Euro 2024: It’s Here…Germany and Scotland Launch the Party!
Germany vs Scotland
After weeks of excitement and anticipation the day is finally here folks. Euro 2024 kicks off in two days time when hosts Germany take on Scotland at the Munich Football Arena.
So on Friday night the waiting is over and the action starts, and Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany are hot favourites to start with a win and they are many neutrals’ picks for the championship. Steve Clarke will lead Scotland into battle and, as always, the Scots will leave nothing on the pitch and the Tartan Army will be heard loud and clear in the stands.
At 39th in the FIFA World Rankings Scotland are one of the lower ranked teams in the competition while the Euro 2024 betting odds rate Germany as third favourites behind England and France.
It’s going to be a cracking night and, of course, this match looks like a home win and a perfect start for Nagelsmann’s men…but opening games at big tournaments can be edgy.
Talking Points
Europe next for super Wirtz
Germany are enjoying a renaissance under Nagelsmann after a decade of mediocre results; he has a superb blend of youth and experience in a squad well capable of conquering Europe and they come into the tournament in good form. And the man with huge expectations on his shoulders is 21 year old Florian Wirtz, an exciting attacking midfielder who has taken the Bundesliga by storm.
Wirtz was a vital cog in Bayer Leverkusen’s title winning team this year and, while the Werkself manager Xabi Alonso had a wealth of talent in his group, Wirtz was the standout performer, scoring 18 goals and making 20 assists. He has a goal getting mindset and is superb when his team is in transition, with outstanding technical skills and electric pace.
Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, also 21, is another prodigious talent in Germany’s attacking midfield unit but the Germans have plenty of experience too. Toni Kroos announced his retirement from football at the end of this competition and he will be keen to go out with a bang. Kroos’ delivery into the penalty area will give opposition defences plenty to worry about, and service for Borussia Dortmund’s 31 year old striker Niklas Fullkrug. With 11 goals from 16 appearances Fullkrug has made a good case for a start against the Scots.
Robertson ready for action
Andrew Robertson expected to lead Scotland in Euro 2024
Captain and talisman Andrew Robertson is so important to this Scotland team both on and off the pitch. He led the Scots to a famous 0-0 draw with the Auld Enemy England at Euro 2020 with the perfect skipper’s performance, and he is clearly loved by his team-mates and fans alike. As a wingback Robertson will be a vital player in the Scotland team to control the threat of Wirtz, Musiala and Kroos, but there have been fears in the camp surrounding his fitness after he left Scotland’s training early on Monday.
But a collective sigh of relief enveloped Scotland on Tuesday when he returned to training and Scotland coach John Carver explained that Robertson pulled out on Monday purely as a precaution. The Liverpool ace has suffered an injury ravaged campaign and Scotland are right to exercise caution with their main man.
The underdogs will also need big performances from Manchester’s United’s central midfielder Scott McTominay, who scored some crucial goals in qualification, and Aston Villa creative midfielder John McGinn; but Scotland are a little light up front and will do all they can to frustrate the hosts.
History
Germany have a rich history in the game with four World Cup wins, the last in 2014, and three European Championships, most recently in 1996. Scotland have reached the Euros for the second time this century and the second time in succession; but they have never gone further than the group stages of a major tournament in 11 attempts.
Germany have won four of the five previous meetings with Scotland, the other encounter resulted in a draw, but this the first coming together since the qualifiers for Euro 2016 when Germany won both clashes.
With three wins and a draw from the last four games Germany come into the match in much better shape than the Scots who have won one, drawn one and lost two.
At 1.27 to win, it will be huge Euro 2024 news if the hosts slip up on Friday and I just can’t see it. But for the brave Scots you can back your team at 9.06 to win or 5.22 to draw, with the Double Chance at SBOTOP odds of 3.38.
2-0 is the most likely score-line at odds of 5.41 and that would be a triumph for Germany, but not a disaster for Scotland.
Euro 2024: Italy’s Back-to-Back Claim Starts With Albania
Italy vs Albania
With Euro 2024 just two days away, the entire football world is left on the edge of their seats in anticipation for the start of the biggest, grandest, and most illustrious sporting competition on the continent.
Host nation Germany will kick things off with their tournament-opening bout against Scotland, but a lot of other marquee matchups will swiftly follow.
The reigning champions of Europe will start their title defence against the tournament’s surprise package, Albania. These proud footballing nations, no matter what angle you look at it, got the short end of the stick, being drawn into the Group of Death along with football giants Spain and Croatia.
It won’t be a walk in the park for any outfit in the Group of Death, that’s for sure. Moreover, there won’t be any time for these competitors to gingerly dip their boots in the water, for every win in these group stage matches will be critical for their chances to advance to the knockouts.
So, with that being said, continue reading below for an in-depth preview of what will be Italy and Albania’s opening match.
Talking Points
Cikallesh out, Borja in
Albania, who are the second-lowest-ranked team in the tournament, surprised everyone with their stellar form in qualifying, reaching the top of a competitive cluster.
The Red and Blacks punched their tickets to Germany in style, reaching the prestigious competition for only the second time.
Under the stewardship of Sylvinho, Albania now have a compelling case to make a discerning impact in the tournament. But their campaign took an interesting turn even before the team even graced the pitch.
One of the biggest Euro 2024 news stories that came out of the Albanian camp is that head coach Sylvinho opted to leave their perennial striker, Sokol Cikalleshi, out of their lineup for Euro 2024.
Albania team during their friendly match against Liechtenstein
Cikalleshi, 33, made his debut for the Red and Blacks back in 2014 and has been a pivotal cog of the squad ever since. In over a decade of service, Cikalleshi has 59 caps for Albania, with 13 goals to show for it.
It seems that the Konyaspor star didn’t take the news lightly, as he subsequently announced his retirement from the Albanian national football team.
“Like every beginning that has an end, my journey with the national team also came to an end. I feel happy for what I have done during this journey,” Cikalleshi posted on social media. “I pray to God that the friends who will continue their journey to ‘Euro 2024’ will succeed and make a dignified performance.”
This puts Chelsea’s Armando Broja under the microscope. The prolific striker will now be the spearhead of Albania’s offence, and he wouldn’t want it any other way.
“Every time I think about it, it brings a smile to my face. I have been dreaming my whole life to be a part of something like this,” the 22-year-old exclaimed. “I just want to show the world — my country, my family, myself, people who have doubted me, people who have supported me — that I can achieve my expectations and become the player I know I can.”
Broja, the highly sought-after forward, is oozing with confidence, and that’s just what Albania need in order to make some noise in the European Championship.
Italy’s title defence begins
Despite winning it all during the last iteration of the European Championship, Italy aren’t one of the unanimous favourites coming into the 2024 tournament.
A lot has changed in Italy’s squad since their title run. A lot of the players from the 2020 championship team won’t be able to have a crack at defending their title, and instead, a new generation of Italian football will be showcased.
Another glaring difference between Italy’s Euro 2020 and 2024 rosters is the change in leadership. 18 months after their shortcomings during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Roberto Mancini decided it was time to step down as Italy’s boss and announced his resignation in August 2023.
A month after Mancini’s departure, Italy announced Luciano Spalletti as their new manager, and boy, the former Napoli head coach didn’t waste any time at all. The 65-year-old immediately delivered by leading Italy to qualify for Euro 2024.
Despite their new-found success, as my SBOTOP writing buddy Jordan stated, Italy are in for a tough title defence. With virtually an entirely different squad from top to bottom, not to mention that they are clustered in the Group of Death, Spalletti’s young core will have a herculean task to repeat their 2020 glory. But with their recent successes, Italy have a strong case for proving that this iteration of their squad is no chopped liver.
History
For over a decade, these proud outfits have faced each other four times. In those matches, Italy have bossed Albania by winning all four matchups.
In their most recent bout, Italy went on to demolish the Red and Blacks with a 3-1 score line. Even though it was just an international friendly, Gli Azzurri’s Vincenzo Grifo didn’t take the competition lightly and proceeded to score two goals and claim an assist for Giacomo Raspadori to cruise past Albania.
In terms of their current form, Albania took advantage of the most recent international break and thrashed Liechtenstein and Azerbaijan with a 3-0 and 3-1 score line, respectively. These wins serve as great confidence boosters for the thriving club as they aim to make history in Euro 2024.
As for Italy, they’ve only conceded one loss in their last 10 matches and have been unbeaten in 2024 to boot. Their not-so-new man at the helm, Luciano Spalletti, has been able to rally Gli Azzurri and secure a spot in the Euro 2024 after failing to qualify for the 2022 edition of the World Cup.
Despite their major rebuild, Italy are still one of the most accomplished and formidable teams in Europe, which is clearly evident from how the Euro 2024 odds have priced them in their tournament opener.
Even though Albania have been playing some of their best football recently, they’re still the overwhelming underdogs at 8.00, while the budding Italians are the 1.40 favourites with a draw price of 4.27.
Backing Italy might be a sound move, but their price of 1.40 might not be enough for punters to be excited about. Instead, my betting tip is total goals 2-3 at 1.89. Expect these teams to play spirited football from the get-go, as both sides understand the importance of getting ahead in the Group of Death as early as possible.
Euro 2024 Starts With the Battle Between the New and the Old Guard
Spain vs Croatia
Group B action for Euro 2024 will kick off with the match between Spain and Croatia at the Olympiastadion Berlin on Saturday night.
Spain and Croatia are favoured to get out of the proverbial “Group of Death,” so this contest is basically a battle for the top spot, unless Italy and Albania have other plans.
