Who is Going to Win Euro 2024? Analyzing the Tournament’s Heavyweights

We are just three months away from the start of the European Championships, and there are more than a handful of teams that will be competing for glory in Germany this summer and who are worth considering in our Euro 2024 betting offers. Today, we’re taking a look at some of the heavyweights going into UEFA Euro 2004.

Arguably the two strongest sides in the competition, on paper that is, are also the last two runners-up. England have edged closer and closer to winning their first major trophy since 1966 under Gareth Southgate, taking the lead within five minutes via Kieran Trippier only to concede to Ivan Perisic in the 68th minute in the 2018 World Cup semifinal, whilst Mario Mandzukic completed the comeback win in extra time. Three years later, the Three Lions brushed past Germany, Ukraine and Denmark and advanced to the Euros Final.

Once again, they took an early lead via a fullback as Luke Shaw opened the scoring within two minutes, only for Leonardo Bonucci to equalize in the 67th minute at Wembley. The match went to penalties, with the Azzurri prevailing 3-2 at Wembley to secure a first European Championship since 1968. It remains to be seen whether or not it will be the final tournament for Southgate, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the year, but one thing’s for sure: England have more than enough quality to put an end to their trophy drought.

Harry Kane has continued to prove why he is one of the finest footballers in Europe with a sensational debut campaign at Bayern Munich that has seen him score 36 goals and 11 assists in 34 appearances, whilst Bukayo Saka has emerged as a vital cog on the right side of Arsenal’s attack, leading the line for a Gunners side that is into the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in 15 years and that is in control of their own destiny as they look to come away with their first Premier League title in two decades.

If England are to come away with their first-ever European Championship, they’re likely going to have to get past France. Les Bleus have dominated the scene in recent years under Didier Deschamps, coming away with the 2018 World Cup title as well as beating Poland, England and Morocco and reaching a second-straight final, where they lost on penalties to Argentina. France are the sportsbooks’ joint-favorites alongside England at +350, and as long as Kylian Mbappé is healthy, that isn’t going to change.

At 25 years of age, Mbappé remains an unstoppable force for France and PSG with 35 goals and 7 assists in 36 appearances. Les Parisiens are on course for yet another league title and are through to the Champions League quarterfinals, and that’s thanks in large part to the efforts of their superstar forward. After a disappointing Round of 16 exit in his first Euros appearance, Mbappé will be looking to push for the Golden Boot and yet another run to the final with France.

Germany’s three Euros titles came in 1972, 1980 and 1996, but they’re an outside bet as they look to come away with their first trophy since the 2014 World Cup. The hosts are in a period of transition following a disappointing run of form that has seen them exit the group stage in back-to-back World Cups as well as suffer elimination to England in the Euros Round of 16, but they have the quality to make a deep run on home soil.

Joachim Löw stepped down after 15 years in charge following the Euros, with his former assistant Hansi Flick taking charge, but he was unable to steady the ship before being sacked in September after just two years in charge. Having replaced Flick at Bayern Munich, Julian Nagelsmann once again stepped in for Flick at the national team level. He’ll be counting on Toni Kroos, who has called it quits on his international retirement, having previously hung up his boots after the recent Euros.

At 34 years of age, Kroos has won everything there is to win from a treble with Bayern to a World Cup with Germany to a three-peat of Champions Leagues with Real Madrid…everything apart from the Euros. He remains one of the finest midfielders in the game, and his composure and leadership could be vital for a host nation that is looking to start a fresh, new era and emerge from the doldrums of the past decade.

Several of the heavyweights are entering the tournament with a new manager, from Portugal to Italy to Belgium to Spain, but one team that has the advantage of longevity at the coaching position is Croatia. Since Zlatko Dalić’s appointment in 2017, Croatia have reached a World Cup Final, earned the bronze medal in another, and come within inches of claiming the UEFA Nations League. They’ll be looking to make a lasting impression in what could very well be the final tournament for Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic and Domagoj Vida.