Germany: Can home advantage guide them to Euro 2024 glory?
Host nation Germany are heavy favourites to bring it home. A new generation of young and exciting players, with the likes of Europe’s brightest stars such as Alexander Pavlović, Jamal Musiala, and Florian Wirtz are called up to a squad already stacked with champions. Veterans Antonio Rüdiger, Joshua Kimmich, and Toni Kroos will play a crucial role in helping the juniors settle in while playing in front of the home crowd. Their path to the knockout stages seems straightforward, with group fixtures against Scotland, Switzerland, and Hungary.
Spain: Can tiki-taka titans cause a Euro 2024 upset?
Spain returns with a squad that embodies footballing poetry in motion. Their tiki-taka style – mesmerising short passes, and constant possession, are a joy to watch and a nightmare to defend against. They might lack the raw physicality of some teams, but their technical brilliance is non-negotiable. The engine room boasts the established talents of Pedri and Rodri, pinging balls to talisman Lamine Yamal – Barcelona’s successor to Lionel Messi.
While their form has dipped slightly recently, Spain comes alive in the later stages – quarter-finals, semi-finals, they are always there. They also face a challenging group stage, pitted against current Euro champions Italy and sleeping giants Croatia. Progression seems unlikely, but La Roja are known for pulling off surprises. One of the dark horses to watch this year.
Follow Spain’s Euro 2024 journey by wearing their Euro 2024 jerseys, now available on Novelship. Show your support with prices as competitive as their game.
Belgium: Is their first Euro 2024 trophy in sight?
For the past decade, the Red Devils have been abundant with a wealth of talent in their pool. Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard, and Toby Alderweireld – these are some names that have worn the Belgian jersey for years. Belgium has been labelled favourites and title contenders on many occasions, and yet, the trophy cabinet remains bare – a disappointment for a team once dubbed the ‘golden generation’. Belgium are expected to cruise through and top the group stage. Since this will be Kevin De Bruyne’s last Euro competition, the motivation to earn some silverware for Belgium is stronger than ever.
Young prospects have also been integrated into the squad, marking a resurgence in the new ‘golden generation’. Keep your eyes out for emerging attacking talents like Johan Bakayoko, Charles De Ketelaere, and Loïs Openda – they could be the difference-makers Belgium needs to progress.
Italy: Euro 2020 Champions target back-to-back glory
After a disastrous World Cup qualifying campaign, current Euro champions Italy look to make amends. Determined to replicate their previous campaign and win a consecutive Euro trophy, they will be the second team to do so since Spain in 2008 and 2012. No easy feat, considering Spain and Croatia are in their group. They’re not heavy favourites, but do not underestimate the Italians.
Manager Luciano Spalletti has instilled a clear philosophy: intense pressing, strong team cohesion, and dominant possession – the same tactic and mentality that pushed Napoli to a Serie A title in 2023, scoring a staggering 77 goals with the highest average possession at 62%.
Several players see this tournament as a chance for redemption. Jorginho will be eager to bounce back from his missed penalties against Switzerland that cost Italy a World Cup spot. Others, like Nicolò Barella, fresh off the 20th Scudetto with Inter, and Juventus’ Federico Chiesa, one of the nation’s best wingers, will want to capitalise on their brilliant club form at international level. Italy are one of the tournament’s most underrated teams, and they’re the current champions.
Euro 2024: Who will you support?
With powerhouses like Germany, Spain, Belgium, and Italy competing against each other, predicting the winner is almost impossible – each team has its blend of experience, individual strategy, and star power. One thing’s for sure: this Euro 2024 will be a banger. Head down to Novelship – the one-stop platform for your Euro 2024 jerseys at competitive prices. Gear up, represent your team, and be part of the beautiful game.
FAQs
Euro 2024 starts Friday, June 14, 2024, and runs until the final on Sunday, July 14, 2024, all played across various stadiums in Germany. The final will be held at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
The 24 teams are divided into six groups of four. The top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams advance to the knockout stages, and two teams face off in the final.
A total of 24 European national teams will battle it out. You can find the qualified teams and finalised squads on the UEFA website: https://www.uefa.com/euro2024/teams/
Teams like Portugal, Denmark, Netherlands, and Croatia have the potential to cause upsets and make a deep run in the tournament.
Be prepared to watch talent across the pitch – Look out for France’s Kylian Mbappé clincial finishing, Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne’s pinpoint passing, Germany’s Toni Kroos’s vision. Explore official team websites and sports news platforms for detailed player stats and profiles.
Traditionally, host nations receive an automatic qualification spot for the European Championship. This allows Germany to participate in Euro 2024 without going through qualifiers, granting them a home advantage and a chance to lift the trophy at home ground.
The Euros are held every four years, alternating with the FIFA World Cup. This schedule allows European national teams to compete in a major international tournament every other year.
Germany (including West Germany) is the most successful team in Euro history, having lifted the trophy a record four times (1972, 1980, 1996, 2014). Spain follows behind with three (2008, 2012, 2016).
West Germany, the Federal Republic of Germany at the time, competed in the first ever Euro tournament in 1960 in France. They finished runners-up, losing to the Soviet Union in the final.