More importantly, this game represents a crossover between two generations, as Luis de la Fuente’s Spain are young and hungry while Zlatko Dalic’s Croatia are filled with grizzled veterans looking to make their last tournament together count by potentially winning a major trophy.
Which team do you think will come out on top in this marquee match of the weekend? Without further ado, continue reading below for the SBOTOP preview of this contest.
Talking Points
Yamal poised to break out for Spain
Spain national team captain Alvaro Morata firmly believes that Lamine Yamal has the potential to be one of the world’s best youngsters, and it’s not hard to see why.
Yamal caught everyone by surprise when he was called up by de la Fuente during last year’s qualifiers, and he didn’t disappoint since he made history by becoming the youngest national team player to feature and score for La Roja in their 7-1 rout of Georgia.
The 16-year-old went on to enjoy a breakthrough 2023-24 campaign with Barcelona, notching seven goals and 10 assists in 50 appearances across all competitions.
Lamine Yamal is almost certain to make history in the Euros, as he is expected to become the youngest player to feature in the tournament. Right now, Kacper Kozlowski holds such distinction, as he was 17 years and 246 days old when Poland took on Spain in June 2021.
He comes into this game in great form, as he has been involved in five goals (two goals, three assists) in his first seven caps for La Roja.
Lamine Yamal is not the only youngster that Spain’s opponents have to worry about, as Nico Williams, Fermin Lopez, Pedri, Alex Baena, and Daniel Vivian are also ready to contribute in their first major tournament for Spain.
Modric’s last dance with Croatia
Croatia players celebrate after Luka Modric scored a goal in their international friendly with Portugal last June 9, 2024
As mentioned, Croatia will rely on their collective experience here in the Euros, and they will be led once again by their captain, Luka Modric.
Modric will turn 39 in September, but he continues to show everyone that age is just a number, as he is coming off another productive year for Real Madrid, having recorded two goals and six assists in all competitions, despite seeing his role reduced.
Luka Modric will be accompanied once again by fellow veterans Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric, and vice-captain Domagoj Vida, who are all probably on their last legs.
Meanwhile, Croatia’s backline represents most of their youth, as Josko Gvardiol, Josip Stanisic, Josip Sutalo, Martin Erlic, and Marin Pongracic are all going to feature heavily for the Vatreni in this tournament.
History
Spain defeated Croatia in their previous encounter in the UEFA Nations League Final last year, as La Roja won 5-4 in the penalty shootout. It was Luis de la Fuente’s first major European trophy as head coach of the senior men’s team.
Before that, these two nations faced off in the Round of 16 of Euro 2020, where Spain won with an incredible score of 5-3. Pablo Sarabia, Cesar Azpilicueta, Ferran Torres, Alvaro Morata, and Mikel Oyarzabal scored for Spain, while Croatia benefitted from an own goal by Pedri and goals from Mislav Orsic and Mario Pasalic.
After beating Croatia, Spain survived a penalty shootout win over Switzerland in the quarter-finals before losing to eventual champions Italy in the same manner in the semi-finals.
Betting Tip
Spain VS Croatia
June 16, 00:00 (GMT+8)
Spain Asian Handicap -0.75 @2.21
The Euro 2024 odds are in favour of Spain winning on Sunday. Luis de la Fuente’s men are priced at 1.97 to win, whereas Zlatko Dalic’s side is at 3.90 odds, and a draw is valued at 3.26 in the 1X2 market.
Given the trend of their most recent meetings, except for their 0-0 result after regulation in the UEFA Nations League Final last year, there should be enough Euro 2024 highlights to go by from this fixture, so going for bets like Over 2.00 at 1.59, Over 2.25 at 1.93, and Total Goals 2-3 at 1.89 is not a bad idea.
On the other hand, if you fancy your chances of a Croatian victory, then check out Correct Scores of 1-0 and 2-0, given their generous prices of 10.00 and 23.00, respectively.
Euro 2024 is upon us and the meeting between Slovenia and Denmark in Stuttgart on Sunday is surely a must-win if either side is to reach the knockout stages.
With Serbia and England, many people’s favourites to win the tournament, also awaiting in Group C, a positive start would appear essential for both nations.
Yet Slovenia, who have never progressed beyond the group stage at any major championships, are not in Germany by luck after only losing twice in qualifying – ironically, once to the Danes who topped their group on goal difference.
Which one of these familiar foes can now create Euro 2024 highlights?
Talking Points
That Denmark start as favourites comes as no surprise.
Kasper Schmeichel is still the undisputed No 1 – he has gone past 100 caps – and has a developed understanding with the two of the central defenders, Simon Kjær (fitness permitting) and Andreas Christensen, in front of him.
In midfield, balance and creativity is provided by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Eriksen, while Højlund has quickly become the go-to-guy for goals.
Slovenia may be massive underdogs but should not be underestimated.
In Matjaz Kek they have a pragmatic coach who leads the team with a firm hand, putting an emphasis on unity and hard work.
They also have two real talents – at different ends of the age spectrum – on the field.
Jan Oblak reacts during the Euro 2024 Group H second leg qualifying match between Slovenia and Finland
Goalkeeper Jan Oblak replaced long-time No 1 Samir Handanovic, who was one of the best keepers in Serie A, for the national team and now has more than 60 caps.
A key figure for the national team and his club, Atlético Madrid, where he has been for a decade, he comes into the tournament following another good season in Spain.
The other standout player in the squad is young Benjamin Sesko, aged 21 and fresh from his first season in the Bundesliga where, at RB Leipzig, he ended the 2023-24 campaign by netting in each of the team’s final seven league games
This is only the second time the national team will have participated at the Euros, following 2000 when, led by Zlatko Zahovic and under the guidance of coach Srecko Katanec, they took a 3-0 lead against Yugoslavia but surrendered it to draw 3-3.
Serbia are the successor to Yugoslavia, the country they both belonged to before the break up, and then there is that unfinished business from 2000 too.
But first Denmark and two sides who have become familiar to each other over the past year.
History
Slovenia have never beaten Denmark but, after four straight defeats, did secure a 1-1 draw in June last year.
That was in Ljubljana in June when Andraž Šporar gave the hosts a 25th minute lead before Hojlund equalised three minutes before the break.
Their most recent meeting came in the return qualifier last November when Joakim Maehe and Thomas Delaney scored the goals in a 2-1 victory in Copenhagen. Erik Janza replied for Slovenia.
They first met in World Cup qualifying for France 98.
Denmark won that first meeting 2-0, thanks to goals from Allan Nielsen and Michael Schjønberg.
The return fixture also went the way of the Danes who hit four without response as Nielsen (two), Per Pedersen and Brian Laudrup found the net.
Three goals in 20 minutes from Jesper Grønkjær, Jon Dahl Tomasson (penalty) and Ebbe Sand settled a 2001 friendly in Copenhagen before a 2008 friendly in Domžale went the way of Denmark.
Dahl Tomasson and Nicklas Bendtner were the scorers on that occasion in a 2-1 victory.
The Danes are overwhelming favourite with the SBOTOP Euro 2024 betting odds.
Among the options, why not back them First Half 1X2 @ 2.38, First Half Asian Handicap -0.50, also @ 2.38, 1X2 @ 1.74 and Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 2.33.
For Slovenia, the odds are priced out further, including First Half 1X2 @ 4.70, First Half Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 1.97, 1X2 @ 4.43 and Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.19.
Another 2-1 Danish success will pay out @ 8.00 with Correct Score.
As two teams who can score goals, perhaps total goal 2-3 @ 1.89 or 4-6 @ 3.84 have caught your eye more than 0-1 @ 2.90 or over 2.50 @ 2.16.
I considered the 1X2 Draw @ 3.33 but am just going to plump for Over 2.50 Goals @ 2.16 as my *** tip.
With France expected to take the top berth in Group D, the second spot is going to be up for grabs between the three teams below them, making this Sunday match between Poland and the Netherlands important to watch.
Poland and the Netherlands know the importance of this matchup because both nations went through a lot to make it to Euro 2024.
The Poles were the last team to book their tickets to Germany by beating Wales in the play-offs, while it took the Oranje until the ninth matchday of the qualifiers, where they beat the Republic of Ireland, to fully secure their berth.
The pre-game SBOTOP betting odds predict that the Netherlands will breeze past Poland, but injuries to both teams make the outcome less straightforward than most would expect.
Talking Points
Poland are compromised up front
Unfortunately for Poland, they are not expected to make a deep run into the Euros because they’ve been hit by the injury bug, even if the tournament hasn’t even started yet.
According to the Euro 2024 updates, the Poles will be missing the services of Robert Lewandowski, Arek Milik, and Karol Swiderski, all of whom are the country’s best strikers.
With all of them sidelined, Poland’s midfielders have to pick up the slack offencively, so look for the likes of Nicola Zalewski, Piotr Zielinski, Jakub Moder, Przemyslaw Frankowski, and Sebastian Szymanski to try and assert themselves.
At the same time, Poland will need to be rock solid at the back against the Netherlands, with Jan Bednarek, Jakub Kiwior, and Pawel Dawidowicz all covering for Wojciech Szczesny.
Netherlands have a midfield hole
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman during a friendly match against Germany
The Netherlands aren’t spared by the injury bug either, as head coach Ronald Koeman won’t have Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners to lead their midfield.
Koeman was particularly angry at his former team, Barcelona, for their “mismanagement” of de Jong, who has dealt with a nagging ankle issue this season.
