MY ACCOUNT
– Euro 2024 kicks off on June 14 next year, with Germany hosting the tournament
– The hosts have only won three of the 16 editions, and not since France in 1984
– Recommended bet: France to win outright
Next summer’s European Championship looks set to be a typically competitive edition, with all of the continent’s big guns hoping to make it through the qualification process and line up in Germany with dreams of lifting the Henri Delaunay Trophy.
With qualifying fast approaching, we run the rule over the contenders for next summer’s 17th edition of the famous tournament.
History against hosts Germany
Home advantage will be in Germany’s favour next summer as they host the European Championships for the second time.
However, France in 1984 were the last hosting team to win the tournament, with only three of the 16 winners having been the host country, so history suggests it may not be quite the advantage that it is framed as.
Die Mannschaft do have a talented squad though, with youngsters such as Jamal Musiala, Nico Schlotterbeck and Florian Wirtz ready to spearhead a new generation.
Hansi Flick’s side also will not have to go through the difficulties of the qualification process as they are automatically through to the finals, meaning they are 11/2 joint-favourites for the tournament with LiveScore Bet.
Mbappe makes France menacing
France came within an Emiliano Martinez leg of winning back-to-back World Cups last year, and their squad depth means they are a threat to anyone.
In the shape of Kylian Mbappe they also have arguably the best footballer on the planet and he will be hoping to inspire his nation to their first Euros title since 2000.
A qualifying group containing Netherlands, Republic of Ireland, Greece and Gibraltar should be navigated and it is not hard to imagine Didier Deschamps’ squad involved at the business end of the tournament.
The odds of 11/2 with LiveScore Bet about the World Cup runners-up looks more than fair.
Questions over England defence
Gareth Southgate has retained his position as England manager after leading his country to the final in the last edition of the European Championships, where they lost on penalties to Italy.
The Three Lions were knocked out of the World Cup quarter-finals by France but still have a squad laden with top level talent, who almost all ply their trade in the ultra-competitive Premier League.
Attacking stars such as Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford are expected to shine but there could be question marks about the defence of the 2020 runners-up.
England, who are available at 13/2 with LiveScore Bet, are also in a tricky qualifying group with Italy, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta.
Youthful Spain an obvious threat
Spain have a new generation of technically gifted youngsters coming through, with the likes of Gavi, Pedri and Ansu Fati looking to fire their nation to their first major trophy since 2012.
La Roja somewhat disappointed at the World Cup in Qatar, bowing out on penalties to Morocco in the round of 16, having also lost to Japan in the groups, and will go into this tournament under the guidance of Luis de la Fuente after Luis Enrique stepped down.
Spain, who are 7/1 to lift the trophy with LiveScore Bet, are in a qualifying group with Scotland, Norway, Georgia and Cyprus and look to have a solid enough chance.
Verdict
While the European Championship market is wide open, France’s combination of a deep talent pool and one of the best players in the world in Kylian Mbappe makes them a formidable opponent to any team and they are hard to ignore.
