The group stage of Euro 2024 promises to be an arena of captivating battles and intriguing confrontations. The draw has distributed teams in such a way that in some quartets, truly “groups of death” have emerged, where favorites will be forced to fight for survival from the very start. All of this only heightens the interest among regular fans and sports betting enthusiasts. If you want to test your football knowledge, visit the bookmaker website, where a good variety of bets on Euro Championship matches and high odds are presented. Let’s take a closer look at the balance of power in each group of the upcoming European Championship.
Group A (Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Scotland)
The tournament hosts have a fairly balanced group. The Swiss, undoubtedly a dangerous opponent, driven by ambitions after their impressive success at Euro 2020, where they eliminated the reigning world champions, the French, from the competition. Hungary, under the guidance of Italian coach Marco Rossi, has shown impressive progress in recent years and secured a place in the elite division of the Nations League. Scotland, although not shining with star names, always knows how to challenge more prestigious opponents through dedication. Germany has a good chance of advancing to the playoffs in the first place, but they will have to give their all in every match.
Group B (Spain, Italy, Croatia, Albania)
This “group of death” truly deserves its ominous nickname. The grand teams will battle for survival and an advantage over direct competitors in the playoffs. Italians, eager to redeem themselves after a disappointing performance in the Qatar World Cup, are determined to make a comeback. The Croatians have undergone a generational shift but still have stars like Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic in their lineup. In my opinion, Spain has the most balanced squad with an excellent mix of youth and experience. It’s intriguing to see which of the giants risks missing out on the playoffs.
Group C (England, Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia)
Gareth Southgate’s team is undoubtedly the main contender to top the group. The English team is equipped with high-class performers, possesses rich tournament experience, and consistently reaches at least the semi-finals of major tournaments in recent years. As for the others, an interesting intrigue unfolds. Denmark may restore its shaken reputation and declare serious ambitions. Serbia, with its “golden” generation led by Dujkovic, Milinkovic-Savic, and Tadic, has long dreamed of success in major tournaments. Slovenia, on the other hand, is a dark horse capable of causing surprises.
Group D (France, Netherlands, Austria, winner of play-offs from the quartet Poland, Wales, Finland, Estonia)
The favorite here is obvious – the current world champions, the French, led by Didier Deschamps. After the fiasco in the 2022 World Cup, where “Les Bleus” exited the Qatari World Cup after the group stage, France has a chance to rehabilitate itself. But their main competitor, the Dutch machine led by Lionel Messi and coach Ronald Koeman, won’t leave any stone unturned in the battle for the top spot. Austrians under former Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann also hope for something more than just a role as underdogs. The fourth participant in this group will be determined after the play-offs.
Group E (Belgium, Romania, Slovakia, winner of play-offs from the quartet Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel, Iceland, Ukraine)
The main favorite in this group is the Belgian national team. The team still boasts high-class masters such as Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois, and Romelu Lukaku. Romania and Slovakia are likely to compete for the third place in the group. Romania has experienced fighters like Radu Dragusanu and Nicolae Stanciu. The fourth participant will be decided in the play-offs from the quartet Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel, Iceland, and Ukraine. The chances in this confrontation seem quite equal.
Group F (Portugal, Turkey, Czech Republic, winner of play-offs from the quartet Kazakhstan, Georgia, Greece, Luxembourg)
In this group, the clear favorite is the Portuguese national team. The main rival and pursuer of the “Ronaldo team” should be Turkey under the ambitious leadership of Senol Gunes. Turks have been progressing with each tournament in recent years, and they have a very talented and balanced generation led by Caglar Soyuncu, Cengiz Under, and Halil Dervisoglu. On home soil in Euro 2024, Turkish fans expect not only victories but significant achievements. Czech Republic in this company looks like a solid middle-tier team, with leaders such as Tomas Soucek, Patrik Schick, and Jakub Brabec. However, it’s unlikely that the Czechs can challenge the group favorites. The fourth participant will be determined from the play-offs in the quartet Kazakhstan, Georgia, Greece, and Luxembourg. Greece appears to be the clear favorite, but making the decisive step won’t be easy for them.
