Euro 2024 Predictions

Every time a major tournament comes up, I am filled with excitement. Whether these predictions prove right or wrong, I look forward to seeing which players rise to the occasion for their nation. Here goes!

Group A

Coming off of an invincible domestic season for Bayer Leverkusen, Granit Xhaka is one of the key players that will ensure Switzerland progress to the next round ahead of the other non-Germany hopefuls in Group A. Image credit: The Independent.

1st Germany 7 pts

2nd Switzerland 5 pts

3rd Hungary 4 pts

4th Scotland 0 pts

Germany as the hosts and featuring a rejuvenated side that looks more impressive than the group they went to the World Cup with should get through this group on top. I favor Switzerland’s experience in making it to the Round of 16 in each of the last 5 major tournaments it participated in since the 2014 World Cup slightly over Hungary’s resurgence. While this is a stronger Scotland side than in generations past, it’s going to be tough for them to get much going in this group.

Group B

Luka Modric will have his work cut out for him in this difficult group, but the ageless midfield dynamo will help Croatia accumulate enough points to advance. Image Credit: 3 Seas Europe

1st Spain 5 pts

2nd Italy 5 pts

3rd Croatia 4 pts

4th Albania 1 pt

This is going to be a very difficult group, especially for Albania who are out of their depth here. I expect the other three sides to accumulate enough points to progress regardless of whether they finish 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd. Spain’s squad is the most complete of the three, with Croatia having the least depth, and Italy in the middle of that scale.

Group C

After his first season with Bayern Munich, Harry Kane is in as good of goalscoring form as ever, which is great news for the Three Lions. Image Credit: The Japan Times

1st England 9 pts

2nd Denmark 6 pts

3rd Serbia 3 pts

4th Slovenia 0 pts

England are one of the pre-tournament favorites, and while there may be some challenges at points, they are talented enough to win their three group games. Denmark also made the semi finals of the Euro 2020 tournament, and they appear to be the next strongest of the bunch. Serbia will need a convincing victory against Slovenia to advance with just 3 points, but despite the presence of Jan Oblak in goal, that seems possible.

Group D

It’ll come down to razor-thin margins between France and the Netherlands, so Virgil van Dijk will be as determined as ever to do his part in the goal-difference battle if it comes down to it. Image Credit: Sky Sports.

1st France 7 pts

2nd Netherlands 7 pts

3rd Austria 1 pt

4th Poland 1 pt

There’s not much to split the top two teams or the other members of this group, which is why I see them drawing their games. The gulf in class France and Netherlands possess over the lesser pair will be apparent, however. Expect France’s attack force led by Kylian Mbappe to win those games by a larger margin, especially with Frenkie de Jong ruled out for the Dutch.

Group E

Artem Dovbyk’s top goalscoring season in La Liga with Girona is a big factor as to why Ukraine could be this tournament’s Dark Horse. Image Credit: Dynamo Kyiv Website.

1st Belgium 7 pts

2nd Ukraine 5 pts

3rd Slovakia 2 pts

4th Romania 1 pt

Belgium are in an interesting point as their key players from their “golden generation” such as Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku are approaching the end of their peak. Despite Thibaut Courtois being left off their squad, an injection of youth through Jeremy Doku as well as their talent in comparison to the rest of their group should see them top it. Ukraine are the next best team and with La Liga’s top goalscorer in Artem Dovbyk, they could be a challenge for whoever they face in the next round.

Group F

Rafael Leao formed a strong attacking trio with Christian Pulisic and Olivier Giroud at AC Milan, and he’ll be in a similarly devastating attack among Portugal’s ranks. Image Credit: Transfermarkt

1st Portugal 9 pts

2nd Czechia 4 pts

3rd Türkiye 4 pts

4th Georgia 0 pts

It’s great to see Georgia qualify for their first major tournament as an independent nation, but not much is expected of them. The opposite is true for Portugal, for which much is expected of a talent squad with the likes of Rafael Leao, Bruno Fernandes, and Ruben Dias to make life easier for the 39-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo in what could be his last Euro tournament. Not much to split between Czechia and Türkiye but 4 points a piece should see them both through.

Advancing 3rd Place Teams

Group A: Hungary

Group B: Croatia

Group C: Serbia

Group F: Türkiye

Austria/Poland and Slovakia/Romania have the highest potential to draw against each other and those dropped points could prove decisive.