As for Koopmeiners, the Europa League winner unfortunately sustained a groin injury during the warm-up before the exhibition game against Iceland on Tuesday.
With Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners ruled out, the Netherlands called up Joshua Zirkzee and Ian Maatsen to take their roster spots.
Tijjani Reijnders, Joey Veerman, and Jerdy Schouten will be busy holding it down for the Oranje in the middle of the park, while Gini Wijnaldum and Ryan Gravenberch are on standby.
However, at the end of the day, the Oranje are likely to beat the Poles because they have so many weapons up front, such as Memphis Depay, Wout Weghorst, Xavi Simons, Cody Gakpo, Brian Brobbey, Joshua Zirkzee, and Steven Bergwijn.
History
Poland and the Netherlands haven’t faced off since the UEFA Nations League in 2022.
Their first encounter in the group stage yielded a 2-2 draw, as Matty Cash, Piotr Zielinski, Davy Klaassen, and Denzel Dumfries all found the back of the net. But the Oranje fared better in their second meeting, as they secured a 2-0 win through goals from Cody Gakpo and Steven Bergwijn.
The Netherlands finished on top of League A Group 4 because they went undefeated with five wins and one draw (16 points). However, they had to settle for fourth place after losing to Croatia in the semi-finals and to Italy in the battle for third place.
Poland have qualified for the Euros for the fourth consecutive time since 2008, but they never went past the quarter-finals. The Netherlands, on the other hand, are seeking their first Euros title since 1988.
The Netherlands are poised to beat Poland on Sunday, as per the Euro 2024 odds. The Oranje are 1.53 favourites to win, whereas Poland are 6.10 underdogs, and a draw is priced at 3.93 in the 1X2 market.
Goals can come in bunches from this contest, with the Oranje likely to score more, so betting options like Over 2.25 at 1.76, Over 2.50 at 2.04, and Total Goals 2-3 at 1.90 are all worth considering other than our recommended bet above.
A Correct Score of 2-0 in favour of the Oranje – the result of their most recent meeting – is also valued at 6.40. But if it is the other way around, then you’ll have a chance for a whopping payday of 40.00.
Euro 2024: England’s Revenge Tour Starts Against Serbia
Serbia vs England
Gareth Southgate’s men waited three years for a chance to bounce back from the heartbreak they suffered against Italy in the Euro 2020 final, and now they can finally right their wrongs here in Germany.
England will look to get off to a positive start here in Euro 2024, as they will square off against Serbia in the opener at the Veltins-Arena on Sunday night.
And that’s what Serbia are planning to do, as they aim for one of the top two spots in the group to make it to the knockout phase.
Talking Points
Serbia’s big boys can cause problems
Dragan Stojkovic’s side is going to play with house money in this competition, and they have plenty of quality to show for it.
Their strongest area on the pitch is arguably in the final third, as they have two strikers who can wreak havoc and score a bunch of goals.
Serbia have been using a 3-5-2 formation recently, with an emphasis on having a strike partnership led by Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic, who combine for 71 goals in 118 caps.
Serbia forward Dusan Vlahovic celebrates on the pitch after his team qualified for the Euro 2024 during the qualifying match against Bulgaria
Vlahovic is coming off a robust 2023-24 campaign for Juventus, leading the team in scoring with 16 goals and four assists in all competitions. Meanwhile, Mitrovic was a big reason why Al-Hilal are Saudi Pro League champions, as he recorded 28 goals and 10 assists.
Vlahovic and Mitrovic are big and strong, particularly adept on the air, so England’s centre-backs are in for a world of hurt if they’re left unmarked.
Serbia are also strong in the middle of the park, with Sasa Lukic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Ivan Ilic, and Nemanja Gudelj providing the muscle, while Dusan Tadic and Filip Kostic are their best playmakers in that area.
Talent alone is not enough for England
Gareth Southgate made several changes to his squad, but their core is pretty much the same here in Germany.
Harry Kane will continue to lead the line for the Three Lions, as he is coming off a brilliant debut campaign for Bayern Munich, and he will be surrounded by Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Eberechi Eze, Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins, Jarrod Bowen, Ivan Toney, and Anthony Gordon up front.
At the middle of the park, there’s Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Conor Gallagher, Adam Wharton, and Kobbie Mainoo, while Trent Alexander-Arnold can help there too, despite being a natural full-back.
With Harry Maguire out, the concern for England is who will make up for their backline. Most likely, we’ll see John Stones and Ezri Konsa in centre-half to cover goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, while Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier will be the full-backs.
With all that talent, all eyes are going to be on Gareth Southgate, as he is under enormous pressure to guide his team to the promised land.
History
Serbia and England will face each other for the first time since the former became an independent state in 2006. Since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, England have only met Serbia and Montenegro once in an international friendly in 2003, where the Three Lions won 2-1.
Overall, England are undefeated against Serbia/Yugoslavia in their last six encounters, winning each of their last four. Yugoslavia’s last victory over the Three Lions was a 1-0 result in the Euro 1968 semi-finals.
Serbia have qualified for the Euros for the first time as an independent nation. When they were still under Yugoslavia, they managed to secure two runner-up finishes and one fourth-place finish between 1960 and 1976.
As for England, their search for their first major international trophy in almost six decades continues. Their last piece of silverware was winning the 1966 World Cup.
The Euro 2024 odds are backing England to win the opener in Geisenkirchen this weekend. The Three Lions are priced at 1.43 to win, while the Eagles are 7.00 underdogs, and a draw is valued at 4.29 in the 1X2 market.
With weapons on both sides, SBOTOP football fans will get their healthy dose of Euro 2024 highlights, making alternative options like Over 2.50 at 1.91, Over 2.75 at 2.13, Over 3.00 at 2.47, Total Goal 2-3 at 1.93, and even Total Goal 4-6 at 3.24 something to think about.
While Gareth Southgate’s men are expected to win, Dragan Stojkovic and co. are going to be more than happy to take at least a draw from this matchup.
Euro 2024: Hungary Hope for Best Against Hungry Hosts
Germany vs Hungary
About 800 kilometres separates these two nations but, while in the scheme of things that is pretty close, they are much further apart when it comes to footballing pedigree.
That wasn’t always the case but, over the past half century, they’ve rarely been on the same radar.
Now as they prepare to take on the Euro 2024 hosts hungry for success, Hungary travel to Stuttgart perhaps in hope more than expectation.
Talking Points
Certainly, that appears the case if judging by the words of their Italian boss Marco Rossi.
He was so unimpressed by his side in their 3-1 opening game defeat to Switzerland on Saturday, he remarked: ‘I dare anybody to bet one Hungarian forint on us. As of today, that looks impossible.’
For those who are unaware, a forint is worth about one-fifth of a British penny.
Even though they improved later on in the contest, Rossi had just witnessed the Swiss cut through his team at will.
In some ways it had been half expected.
Hungary may only have conceded seven goals in their eight qualifiers, but the friendly defeat by the Republic of Ireland a few weeks ago suggested their vulnerability in transition, which always seems a potential danger for coaches, such as Rossi, who advocate relationism rather than positionism.
Hungary coach Marco Rossi during their match against Switzerland
They now need to be a much tighter unit and ensure they do exactly the opposite of what Scotland did in the opening match of the tournament on Friday night.
Yes, the Germans had made the start the host nation had dreamed off and were excellent against the Scots.
Yes, they played with a swagger to produce some of the early Euro 2024 highlights and look very much like a nation wanting to write their own history.
But like Hungary against the Swiss, Scotland didn’t half play into their opponents’ hands.
On saying all of that, and it is probably worth withholding judgment until they have played a better team, or at least one with an ability to probe their latent brittleness at set pieces – they have gone 13 games without a clean sheet at major tournaments – it is still difficult to envisage anything other than a German win here.
Their swagger appears back, the options on the ball abundant, the attacking patterns well drilled.
There is talent all round the park and, in Florian Wirtz, they now have the youngest-ever player to score for Germany at the European Championships (aged 21 and 42 days).
On Friday, Germany also became the first team to score three goals in the first half of a Euros game since 1984, when France did the same against Belgium.
At the other end, Manuel Neuer made his 35th appearance, surpassing Philipp Lahm (34) at the top of the all-time rankings.
Can Hungary compete against such a set-up, not to mention a passionate home fanbase?
The distance between these two nations seems as wider as ever right now.
History
Overall, the Germans have 13 wins to 12 Hungary successes and a further 12 draws.
A few friendly victories aside though, it was in the 1954 World Cup Finals when Hungary last saw off Germany in major tournament football when Ferenc Puskas was in his pomp and Sandor Kocsis scored four in an 8-3 rout.
Even then, Germany won when it really mattered by defeating the Hungarians in the World Cup Final less than a month later, described as the ‘miracle of Bern’.
On saying that, they sealed a famous win over the Germans in the Nations League 21 months ago.
Their very first encounter came in a 1909 friendly when the two nations shared six goals in Budapest.
For the record, the goals that day were scored by Gaspar Borbas , Bela Sebestyen and Imre Schlosser for the hosts and Camillo Ugi and Willi Worpitzky (two) for Germany.
They met in the group stage at Euro 2020 three years ago when the sides played out a 2-2 draw in Munich.
Twice, Hungary led through Adám Szalai and András Schäfer but each time Joachim Löw’s men hit back through Kai Havertz and Leon Goretzka.
