaknesses as the nations worked out which final groups of players will get the call to be part of the team.
Italy won the Euros last time, but since then, a lot has changed, with several new players rising to the top. England have a golden generation again, Germany are going through a transition, France look to get past the bitter taste of losing the World Cup final, and Spain’s teenage players are stepping up when it matters.
So, which teams are the favourites to win the Euro 2024?
France
On paper, the favourites to win Euro 2024 have to be Didier Deschamps’ France. Since 2016, Les Bleus have had an impeccable record in international tournaments. Barring Euro 2020, they have reached at least the semi-final stage in Euro 2016 and the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup. The French boast a side stacked with talent to the brim, with goalkeeping being the only area where Steve Mandanda, Mike Maignan, Lucas Chevalier, Yehvann Diouf, and Guillaume Restes are fighting to be among the three that go to the Euros.
The defence includes players like Ibrahima Konate, William Saliba, Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, and Lucas Hernandez. The midfield will, however, feature most young players like Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, Youssouf Fofana, and PSG’s young gem Warren Zaire Emery.
Most of the forwards who played in the World Cup, such as Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele, Randal Kolo Muani, Marcus Thuram, and Kylian Mbappe, will be in the squad, with Moussa Diaby being the new addition.
With such a squad, France would take nothing short of winning the Euros.
Germany
After winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup and reaching the semi-finals of the 2016 Euros, Germany have fallen off the perch. Die Manschaft were knocked out in the knockout stages of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and only managed to reach the round of 16 at the 2020 Euros. However, under Julian Nagelsmann, Germany looked to have discovered an attacking flair that was sorely missing in the previous tournaments.
Germany will have a mix of experienced and youth in this tournament. Manuel Neuer will play his eighth tournament in his illustrious career as captain of the side. With the team without a world-class right-back, Nagelsmann has opted to play Joshua…
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