Round of 16

This tournament will be Toni Kroos’s last in his career. He will marshal a strong Germany midfield in the hopes of winning this tournament in front of his home nation. Image Credit: ESPN.

Winner Group B Spain 3–1 3rd Group A Hungary

While Hungary is a popular dark horse pick, Spain have too much class for them and they’ll get through comfortably.

Winner Group A Germany 2–1 2nd Group C Denmark

The hosts’ Northern neighbors are tough to break down as the Danes defend well as a unit, but Germany have too many options to eventually get their goals.

Winner Group F Portugal 1–0 (AET) 3rd Group B Croatia

It’s important for anyone facing Croatia in the knockout rounds of a major tournament to avoid going to penalties (ask England and Brazil), but while this will be a close run affair, one of Portugal’s stars will prove to be a hero in extra time.

2nd Group D Netherlands 1–1 (penalties) 2nd Group E Ukraine

There will be at least one upset in the Round of 16, and Netherlands vs Ukraine looks like a prime opportunity for one. Netherlands were only taken out by the eventual winners Argentina at the last World Cup, but Ukraine have enough talent and team spirit to pull it off.

Winner Group E Belgium 2–0 3rd Group C Serbia

Serbia will make life difficult for Belgium with their physical players, but Belgium will find a way through with their technical ability.

Winner Group D France 4–1 2nd Group F Czechia

Patrik Schick, a key player in Bayer Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga campaign, perhaps gets the lone goal in this effort by the Czechs, otherwise it should be all France in this one.

Winner Group C England 3–0 3rd Group F Türkiye

Similarly to the last matchup, England should have few problems against Türkiye. At least they’ll get out of the group this time, unlike in 2020 when the popular dark horses failed to do even that. Hopefully we’ll see Real Madrid wonderkid Arda Güler at least.

2nd Group A Switzerland 0–1 (AET) 2nd Group B Italy

Both the Swiss and the Italians know how to defend well, but I cant see the defending European champions going out this early.

Quarterfinals

Nicolo Barella was crucial to Italy’s success in Euro 2020 and is a two time Serie A champion with Inter Milan. Image Credit: Transfermarkt

Spain 1–2 Germany

Both of these powerhouses were eliminated before the Round of 16 at the last World Cup and will be hoping to go much further this time around, but I’ll go with Germany here as they’ll finish off more of their chances than a Spanish side still reliant on Alvaro Morata, or perhaps 34 year old Joselu.

Portugal 2–0 Ukraine

As much as we’d all like to see an underdog run go at least to the semifinals like Wales in 2016 or Denmark in 2020, I don’t think it’s in the cards this time around. Ukraine making it to the quarterfinals of a major tournament for the first time since 2006 would be a valiant effort.

Belgium 0–1 France

There wasn’t much to split the two in the 2018 World Cup semifinals, and I think it’ll be dejavu for the Belgians here. France will edge it out as the better side.

England 2–1 Italy

England will look to avenge their 2020 Euro final loss to the Italians and other than left back (which will require either Luke Shaw or an out of position Kieran Trippier to fill in), they have less holes in their squad than Italy does at this moment. England continue their three tournament streak of making at least the semifinals.

Semifinals

Despite his advanced footballing age and heading to LAFC after this tournament, Olivier Giroud has provided France top-quality performances for over a decade. Image Credit: The Independent.

Germany 3–2 Portugal

This has all of the makings of an explosive semi-final matchup. There’s so much attacking talent between Germany and Portugal, but Germany will scrape past.

France 1–0 England

A familiar end for England as they come across the side that took them out in the quarterfinals in Qatar. France have the edge in quality and experience, and just like the generation that preceded this current crop of English talent, we’ll be left to wonder when will the stars align for England to win their first major tournament since 1966?

Final

One of the last remaining players from Germany’s 2014 World Cup triumph, expect Manuel Neuer to make a few big stops along the way if Germany are to succeed again a decade later. Image Credit: The Independent.

Germany 2–1 AET France

I thought about which way this one would go because France are the stronger team on paper, but a European side hasn’t repeated as champions of a major tournament since Spain from 2008 to 2012. I think there’s more parity in this field of strong European nations, and Germany have enough in the tank to come out as champions. It would be a fitting end to Toni Kroos’s career alongside familiar presences such as Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller, aided by younger stars such as Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz.

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