Betting Tip
Germany VS Hungary
June 20, 00:00 (GMT+8)
Total Goal 4-6 @2.65
How can you not bet on the Germans to book their place in the last 16.
The SBOTOP Euro 2024 betting odds certainly expect it.
So much so, in fact, that it seems victory is a given as the host nation can be backed First Half 1X2 @ 1.74, First Half Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.06 and -1.00 @ 2.61, 1X2 @ 1.27 and Asian Handicap -1.75 @ 2.05.
Hungary, by contrast, are on offer First Half 1X2 @ 7.30, First Half Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.19, 1X2 @ 9.40 and Asian Handicap +1.25 @ 2.47.
The draw will pay out @ 5.60 and another 1-0 Hungary win is worth @ 26.00 with Correct Score.
I can see Hungary scoring but I can also see Germany netting a fair few themselves.
That is why, out of over 3.25 Goals @ 2.28, Total Goal 0-1 @ 4.68, 2-3 @ 2.07 and 4-6 @ 2.65, I’m opting for the latter as my *** tip.
Euro 2024: Will the Swiss Pile More Misery on the Scots?
Scotland vs Switzerland
Scotland’s Euro 2024 run may be cut short if they lose another game in Group A, and they’re facing an uphill climb against Switzerland on Wednesday at the RheinEnergieStadion.
As you all know, the top two teams in the group will directly advance to the knockout stage, while the third seed can also make it, depending on the next few Euro 2024 results and rankings.
Scotland, who were slapped by Germany with a 5-1 scoreline last time out, don’t want to leave it to chance if they plan to go through, making this game so important.
Switzerland, on the other hand, are one step closer to moving on to the knockout phase after a 3-1 victory against Hungary. If they win their second straight, they will most likely secure their spot in the next round.
Talking Points
Huge backline loss for Scotland
Scotland unraveled against Germany in the opener, as they were simply outclassed. It also didn’t help them that they were reduced to 10 men right before halftime.
After Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala gave the tournament hosts a 2-0 lead, it got worse for Scotland when Ryan Porteous was given a straight red card for his horror tackle on Ilkay Gundogan.
Kai Havertz converted the penalty kick, and Niclas Fullkrug and Emre Can added two more goals for Germany for good measure. This would’ve been a clean sheet if Antonio Rudiger didn’t have an own goal.
Steve Clarke may have to bring back Billy Gilmour into the starting lineup to bolster their midfield after he was surprisingly snubbed against Germany last time out.
Che Adams was anonymous against Germany, so the Southampton forward may cede his position to Lawrence Shankland just to give Scotland a different look up front.
Premier League stars Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Andy Robertson, and Kieran Tierney will also need to be better on Wednesday against the Swiss.
Aebischer makes history for Switzerland
Switzeland’s Michel Aebischer celebrates scoring their second goal against Hungary
Granit Xhaka may have won Player of the Match against Hungary, but we wouldn’t be surprised if Michel Aebischer was considered, given his impact in the 3-1 victory.
The Bologna midfielder became the first Swiss player to both score and dish and assist at a single Euros game, as he teed up Kwadwo Duah for the first goal and scored one for himself right before halftime.
And their amazing night was capped off by Breel Embolo, who came off the bench and scored a goal during added time.
There’s more good news for the Swiss, as Denis Zakaria is on course to return to the squad after he completed their latest training session, according to reports. The AS Monaco man was out in the first game because he was nursing a thigh injury.
History
Scotland and Switzerland will meet for the first time since March 2006, when the latter won an international friendly with a score of 3-1. In the said exhibition match, Tranquillo Barnetta, Daniel Gygax, and Ricardo Cabanas scored for the Swiss, while Kenny Miller scored once for the Scots.
This is also their first encounter in the Euros since 1996, when Scotland recorded a 1-0 victory, as Ally McCoist scored the lone goal of the contest.
Overall, Scotland have the edge in the head-to-heads against Switzerland with eight wins, three draws, and five losses.
Scotland qualified for four Euros, but they never made it out of the group stage and will look to change that. Switzerland, meanwhile, are coming off a quarter-finals run in 2020, which saw them eliminate France via penalties in the Round of 16.
The Euro 2024 odds are backing Switzerland to get their second straight win at the expense of Scotland. The Swiss are 1.86 favourites, while the Scots are priced at 4.21 to win, and a draw is at 3.38 odds in the 1X2 market.
Most of the previous meetings between Scotland and Switzerland have had goals, and this one is not going to be any different. Other than our bet above, SBOTOP bettors may also want to go for Over 2.00 at 1.59, Over 2.50 at 2.11, and Total Goals 2-3 at 1.89.
However, if you’re a fan of Scotland and you fancy their chances to beat Switzerland, then check out the Correct Scores of 1-0, 2-1, and 2-0, given their generous offers of 10.50, 15.50, and 24.00, respectively.
It’s never easy being an England fan. As a young hopeful I was at Wembley in 1996 singing how the Three Lions were about to end “30 years of hurt”. 28 years on and I’m still hurting.
In 2021, Gareth Southgate’s team had the best chance of all, at home to an aging Italy side in the Euro final at Wembley and, as Giorgio Chiellini and co. laughed on the sidelines, England bottled it.
Right, I’ve got that off my chest, so let’s dust ourselves off and start dreaming again.
England got off to a winning start to their Euro 2024 campaign with a 1-0 victory over Serbia, while Denmark were held to a 1-1 draw with Slovenia. And that means the Three Lions sit top of Group C, so it’s so far so good.
Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand knows his team probably needs a result against England on Thursday if they are to give themselves the best chance of automatic qualification, and they will be a dangerous opponent.
After the first set of Euro 2024 results and with an eye on the performances of the top nations, the mood has moved a little, and Germany have joined England and France as joint favourites.
For a number of reasons, this is a huge game.
Talking Points
Southgate seeking the right balance
England has, without doubt, one of the most talented squads in the competition, and the best group of players the Three Lions have boasted in a generation. But now Southgate is under pressure to find the winning formula and turn these fine players into a conquering team.
Against Serbia, the Three Lions were superb in the first half and went ahead thanks to a thumping Jude Bellingham header and, while Harry Kane was inches away from doubling the lead, England looked more disjointed, and fans became worried as the game wore on.
Maybe they were a little undercooked as a number of the starting XI hadn’t played a competitive game for a while, but one or two players looked out of sorts and maybe even out of position.
Kane was exposed up front, making only two touches of the ball in the first half, while Kieran Trippier, a natural right-back, was playing on the left.
And while the midfield of Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, and Trent Alexander-Arnold is a quality creative trio, a lot of the territory battle falls on the shoulders of Rice, who looked more comfortable with defencive midfielder Kalvin Phillips alongside him in 2021.
The Euro 2024 betting odds have taken the very slightest move away from England, but it’s only one game, and the second half cameo from winger Jarrod Bowen was certainly reason for optimism.
Old Trafford connection gives Denmark star quality
A sublime goal from Christian Eriksen looked for all the word that it would give Denmark an opening win against Slovenia, but they spurned a few more chances and were eventually bitten by a late equaliser.
Christian Eriksen celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Euro 2024
It was fantastic to see the 32-year-old Eriksen making his 131st appearance for the Danes, exactly 1,100 days after he suffered a cardiac arrest at Euro 2021.
The Manchester United man is still a class act, and he ran the show in the opening hour of the game. England players know how good his delivery is, and they will have to work hard to ensure Eriksen doesn’t have the space to thrive.
If he does, the chief beneficiary could well be his Red Devils teammate Rasmus Hojlund, who came close to doubling Denmark’s lead before the Slovenians struck.
There was a lot of pressure on the 21-year-old’s shoulders last season after his £64 million move from Atalanta to Manchester. While he initially found things difficult, Hojlund finished up with 10 goals from 30 games, and his pace and strength will give the England defence plenty to think about.
Denmark have plenty of other top quality players in the ranks, instantly recognisable to SBOTOP football fans and playing in Europe’s top leagues.
England have won six of the 13 head-to-heads, with four Danish victories and three draws. The two teams famously met in the semi-final of Euro 2020 when England won 2-1 as Kane scored an extra-time penalty.
Denmark come into the game in better form with three wins and two draws from the last five games, while England have won two, drawn one, and lost two.
The Three Lions are strong favourites to win this game at odds of 1.64. But Denmark at 5.03 and the draw at 3.46 are both well in the game, and the Double Chance: Denmark Win or Draw is priced at 2.30.
England have a tendency to start quickly and then tail off, as they did against Serbia. So, while I’m bracing myself for another nervy night, I’m backing the Three Lions to take a first-half lead.
Euro 2024: Spain and Italy in Battle for Group B Dominance
Spain vs Italy
In the Euro 2024 match of the week Spain and Italy have a chance to book their place in the knockout phase when they meet on Thursday in a Group B blockbuster.
Both nations started with a victory and are well placed to escape the Group of Death unscathed, and a win at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen will take the victors through with a game to spare.
La Roja are arguably in the stronger position after the opening fixtures as Luis de la Fuente’s Spain beat Croatia 3-0 while Luciano Spalletti guided the Azzurri to a 2-1 win over neighbours Albania. The latest Euro 2024 betting odds make these two teams the fifth and sixth favourites for the title, but Italy had the easier start on paper and with Spain and Croatia still to play Spalletti’s team needs to dig out some strong performances.
