Euro 2024 Group Stage Predictions

DubulDee from the D&D Football Factory provides his Euro2024 Group Stage prediction.
 

Group A

Germany, Hungary, Scotland & Switzerland

On home soil I do not think you can look past Germany topping the group, despite their issues in recent years. Mats Hummels not being taken may come back to bite them defensively in the latter stages possibly. Kai Havertz will need to be clinical, but Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala are all set to shine in the formation Julian Nagelsmann is currently deploying. Switzerland have a solid squad on paper, if the likes of Granit Xhaka, Remo Freuler and Xherdan Shaqiri can help out with goals then they will get 2nd place I believe. Zeki Amdouni scored freely for the Swiss in qualifying and if he can be more clinical than he was in his first season at Burnley then the Swiss are a threat. Dominik Szoboszlai did not finish the domestic campaign very well with Liverpool; however, he is a different animal at international level and will be vital for Hungary. If he shines and Barnabas Varga who scored 4 goals in only 6 European Championship qualifiers turns up, then they will oust Scotland as one of the best 3rd placed teams. Scotland are not to be slept on and this will be a competitive group, especially if Scott McTominay replicates his form in the qualification campaign.

Group B

Albania, Croatia, Italy & Spain

Some people I communicate with are not high on Spain, but I am going with them to top the group, we know they will be possession-based and hard to dispossess, so if they can be ruthless when needed they will go deep into the competition. They sometimes overpass it but pieced things together to win the Nations League back in June. Alvaro Morata will likely start ahead of Joselu, and as much criticism as he gets, I am expecting him to have a good tournament. 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal will leave his mark and they have the best central midfielder in the world in Rodri. Croatia collectively have one of the best midfields in the competition, it will rely on the frontline though how much they can do; therefore, I am nervously tipping Italy to get 2nd place ahead of them. This is as long as Gianluca Scamacca can continue his end of season form at Atalanta, then they should have enough with Giacomo Raspadori and Mateo Retegui goals-wise, they will also need Federico Chiesa can get back to some kind of consistency. This will leave Croatia as the second of my four best placed 3rd place teams, as Albania may end up losing all their matches.

Group C

Denmark, England, Serbia & Slovenia

England’s defeat to Iceland in their last friendly has given some doubts about whether Gareth Southgate can ‘bring it home’, but they should win Group C regardless. Southgate has predominantly gone with form for the first time since the 2018 World Cup and it makes England look a real threat on paper despite them lacking some experience. England’s defence may be the only thing that stops them from going all the way this year. Serbia are top-heavy which I believe will help them get 2nd in the group. In Alexsandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic and Luka Jovic they have strikers capable of scoring even if they do not start. Denmark have many familiar names that should get them the third of the four 3rd place slots. Rasmus Hojlund did well in qualification, and I have a feeling he will do well as he will get better service then he does at club level. Slovenia boast one of the best keepers in the tournament in Jan Oblak, but even if Benjamin Sesko shines, I am not sure they will have enough. A bonus is that they have Josip Ilicic back who can make something out of nothing, so cannot be taken lightly although I do not expect them to advance.

Group D

Austria, France, Netherlands & Poland

France should top this group. The French squad is stacked, and N’Golo Kante has returned to bolster the midfield despite now playing in Saudi Arabia. Mike Maignan will now be the number one choice in goal without Hugo Lloris. The classy William Saliba is unlikely to start, showing the names they have in defence, and they have the possible Golden Boot winner in Kylian Mbappe up front. Netherlands’ squad promises a lot; however, they still manage to underwhelm sometimes on the big stage. I would have probably had them as my last team out of the four best 3rd placed teams despite some of the quality they have, however Poland have doubts over talisman Robert Lewandowski’s fitness. He will miss the first match against the Netherlands at the very least and I am not sure who else will step up for them, so now I have them 3rd, but not as a best placed team. Austria are riddled with injuries including captain David Alaba and I will likely be at the bottom.

Group E

Belgium, Romania, Slovakia & Ukraine

Belgium will top the group. Romelu Lukaku will be looking to make amends after not being fully fit and having a disappointing World Cup. If the Red Devils go deep in the competition, then Lukaku could be a shout for the Golden Boot as his international record is impressive. This could be Kevin De Bruyne’s last or surely at least his penultimate major international tournament and it must be time for him to excel as he is maligned by some when performing for his country. Ukraine, I believe can get 2nd place. Oleksandr Zinchenko will be back in midfield for them, and they have the top scorer in La Liga, in Girona’s Artem Dovbyk, they play some good football and will be difficult to beat. I am not sure Slovakia or Romania will have enough to be one of the qualifying 3rd placed teams. Slovakia would need Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka to be next to faultless in goal to pick up points. Romania have some decent attacking options in Ianis Hagi, George Puscas and veteran Denis Alibec but may not be able to withstand defensively.

Group F

Czech Republic, Georgia, Portugal & Turkey

Portugal to top this group. Once again they look strong going into a tournament but in the latter rounds since their 2016 European Championship win, they have faltered, the group should be no issue for them though. Roberto Martinez has put full confidence into Cristiano Ronaldo and the legend is repaying him, expect him to recover after being dropped at the 2022 World Cup under Fernando Santos. They have goals across the team and should be higher with the bookmakers in my opinion. Turkey topped a qualification group that had Croatia in it, and I feel they will get 2nd place. Vincenzo Montella’s squad may not have enough defensively, as the former striker’s squad is stacked with midfielders and forwards, will it come back to bite him in the knockout rounds? Czech Republic are my tip to qualify as the fourth and last of my 3rd placed teams. Tomas Soucek will be vital in midfield, whilst they have goals up front in Patrik Schick and Adam Hlozek. Not necessarily expecting much from Georgia but this will be the perfect chance for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to put himself in place should he wish to depart from Napoli before the new domestic season.

Group Qualifiers Recap

Group A

Germany

Switzerland

Hungary

Group B

Spain

Italy

Croatia

Group C

England

Serbia

Denmark

Group D

France

Netherlands

Group E

Belgium

Ukraine

Group F

Portugal

Turkey

Czech Republic

Daniel Dwamena

@DubulDee