As the football world gears up for the UEFA Euro 2024, the anticipation is palpable. Much like its predecessors, this tournament promises thrills, upsets and moments that will be etched into the annals of sporting history. Scotland – appearing in their second straight European Championships – have their work cut out as they face off against hosts Germany in Munich in the curtain raiser on June 10th. Throughout the next month, the continent’s finest will be whittled down to just one that stands above the rest as the champion of Europe.
But with the tournament now looming large on the horizon, what should we all be looking out for this summer?
Source: presseportal.de
A Rejuvenated Germany
German football is currently at a crossroads unseen since they completely revamped the sport’s structure two decades ago. In the wake of a tumultuous few years that featured early exits from both the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, as well as a lackluster performance at Euro 2020, the upcoming tournament offers Die Mannschaft an opportunity to reset and redefine themselves.
With a budding cohort of young talent, managerial shake-ups, and an invigorated sense of purpose, the hosts are poised to be a tournament favorite once more. In fact, BetMGM sportsbook provides betting and offers on the Euros and they have made the Germans the third favorite for glory behind England and France. The company offers free bets to new customers and rewards points for returning ones, which can both be used to enhance the odds when betting on who will become champions.
German football underwent a soul-searching campaign after the 2018 debacle, focusing on youth and a more dynamic playing style. The likes of Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, and Florian Wirtz represent the new guard, blending skill with a fearless approach. However, they have yet to improve on the previous batch of stars spearheaded by Mesut Ozil and Philipp Lahm. They too exited the World Cup at the group stage following a shock defeat to Japan and, in the 18 months since, they have hardly set the world alight.
As Germany qualified for the tournament as hosts, they didn’t have to go through a rigorous qualifying campaign. Instead, they have played in a number of friendly matches as they gear up for the showpiece on home turf, but their run of form has been disastrous. They have been beaten by Austria, Turkey, Japan, Colombia, Poland, and Belgium over the course of the last year.
However, as they demonstrated back at the 2006 World Cup, the Germans sure know how to perform when they host a major tournament. Back then, they were similarly unfancied and yet they made it all the way to the semifinals. They will be hoping for a similar upturn in form this summer.
Source: unsplash.com
England To Finally End 58 Years of Hurt?
English football is replete with anguish—most of which is a result of near-misses and unfulfilled potential. Despite the youthful triumph at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, the senior team has not tasted major success since the 1966 World Cup. In 2018, they reached their first semifinal on the global stage in 28 years before going one better and reaching the final of Euro 2020. However, both of those forays resulted in heartbreak and the recent World Cup saw them take a step back and suffer yet another quarterfinal exit.
Under the astute leadership of Gareth Southgate, the Three Lions have forged a unity that was evident in their recent runs. The core of the team remains intact, fostering a level of understanding and camaraderie that’s crucial in tournament football. In Jude Bellingham they have perhaps the best player on the planet based on current form, especially considering his incredible output in his first eight months at Real Madrid. Add to that the upturn in form of Phil Foden and the goalscoring prowess of captain and talisman Harry Kane, and 58 years of hurt could well be set to come to an end.
Source: newscientist.com
Upsets Aplenty
While the giants of European football will demand attention, the specter of upsets looms large over the tournament. The recent World Cup saw plenty of stunners, with Saudi Arabia beating Argentina, and Germany and Spain both falling to Japan. The Euros are no different.
In recent installments of the tournament, surprise packages have managed to make their way deep into the latter stages. Three years ago, it was Denmark. They had the worst possible start to the competition as that horror moment for Christian Eriksen was compounded with a 1-0 defeat to Scandinavian rivals Finland in their opening game. They then lost to Belgium in their second game however, as the Red Devils were about to secure victory in all three of their group games, all the Danes had to do was beat Russia in Copenhagen to progress.
They ultimately did exactly that, and from there their tournament came alive. They thumped Wales in the round of 16 before a 2-1 victory against the Czech Republic secured their spot in the final four. There, England – with the help of a controversial penalty decision – ultimately progressed, but not before Denmark had stolen the hearts of the millions of neutrals watching on.
Back in 2016, it was Wales that made it to the final four. They stunned Belgium in the quarterfinals before ultimately succumbing to Cristiano Ronaldo’s eventual champion Portugal in the semifinals. But that year, it was Iceland who stole the plaudits. The Vikings delivered one of the greatest shocks in the history of international football when they secured a 2-1 victory against Roy Hodgson’s victory in the second round, and it remains to be seen who will follow in their footsteps this year.
With teams like the aforementioned Scots, Albania and Turkey all in good form at present, expect the unexpected this summer. The Tartan Army will be doing their utmost to defeat an out-of-sorts Germany on the opening day, while the Albanians will be aiming to surprise Spain, Italy and Croatia in the Group of Death.