Talking Points
New look La Roja carry more threat
Spain put on a supreme display against Croatia but the manner of the win also signalled a change in the way they play. The game ended a run of 136 consecutive fixtures in which Spain had the most possession, dating back 16 years to their Euro Final win over Germany in 2008. But goals from Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal made it a comfortable night for the Spaniards and they could have scored more against a strong Croatia team.
Lamine Yamal hits a free kick during the Euro 2024 Group B match against Croatia
With Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, the youngest player in the tournament’s history, on one flank and the quick footed Nico Williams on the other Spain’s passing was less ponderous and more incisive, turning defence into attack quickly. Both young wingers will start against Italy and are sure to dazzle in the Euro 2024 highlights, while captain Morata should also be available; he was subbed in the second half with a knock but the Atletico Madrid man insists it isn’t too serious. Meanwhile, midfield anchor Rodri also came through unscathed and the Manchester City star will be a vital cog in Spain’s title chasing team.
Nicola Barella is Italy’s go to man
In their opener Albania gave the Azzurri an early scare with a goal in just 23 seconds as Nedim Bajrami scored the fastest goal of the tournament so far. But the reigning European champions fought back quickly as Alessandro rose highest to head in a cross from Lorenzo Pellegrini. And within 16 minutes Italy were ahead as attacking midfielder Nicolo Barella hammered an Albania clearance back into the net with a lovely strike. The Inter Milan play-maker has been tracked by the top clubs in Europe, but has been reported in the Italian press to have agreed terms with I Nerazzurri on an extended contract, and he is one of Italy’s most influential players; compared in style with Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne and Germany legend Toni Kroos. There was some worry over his fitness in the run up to the tournament but Spalletti was happy he was 100 per cent and Barella came through the clash with Albania unscathed.
Italy’s win over Albania, once they were over their early scare, was more comfortable than the score line suggests but they will have a tougher examination against La Roja. Full backs Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Federico Dimarco will have their work cut out against Yamal and Williams; meanwhile Jorginho will aim to stay in the midfield battle against the excellent Rodri and he will try to give Barella the space to work.
History
Spain have won eight of their head to heads with Italy to the Azzurri’s six and there have been six draws in all competitions. The last meeting a 2023 semi-final Nations League clash went the way of the Spanish by 2-1 as Joselu scored a late winner.
Both teams come into the game in strong form with four wins each from the last six games; though Italy have drawn the other two while La Roja have drawn one and lost one.
Spain are at SBOTOP odds of 2.12 to win this box office clash, with Italy priced at 3.27 and the draw is 3.09. I’m expecting an entertaining clash between two strong sides, each with a win under their belts and a huge incentive.
There are a host of attacking players in the game; Morata, Yamal and Williams are the spearhead of the new look La Roja while Barella and strikers Gianluca Scammaca and Federico Chiesa will set their sights on the Spain goal.
This could go either way but, if I have to make a choice, for a correct score 2-1 to Spain is priced at 8.29.
Euro 2024: No Mbappe but France-Holland Still has Joie de Vivre!
Netherlands vs France
It’s amazing – and quite frankly unnecessary – how many sides who were paired together in Euro 2024 qualifying have now been placed together in the group stage of the actual tournament.
On saying all of that, there won’t be a more glamorous clash in the first fortnight of the tournament than the meeting of these two European heavyweights.
Euro 2024 highlights are certainly expected in Leipzig on Friday night.
Talking Points
Man for man, player for player, this SBOTOP observer believes France – the 2018 world champions and runners-up by the narrowest of margins four years later – are the best side in the tournament.
Yet that doesn’t necessarily mean they will prevail.
They may be considered steady rather than spectacular given the players at their disposal, but then steadiness is a Didier Deschamps hallmark.
Mike Maignan has taken over from Hugo Lloris in goal. The injured Lucas Hernández will be missed, but there are high-class stand-ins. Antoine Griezmann, who has a low key but compelling case to be called the best central midfielder in Europe, will again be vital in his deeper role.
In attack Olivier Giroud is still around as unofficial father of the team before he ambles off to Los Angeles, his presence evidence of the benefits of never having any speed to lose. Drifting through games like a very handsome spring iceberg is not a quality that diminishes with age. Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappe will provide the wide incision, and also in the latter’s case a theoretical point of weakness behind, one Deschamps will cover with a deep midfield pivot.
Captain Mbappe actually appears likely to miss the contest after breaking his nose in their 1-0 win over Austria on Monday evening.
The French Football Federation is sourcing a tailor-made mask for their talisman and remain upbeat about the forward’s diagnosis. France play Poland in Dortmund in their final Group D match next Tuesday.
While with or without Mbappe, France-Holland is a clash to savour, I don’t think the Dutch are as exciting a prospect as they were under Louis van Gaal.
The charismatic coach provided them with something different, even when he was not in charge of a vintage squad as shown when they pushed eventual winners Argentina all the way in the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar.
Holland hardly convinced in their opening victory over Poland, albeit they got the job done and will now be hopeful of reaching the knockout stages, regardless of what happens against Les Bleus.
Netherlands players celebrate after winning against Poland
If they can take advantage of the absence of the French star man, they will be virtually certain of emerging from a difficult group.
History
Until their qualifying clashes last year (France won both), their most recent meeting came in the Nations League in 2018 in Rotterdam when Georginio Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay netted late in each half to give the Dutch a 2-0 win.
That avenged a defeated two months earlier when the newly crowned world champions marked their triumphant return to Paris as Mbappe and Giroud scored in a 2-1 win.
Of the 29 meetings between these nations, Les Bleus have the edge with 16 wins to the Dutch’s 11 successes and three draws.
The Oranje have had a distinct upper hand in tournaments in modern times.
In Euro 2000, a tournament the French went onto win, Holland ran out 3-2 winners in the group stage. Fans of a certain vintage will nostalgically remember the goalscorers that night – Patrick Kluivert, Frank de Boer and Bolo Zenden.
Last year France won 4-0 in Paris when Griezmann, Dayot Upamecano and Mbappe (two) were the marksmen – three of the goals coming inside the opening 21 minutes.
The return in Amsterdam in October, also went the way of Les Bleus, thanks to a Mbappe double, before Quilindschy Hartman pulled one back for the Dutch.
It’s France all the way with the SBOTOP Euro 2024 betting odds.
Deschamps’ men are on offer to back 1X2 @ 1.97 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.28 – which is my *** tip incidentally – compared to the Dutch who are priced 1X2 @ 3.70 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.29.
The Draw is on offer @ 3.41.
There has only ever been one competitive goalless draw between the teams – a Euro 96 quarter-final which the French won on penalties – and I’m not expecting another, although Correct Score 0-0 is worth a tidy @ 11.00.
Another 2-1 French victory is available @ 7.90 with Total Goal 0-1 @ 3.36, 2-3 @ 1.91, 4-6 @ 3.30 and Over 2.75 @ 2.21.
If you expect France to lead at the break, then take a look at First Half 1X2 @ 2.50 or First Half Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.11; or if you are opting for Holland, then First Half 1X2 @ 4.12 or First Half Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.61.
Can the Slovaks Double Down on Their Dream Euro 2024 Start?
Slovakia vs Ukraine
Slovakia caused the first upset in Euro 2024 after defeating Belgium 1-nil in Frankfurt. With that win, Slovakia joined Romania atop the Group E standings, opening the cluster for an exciting ending to the tournament’s group stages.
Now, the Slovaks aim to double down on their success and will take on the disgruntled Ukrainian squad, which were recently thrashed by Romania 3-0 in their opening match.
At this point in the tournament, everything’s too early to tell. Nothing is set in stone, and every nation still has a chance to advance to the next round of the competition. So, read more below, as SBOTOP provides a comprehensive preview of Slovakia vs Ukraine.
Veteran forward Ivan Schranz wasted no time and delivered Slovakia’s opening goal in just seven minutes in the first half, marking the fastest goal Slovakia scored in a major tournament.
The 30-year-old’s 7th-minute stunner was enough for Slovakia to get the win to blow Group E wide open and place Belgium on thin ice with Ukraine.
There are many claims that Slovakia’s win was controversial, as Belgium’s ace, Romelu Lukaku, found the back of the net twice, and twice he was denied after controversial VAR checks showed an offside in the 55th minute and a handball by Lois Openda in what should’ve been a late equaliser.
After claiming the pivotal win against Belgium, Slovakia can virtually clinch a spot in the Round of 16 if they garner a clean win against Ukraine, putting Ukraine in a difficult position.
Ukraine in desperate need to bounce back
Ukraine boss Serhiy Rebrov gestures to his team during their match against Romania in the Euro 2024
Ukraine are in the middle of the table regarding where they fare against other Euro 2024 competitors in the FIFA world ranking. Hence, fans and pundits should take Ukraine’s catastrophic setback with a grain of salt.
Not to take anything away from Romania and their stellar form during their opening clash against Ukraine, but Serhiy Rebrov’s star-studded outfit doesn’t perform like that on a regular basis.
Despite losing to Romania 3-0, Ukraine took more attempts at the goal and controlled the possession game for most of the match. This fumble raises the question: Where did Ukraine go wrong?
Ukraine simply didn’t have an answer to Romania’s onslaught, and Andriy Lunin’s costly mistakes didn’t help their cause.
Maybe it’s the big-game jitters? Perhaps it’s their first third’s sloppy miscommunications or Mudryk’s failure to make any significant impact, but on the whole, Ukraine need to quickly polish things off if they want to get past the group stages.
