A Glance of Euro Cup 2024: From Favorites to Dark Horses

What is expected to be an incredible display of football brilliance, enthusiasm, and patriotism is the UEFA European Football Championship, or Euro 2024. From June 14 to July 14, 2024, Germany will host the 17th edition of the competition, which will pit 24 of the best national teams in Europe against one another for the coveted Henri Delaunay Trophy. With matches scheduled in ten iconic cities- Berlin - Olympiastadion, Munich - Allianz Arena, Dortmund - Signal Iduna Park, Stuttgart - Mercedes-Benz Arena, Hamburg - Volksparkstadion, Leipzig - Red Bull Arena, Gelsenkirchen - Veltins-Arena, Frankfurt - Deutsche Bank Park, Cologne - RheinEnergieStadion, Düsseldorf - Merkur Spiel-Arena. Football fans may anticipate an exhilarating tournament full of exciting games, dramatic moments, and treasured memories. A celebration of the tournament's start off beyond the soccer field will take place at the opening concert for Euro 2024. A number of activities are scheduled for June 13, 2024, the day before the hosts' match vs Scotland kicks off. Furthermore, Stuttgart, Germany's Schlossplatz, the biggest public square in the city, will host the concert. At 1700 hrs local time, or 1100 ET, the event will start. The event is scheduled to run until 1630 ET/2230 hrs local time and feature a several number of well-known performers, including Topic, Leony, Robin Schulz, and Le Shuuk.

Favourites

• England

The previous year's runner-up England England has frequently qualified for big tournaments as deserving opponents, but entering as the favorites will be a novel experience for a team that is stacked with offensive skill. With Phil Foden of Manchester City, Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid, and Harry Kane of Bayern Munich leading the way, no defense at the Euros will be looking forward to playing England.

England shouldn't have any significant issues moving further in a group that includes Denmark, Serbia, and Slovenia; a final 16 spot is almost a given. Though a strong start could be vital to the Three Lions' ambitions, winning this group may be more significant than others because the runner-up in Group C will face the winner of Group A, possibly hosts Germany, in the round of 16.

England has participated in 38 tournament games and is a seasoned competitor at the European Championship. However, they have yet to experience success, and no squad has participated in as many games without ever taking home the trophy.

England has the highest probability of any team making the last four and a likelihood of reaching the quarterfinals for the third time in four Euros.

• France

Les Bleus, the two times winner and finalist of the previous FIFA World Cup is one of the top favorites. England and France might play in the semifinals, which could be crucial and exciting given the teams' back-and-forth match in the World Cup quarterfinal, which Kane, who missed one of his two penalties, still vividly recalls.

Over the last three big international tournaments, Kane and Kylian Mbappé of France have each scored 12 goals in 18 games, which is more than any other European player has done during those competitions.

At important competitions, Antoine Griezmann has also made an impression. With 11 goals and seven assists from 25 appearances at the World Cup and the Euros, he has been directly involved in more goals (18) than any other European player since the 2016 tournament.

Only slightly behind England, Deschamps and France accomplished that achievement in experts' prediction. Few say they advance all the way to the final, while they reach the semifinals according to others.

If they do not at least make it to the final eight (69.2%), it would be a major surprise, especially if a match against the Netherlands on Matchday 2 serves as an early test.

• Germany

Even though Die Mannschaft has had a challenging ten years in major competitions since winning the World Cup in 2014 and six friendly losses following their disappointing campaign in Qatar, they are once again considered formidable contenders.

Germany, who are ranked as the third-most likely champions on home soil, will be participating in their record-breaking 14th European Championship.

With international veterans like Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer, Ilkay Gündogan, and retiring Toni Kroos in their lineup, Germany may require some extra effort from its older players.

There is a chance Germany will make it to the semifinals. The hosts are the only team, excluding England and France, to have won the tournament in more than anyone could. There is a respectable margin between them and the teams behind (Spain and Portugal).

Dark Horses

• Turkey

Turkey, under the direction of Vincenzo Montella, qualified for the tournament with the help of a solid defensive line that is supported by some intriguing forward alternatives.

They have one of the best midfielders in the game in captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu, and they attack young players. Real Madrid's Arda Güler and Juventus' Kenan Yıldız are ready to dominate the match.

They were predicted to be the big dark horses at Euro 2020, but they faltered miserably, losing all three games and scoring just once. Nevertheless, there is cause for optimism that this will change, and they could go far here, possibly even to the semi-finals, as they did at the World Cup in 2002 and the Euro 2008 tournament.

• Hungary

Anyone has the opportunity to use it as a launching pad for a deep run, as they are grouped with hosts Germany, Switzerland, and Scotland—possibly the most open group at the competition.

If past performance is any indication, Marco Rossi's Hungary is likely to win, as they easily advanced through qualification without experiencing any loss.

They are far more than the sum of their parts, and playmaker Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool, whose set-piece deliveries and passing selection on the break are crucial for this team, may be coach Marco Rossi's only real star talent.

That was, in fact, a small portion of a longer purple patch that dated back 14 games and 20 months of winning streak before that run was ended in Dublin against the Republic of Ireland in their opening tournament warm-up match on a night when they never really got going.

• Italy

In contrast to the other distinguished countries who have arrived in Germany, the build-up surrounding Italy has been quite low-key, and they are currently listed as the sixth favorite to retain their title, which is hardly a strong endorsement of the harm they can cause this summer.

In the three years since their triumph in London, there has been a great deal of turmoil. Roberto Mancini was replaced by Luciano Spalletti, seasoned players Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini retired, and possibly important players like Sandro Tonali (banned), Domenico Berardi, and Giorgio Scalvini (injured) were not present.

Although the squad is not as strong as the one which triumphed last time out, they are organized and effective, which is enough for this team, an exciting blend of experience and potential, to cause plenty of problems for the more favored outfits.

• OPTA Supercomputer Predictions

England (19.9%) was selected by the Opta Supercomputer as the favorite to win Euro 2024.The supercomputer indicates that Gareth Southgate's team has the best chance of winning this year despite their painful loss to Italy in the previous final. The team has never won the Euros before.

France (19.1%), who have advanced to the last two World Cup finals and defeated the Three Lions in Qatar, is the team most likely to stop England.

Germany (12.4%), Spain (9.6%), and Portugal (9.2%), among others, are also viewed as formidable competitors to win every game at the European Championship.

The supercomputer has not completely ruled out the possibility of the Netherlands (5.1%), Italy (5.0%), and Belgium (4.7%), even if it may be more difficult for them to mount a challenge.

Euro 2024 is more than just a football tournament; it's a celebration of European unity and diversity. It provides an opportunity for people from different cultures to come together and share in the joy of the beautiful game. As the countdown to kick-off continues, anticipation is building, and the world eagerly awaits the drama, excitement, and passion that only Euro 2024 can deliver.