However, winning their next two games won’t be easy. They’ll face a Slovakian outfit on cloud 9 before taking on Belgium, the highest-ranked team in their cluster. It’ll be a herculean task for Ukraine to stay spotless moving forward, but they’ll need all of the winning Euro 2024 results they could garner to continue their claim for European glory.
History
These football-crazed nations have faced each other on the pitch seven times in the last two decades. Slovakia won twice in those matches, while Ukraine got a slight advantage by winning three and drawing two.
Their most recent outing was back in 2018 in the Nations League, where Slovakia thrashed the Ukrainians with a 4-1 score line. That five-goal thriller also marks the biggest aggregate of their historic head-to-heads.
In recent form, Slovakia have won four games in a row, with their last win coming at the expense of their Group E rival, Belgium.
Ukraine, on the other hand, have won three and lost two in their last five. They recently suffered a humbling 3-0 clean sheet defeat against Romania, which forced them to settle in Group E’s basement coming into Matchday 2.
Despite the thumping they suffered in their opening match, the Euro 2024 betting odds still have Ukraine as the 2.14 favourites, while Slovakia are the close underdogs at 3.43 with a draw price of 3.19.
As stated above, Serhiy Rebrov’s star-studded outfit doesn’t perform like that on a regular basis, and the odds suggest the same. Now that both teams have already shaken the first-game jitters off their boots, a more predictable outcome should be in order. This is why my betting tip is for Ukraine to win at 2.14.
Another great line to consider is Ukraine’s -0.25 Asian handicap at 1.83. It’s hard to imagine this match ending with a high score line, but it’s not a tall order to picture Ukraine ending the match with a win and a goal advantage over the Slovaks.
Can the Slovaks Double Down on Their Dream Euro 2024 Start?
Georgia vs CzechRepublic
You will be able to cut the atmosphere with a knife at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg on Saturday when Euro 2024: Georgia vs Czech Republic comes to town.
Both nations arrived in Germany in good shape but they each suffered an opening round loss; and that pretty much makes this a must-win game. Willy Sagnol’s Georgia fought tooth and nail with Turkey before succumbing to a 3-1 defeat while Ivan Hasek’s Czechs were edged out 2-1 by the highly fancied Portugal.
Defeat in this game will mean almost certain exit for the loser and a draw isn’t a lot of use to either at this stage: it’s high stakes…a must-win.
Talking Points
Sagnol remains optimistic
Georgia’s charismatic head coach Willy Sagnol was glowing in his praise of his team after they fell to Turkey in a candidate for the ‘best match of the tournament’ so far. The European newcomers certainly played with ambition and bravery: “I think when you lose it’s never nice,” said Sagnol in his post match interview. “I think we have given such a nice, nice image of Georgian football. We can be proud of that. We had a lot of opportunities to score, but that’s football.”
Georges Mikautadze during Georgia’s match against Turkey
Georgia went down to an early Mert Muldur goal but they fought back, as Georges Mikautadze scored his nation’s first ever tournament goal with a superb volley. After Turkey regained the lead, thanks to a stunner from Arda Guler, Georgia threw everything at it, Giorgi Kochorashvili hitting the crossbar, before Turkey scored a breakaway to give the score line a rather uneven look. Sagnol was philosophical; saying: “To get out of the group of course you can have this goal. Georgia is still in a very important phase of development and competitions like that should help.”
The star quality comes from Napoli’s 23-year-old winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who has scored 15 goals in 31 appearances for Georgia and was a vital part of Napoli’s 2023 Scudetto triumph. He had a relatively quiet game against the Turks but we expect Kvaratskhelia to be in the midst of the Georgia vs Czech Republic highlights on Saturday.
Czechs must impose themselves
With a well established team, a much higher FIFA ranking (33rd to Georgia’s 85th) and a strong and powerful set of players, Hasek’s men need to step up on Saturday. The pre-match Georgia vs Czech Republic betting odds certainly say they should win, but they need to grab this game by the scruff of the neck and not let go!
The Czechs pushed Portugal all the way in their opener but were undone by an injury time winner from Francisco Conceicao. The underdogs had gone ahead thanks to a brilliant strike from Lukas Provod after good work from Vladimir Coufal. With three quarters of the game gone it looked like the Czechs could pull off a shock win, but an own goal from Robin Hranac opened the door for the Selecao and Conceicao broke Czech hearts. Hasek, a playing legend with the Czech Republic, said: “I have to admit it is a big pity that we did no finish our work. We made it very difficult for Portugal, one of the best teams in the world. We are disappointed to have conceded in additional time. We have to put it behind us very quickly as in four days time we play a key game.”
Skippered by West Ham United’s Tomas Soucek and with Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrick Schick up front this is a team with plenty of height and power. Soucek is a defensive midfielder with a serious goal threat at set pieces, while Schick has scored 19 goals in 39 internationals and they will both look to dominate on Saturday.
History
This is the first time these two teams have met and it’s sure to be a cracker with so much at stake.
In terms of recent form the Czech Republic had five consecutive wins before their loss to Portugal while Georgia went into their opening match on the back of three victories, one draw and one defeat.
Betting Tip
Georgia VS Czech Republic
June 22, 21:00 (GMT+8)
Over 2.50 @1.98
The Czechs are strong favourites to win this game at a price of 1.76, while Georgia are at 4.45 and the draw is priced at 3.48.
All of the Czech Republics last six games have produced more than two goals while Georgia’s games have exceeded two on five out of six, all but a 2-0 win over Luxembourg. I expect goals again on Saturday and, for a long shot, you can get SBOTOP odds of 7.33 on a 2-1 win for Czech Republic.
Germany continued their perfect start to the Euro 2024 campaign thanks to a comfortable win over Hungary, to make it two wins from two and be the first team to confirm their place in the knockout phase.
Jamal Musiala opened the scoring midway through the first half and, while Hungary had their chances it was half way into the second period when Ilkay Gundogan doubled the lead to see the game out.
After walloping Scotland in the tournament opener Germany wanted to follow that up with another strong performance against the Magyars. That 5-1 win shifted the Euro 2024 betting odds marginally towards the hosts and their objective tonight was to keep that momentum moving…and, while it was less spectacular, the Germans were still impressive.
Highlights of the game
In the early stages Germany didn’t find it quite so easy to break Hungary down as they had the Scots; but they did sneak through the lines on 11 minutes when Kai Havertz showed great strength to get past Willi Orban and get his shot away, but Hungary keeper Peter Gulacsi stood up to make a great save.
When the Germans broke the deadlock, on 22 minutes, Orban was involved again. Musiala tried to thread the ball through to Gundogan and the Red Bull defender looked to be in control but, under pressure from the Barca man, he stumbled, Gundogan pulled the ball back and Musiala drove it high into the net.
Hungary came within a whisker of levelling just two minutes later when Dominik Szoboszlai whipped a free kick over the defensive wall which Manuel Neuer saved and just managed to keep out the follow up.
Germany steadied the ship and almost doubled their lead on 40 minutes when a wicked corner delivered by Toni Kroos skimmed off the head of Barnabas Varga and flew agonisingly (for Germany) wide. We were so close to a fifth own goal of the tournament already!
After a flowing Germany move Musiala flashed a shot into the side netting then, in a breathless finish to the half, Roland Sallai thought he’d levelled when he headed in a cross from Szoboszlai, but Orban was flagged offside to leave the score 1-0 at the break.
Gulacsi was in early action in the second half when he made a double save from Gundogan and then Kroos as Germany tried to put the game to bed. But at 1-0 the game is always open and Varga had a great chance to level when he met a cross from Sallai but he couldn’t keep his header down.
Barnabas Varga had Hungary’s best chance of the game
And Hungary’s missed golden chance was soon punished.
Midway through half the hosts struck again and it was classic German precision, a crisp passing moved which ended with a lovely pull back from wingback Max Mittelstadt to Gundogan who swept the ball home.
Germany were in control and Gulacsi had to be alert to deny Joshua Kimmich and Leroy Sane while, at the other end of the pitch, Emre Can cleared the danger when Hungary threatened.
Key statistics
Hungary were hoping for the best against the hungry hosts and the Magyars put up a good fight in a competitive first half, conceding possession but matching Germany’s three shots on target. But the outstanding Gundogan took the game way from Hungary and the shots on target count finished at seven to three.
Jamal Musiala’s opener made him the first player to score twice in the tournament so far with the 39th goal of Euro 2024.
Germany hadn’t beaten Hungary in any of their last three meetings and the Magyars had scored in each of their last 12 games, last drawing a blank 12 months ago in a Euro qualifying stalemate with Montenegro.
This was a good, solid win for the hosts.
What’s next?
Group A’s second round fixtures complete on Wednesday night when Scotland face Switzerland, in the hope they don’t crash out too early in their quest to escape a finals group stage for the first time ever. The Scots have a tough task in store against a talented Swiss side which beat Hungary 3-1.
Then some more big guns are in action on Thursday night when England face Denmark in a huge Group C clash. The Three Lions squeezed past Serbia in their opener while Denmark were held by Slovenia. And, also on Thursday, we have the match of the week when Spain and Italy battle for Group B dominance, both having won well in their openers. I’ll be back for SBOTOP with reports on both those games, and you can keep up with all the Euro 2024 updates right here. Then it’s back to Group A and Germany complete their group campaign on Sunday 23rd when they meet Switzerland, while Hungary take on Scotland.
Euro 2024: Portugal and Turkey Keen to Claim Group F Supremacy
Turkey vs Portugal
Matchday 1 for Group F left Georgia and Czechs fighting for their lives. At the same time, Portugal and Turkey sit pretty atop their cluster with one win apiece thanks to their successful opening Euro 2024 matches.
Now, the two winning outfits of Group F will have a chance to claim supremacy in their cluster and secure their spot in the next stage of the European Championship.
Who will be the first to advance to the knockout stages from this group? Read more below as SBOTOP gives an in-depth preview of this pivotal match.
Talking Points
Matinez boasts his deep bench
Selecao’s recent victory over Czechia was not a textbook Portugal win, to say the least. Despite Portugal dominating every facet of the game, the Czechs struck first blood thanks to Lukas Provod’s opening stunner in minute 62.
It looked like Portugal couldn’t find the back of the net at Red Bull Arena, so the football gods gifted them an own goal to level the match at minute 69. On paper, Selecao undeniably have one of the deadliest attacking prowess in the entire tournament. So, having to rely on an own goal just to get themselves on the scoreboard is quite a headscratcher.
Portugal hero Francisco Conceição scores the winning goal during their Euro 2024 opening match against Czech Republic
This rollercoaster ride of a victory ultimately highlighted two things on the victors’ side: firstly, Portugal’s roster is world-class from top to bottom, and secondly, Roberto Martinez should receive more credit than he’s given.
In a roster composed of polarising talents like Cristiano Ronaldo, João Palhinha, Bruno Fernandes, and Bernardo Silva, to name a few, Martinez leaned on a 21-year-old to get the job done and propel Selecao to their opening win of the Euro 2024 campaign.
“the important thing is not the starting XI but the finishing XI,” Martinez bossly stated.
Maybe the scariest thing about this is Portugal will only get better as they get deeper into the tournament. Fans and pundits could expect a more cohesive Selecao during their match against Turkey.
Turkey blasted warning shots against Georgia
Turkey had a field day during their opening match against the lowest-ranked outfit in the tournament, Georgia, and won a dominating 3-1 victory. This marked the Turks’ first opening win after losing each of their last five such matches.
Vincenzo Montella’s outfit played a breathtaking game from start to finish. They dominated every facet of the match and started their scoring parade with Mert Muldur’s perfectly struck ball from just outside the box. Muldur, best known for his defensive capabilities, showcased his versatility and hit the ball like a No. 9 to give Turkey their tournament-opening goal.
Arda Guler followed it up with a goal himself in the second half. His goal cemented him as the youngest athlete to find the back of the net in the European Championships at 19 years and 114 days, a record previously held by their upcoming adversary, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Galatasaray’s Muhammed Kerem Aktürkoğlu then put the nail in the coffin with an insurance goal seven minutes into added time to secure the win for the Turks.
This matchup was the perfect opportunity for Turkey to assert their dominance and fire warning shots at every opponent. But the Turks should be careful with what they ask for, as they’ll face a formidable Portugal outfit in their next match.
History
With only three games in the last two decades, Portugal and Turkey pose as a fresh matchup for the Euro 2024 news stories to cover. In those matches, Selecao won two, while Turkey won once.
In their recent form, Portugal have won eight of their last 10 matches, which included a Euro 2024 opening win against Czechia. Meanwhile, Turkey have been a little stagnant with their recent results, winning four, drawing two, and losing four in their last 10 games.
Despite dominating Georgia in their tournament opener, the Euro 2024 betting odds still place Turkey as the 5.50 underdogs, while the 2016 European champions Portugal are the 1.54 favourites with a draw price of 4.12.
I would personally lean towards Portugal on this one, but their 1×2 price might not spark enough interest and excitement for punters to consider. Instead, my betting tip is Portugal’s -1.00 Asian handicap at 1.99.
First-game jitters are expected, especially in tournaments of this stature. Despite winning their opening match, it’s fair to say that fans, this SBOTOP writer included, expected a little more oomph from Portugal.
Now, with a game under their belts, it’s not hard to imagine that Selecao will have a more cohesive and coordinated performance next time out.
In the end, the semi-finals of Euro 2024 were as far as the Oranje could go, but that is hardly a disgrace.
In fact, Ronald Koeman and his players can take heart from their displays in Germany over the past month.
Their bid to end a tournament drought going back to 1988 may have continued (as largely expected), but they surpassed many expectations by reaching the final four.
Leading 1-0, the penalty that was awarded against them was as farcical as it was harsh, prompting centre back Virgil van Dijk to slam the officiating of the contest and remark that that referee Felix Zwayer’s reluctance to engage with the Dutch players and coaching staff after the full-time whistle spoke volumes.
Whether or not that is the case, the penalty decision is one which should not happen in a game of such magnitude and meant they headed home with a darkened mood.
It was a sad end for the legions of Dutch supporters who created a sea of orange wherever they went into and provided their team with energy throughout.
An estimated 100,000 supporters from the Netherlands travelled to Dortmund for the semi-final, despite only 10,000 tickets being available, while the remaining fans participated in a ‘fan walk’ to the stadium and watched the game on TV screens placed throughout the city.
The players fed off that passion at times and, while they ultimately came up short, they emerge from the past four weeks with Euro 2024 highlights and renewed pride.
Amidst a suggestion they were not technical enough in key areas to ensure victory at the latter stages of a tournament, it must be remembered this is not a vintage Duch cohort.
He has since issued a heartfelt thank you to all those who supported a squad which was without star midfielder Frenkie de Jong for the entire tournament and also had Memphis Depay wrestling with injury issues.
Barcelona midfielder de Jong was ruled out just before the start after failing to overcome an ankle injury. It was probably the most significant pre-tournament setback for any of the 24 competing nations— De Jong was the Dutch midfield, with his elite press resistance making him one of the best No 6s in the world.
Teun Koopmeiners, his possible replacement, was then ruled out with a muscle injury suffered in the warm-up before the Netherlands’ final friendly game before the tournament.
Longer term for the Dutch, there is much to be optimistic about going forward.
Defensive solidity has historically been an important factor and, with van Dijk leading a first-choice back four featuring the experience of Nathan Ake and Stefan de Vrij, and the attacking ambition of Denzel Dumfries, there is genuine talent – that is without even mentioning the likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Micky van de Ven and Jeremie Frimpong who were often named on the bench to this SBOTOP observer’s surprise.
Netherlands’ Cody Gakpo fight for the ball during the Euro 2024 match against England’s Guehi
There is also promise in attack with Depay and Cody Gakpo – the joint top scorer at the tournament with three goals – if not quite the marksmen of the calibre of Holand legends Marco van Basten, Denis Bergkamp, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie.
All in all, then, much for Koeman to work with.
There was a degree of apathy when he was reappointed coach in April 2022 and the 61 year-old has faced intense criticism throughout the tournament – particularly after a group stage 3-2 defeat to Austria in their final Group C game – but he can brush that off with ease and, by staying on as coach, he and his team will be firmly setting their sights on the 2026 World Cup.
Before all of that, they compete in the Nations League with home matches against Bosnia in Eindhoven on September 7 and Germany in Amsterdam three days later.
The 2024 version of Holland is far from top tier but they could be by the time 2026 comes around.
Euro 2024 has run its course, and now is the time to reflect; celebrate if you’re Spanish, dust yourself off if you’re English, but above all, reflect … because that is where you start on the road to improvement.
24 nations began the tournament with high hopes and a range of expectations, from the ultimate glory to escaping the group stage; some succeeded, and some fell flat on their faces.
Once they cross the white line, it comes down to the players, of course, though a canny manager can change the course of a game with a perfectly pitched half-time talk or with clever substitutions.
The winners were coached tirelessly on the training grounds, with strategies, tactics, and those perfectly orchestrated moves we see played out on match day. So to those coaches who found success, congratulations, chaps!
And here are our Fab Four.
Luis de La Fuente – Spain
Euro 2024 winners Spain were the best team throughout the tournament but, the SBOTOP Euro 2024 betting odds ranked La Roja behind hosts Germany, France, and England at the outset; and Spain beat all three in the knockout phase, all by a 2-1 score line.
La Roja has the most exciting young players on the planet, and De La Fuente can take plenty of credit for that. He has been with the Spain set-up since 2013, coaching the U19s, the U21s, and the U23s before taking over the senior squad in 2022.
Real Sociedad stars Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored the winner in the final against England, and Mikel Merino, who scored the last gasp winner to dump hosts Germany out of the competition, won the U21 European Championships under De La Fuente’s guidance.
The manager explained his philosophy, saying, “I come from a grassroots background. Our commitment, to the people we trust in the youth system is not a pose, it’s a conviction.”
He masterminded a semi-final win over France, and it was then 16-year-old Lamine Yamal who scored a stunner to level an early strike from Les Bleus before Dani Olmo bagged the winner. The future is certainly bright for La Roja.
A shout-out to England manager Gareth Southgate, who guided England to back-to-back Euro finals and made some good substitutions as his team improved through the tournament; but once again, the Three Lions simply failed to roar loudly enough.
Ronald Koeman – Netherlands
After navigating a tough group along with France and Austria, Koeman led the Netherlands to wins over Romania and Turkey, and his team were playing some exciting football before narrowly losing out on a final place.
Koeman was incensed after the Oranje lost to England in the semi-final, criticising the use of VAR which, after Xavi Simons had given the Netherlands an early lead with a sumptuous strike, England were helped back into the game when the technology over ruled Felix Zwayer—the on field referee—who had waved away penalty appeals.
Harry Kane blazed a shot over the bar and was then caught by Denzil Dumfries’ trailing foot, and VAR mystifyingly awarded a spot-kick, which, of course, Kane converted.
Ollie Watkins scored a 90th-minute winner for the Three Lions, and the Oranje were out; but they can feel very unlucky. Koeman complained: “He kicked the ball and the boots touched. I think we cannot play properly and this is due to VAR. It really breaks football.”
A top-four finish for the Netherlands exceeded expectations, and it was so close to being even better.
Vincenzo Montella – Turkey
The unlikely choice for the most exciting team to watch landed with Turkey, who provided some fantastic Euro 2024 highlights with their all action and attacking displays.
The emergence of Real Madrid youngster Arda Guler in this tournament was one of the highlights, as he starred in Turkey’s 2-1 win over dark horses Austria in the Round of 16.
Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella celebrates after Samet Akaydin scored a goal during Euro 2024 quarter-final match against Netherlands
That stunning victory was Vincenzo Montella’s 12th game in charge of the Turks; the 50-year-old only took over last September, and there were calls for him to be sacked as recently as March, when Turkey were beaten 6-1 by Austria in a friendly.
This time around, with star Hakan Calhanoglu missing, Montella stitched to a 3-4-3 formation with Guler acting as a false nine and the fluidity of the system allowed them to play with five defenders out of possession to nullify the Austrian threat and outwit Rangnick’s men.
Narrowly beaten in the quarter-finals by the Netherlands, Montella far exceeded expectations; and he’s a naturalised Turk now!
Murat Yakin – Switzerland
My last pick is Switzerland boss Yakin, who guided his team to some superb performances; denying hosts Germany a perfect record at the group stage and eliminating 2020 champions Italy.
And, after leading his team to the quarter-finals, Yakin has just been awarded an extended contract by the Swiss Football Association.
Having knocked out Italy with a convincing 2-0 win in the Round of 16, Yakin was confident his side could beat England, and they nearly did, leading with just ten minutes to go and eventually losing out on penalties.
For the duration of Euro 2024, France were one of the teams that disappointed their fans and neutrals alike. There was no other way of putting it; they were boring, unimaginative, and, least of all, creative and vibrant.
Despite reaching the semi-finals, Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus were not a must-see. It seemed as if the enthralling and exhilarating French team that we all saw in the 2022 World Cup were now defunct.
So, what exactly happened to them?
Too cautious
France were a treat to watch back when they won the 2018 World Cup, and even when they bowed out to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in a heart-breaking final in 2022.
When they won the Nations League in 2021, Deschamps’ side was scintillating in the way they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Belgium and Spain.
You could dominate possession or have more shots and create more opportunities, but with France’s individual talent coupled with Deschamps’ tactics, Les Bleus will find a path to win one way or another.
To everyone’s dismay, France’s stay in Germany turned sour, leaving them without the flair and attacking instincts that had served them well in the past.
The display they put out was absolutely not on SBOTOP football fans’ bingo cards; there was not a game where the two-time World Cup and European champions scored more than one goal.
Kylian Mbappe struggled during the tournament due to his nose injury
In fact, they only registered one open-play goal throughout their Euro campaign. The goals they scored in victories against Austria and Belgium were all courtesy of own goals—their squad’s leading scorer.
The blame game is an atrocious one to play. But as it stands, a lot of fingers are pointing towards Didier Deschamps’ lack of freedom, if you will, in allowing his team to move forward and be the threat they were known to be.
All the games they played were dictated by a tight-knit reliance on defence and possession, coupled with no real intent to finish their opponents off when need be.
It’s as if the tactics were to lull their opponents—along with their supporters—to sleep.
But that’s all they could muster. When Spain scored in quick succession to take the lead, France were unable to get anything by to equalise or take the bull by its horns and win.
But if you have been watching them since day one of the Euros, then it shouldn’t be much of a surprise already.
Doomed to fail
Spain are appropriate comparison to the way France approached this tournament. La Roja were fantastic from the onset, and their 17-year-old wonder kid was the centre of attention throughout the tournament.
The Spanish have also scored 15 goals—the most in the entire Euros—whilst France have only managed four.
Spain’s approach and play style were the antithesis to how France conducted themselves. The former were the life of the party, the latter a sore to the eyes.
But perhaps people have just failed to realise that this French team weren’t really supposed to go all the way. Yes, Mbappe’s injury was unfortunate—it was apparent that he was struggling with the mask, and he even spoke about it publicly.
But their lack of Euro 2024 highlights weren’t just down to Mbappe struggling; it was a collective ordeal.
Sure, they were solid at the back, with Deschamps comfortable letting his squad play out that way.
And with William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, and Theo Hernandez playing their parts, along with goalie Mike Maignan showing he is indeed a worthy successor of Hugo Lloris, they proved to be difficult to solve defence-wise.
But with Antoine Griezmann having one of his worst international tournaments with Les Bleus, Mbappe missing the mark, and overall missing players with the ability to turn things up a notch like Paul Pogba, it was always going to be a difficult Euro 2024 for the French.
Being favoured by Euro 2024 odds as one of the likely teams to win the trophy was built on past success and on paper.
On the pitch was a much different issue. Simply put, they never got off the right foot.
For the duration of Euro 2024, France were one of the teams that disappointed their fans and neutrals alike. There was no other way of putting it; they were boring, unimaginative, and, least of all, creative and vibrant.
Despite reaching the semi-finals, Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus were not a must-see. It seemed as if the enthralling and exhilarating French team that we all saw in the 2022 World Cup were now defunct.
So, what exactly happened to them?
Too cautious
France were a treat to watch back when they won the 2018 World Cup, and even when they bowed out to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in a heart-breaking final in 2022.
When they won the Nations League in 2021, Deschamps’ side was scintillating in the way they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Belgium and Spain.
You could dominate possession or have more shots and create more opportunities, but with France’s individual talent coupled with Deschamps’ tactics, Les Bleus will find a path to win one way or another.
To everyone’s dismay, France’s stay in Germany turned sour, leaving them without the flair and attacking instincts that had served them well in the past.
The display they put out was absolutely not on SBOTOP football fans’ bingo cards; there was not a game where the two-time World Cup and European champions scored more than one goal.
Kylian Mbappe struggled during the tournament due to his nose injury
In fact, they only registered one open-play goal throughout their Euro campaign. The goals they scored in victories against Austria and Belgium were all courtesy of own goals—their squad’s leading scorer.
The blame game is an atrocious one to play. But as it stands, a lot of fingers are pointing towards Didier Deschamps’ lack of freedom, if you will, in allowing his team to move forward and be the threat they were known to be.
All the games they played were dictated by a tight-knit reliance on defence and possession, coupled with no real intent to finish their opponents off when need be.
It’s as if the tactics were to lull their opponents—along with their supporters—to sleep.
But that’s all they could muster. When Spain scored in quick succession to take the lead, France were unable to get anything by to equalise or take the bull by its horns and win.
But if you have been watching them since day one of the Euros, then it shouldn’t be much of a surprise already.
Doomed to fail
Spain are appropriate comparison to the way France approached this tournament. La Roja were fantastic from the onset, and their 17-year-old wonder kid was the centre of attention throughout the tournament.
The Spanish have also scored 15 goals—the most in the entire Euros—whilst France have only managed four.
Spain’s approach and play style were the antithesis to how France conducted themselves. The former were the life of the party, the latter a sore to the eyes.
But perhaps people have just failed to realise that this French team weren’t really supposed to go all the way. Yes, Mbappe’s injury was unfortunate—it was apparent that he was struggling with the mask, and he even spoke about it publicly.
But their lack of Euro 2024 highlights weren’t just down to Mbappe struggling; it was a collective ordeal.
Sure, they were solid at the back, with Deschamps comfortable letting his squad play out that way.
And with William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, and Theo Hernandez playing their parts, along with goalie Mike Maignan showing he is indeed a worthy successor of Hugo Lloris, they proved to be difficult to solve defence-wise.
But with Antoine Griezmann having one of his worst international tournaments with Les Bleus, Mbappe missing the mark, and overall missing players with the ability to turn things up a notch like Paul Pogba, it was always going to be a difficult Euro 2024 for the French.
Being favoured by Euro 2024 odds as one of the likely teams to win the trophy was built on past success and on paper.
On the pitch was a much different issue. Simply put, they never got off the right foot.
Germany Have a Lot to Look Forward to Despite Disappointing Euro 2024 Run
Germany exited earlier than expected in Euro 2024, as they lost 2-1 to Spain in the quarter-finals. While this doesn’t sound like success, there’s a huge positive feeling for Die Mannschaft as they look forward to the future.
Before Euro 2024, Germany were in disarray. Die Mannschaft couldn’t get going under Hansi Flick, who was the first fired head coach in national team history last year after their embarrassing international friendly defeat against Japan, but now it seems they found the right man in Julian Nagelsmann.
After hosting the continental tournament, Germany have a lot of questions to answer because they are in a state of transition, but at least they’ve restored a sense of pride among their fans, which only bodes well for them in the long run.
Germany witness the end of an era
Two of the remnants of Germany’s golden generation are officially saying goodbye after Euro 2024, as Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller have officially bid farewell to Die Mannschaft, while Ilkay Gundogan and Manuel Neuer could soon follow suit.
Kroos and Muller are two of the greatest German midfielders of all time, as the two 34-year-olds combine for 62 goals and 245 caps. These two were pivotal players for the 2014 World Cup title-winning squad.
Other than having successful national team careers, Kroos and Muller also won a host of titles in club football.
Kroos won six Champions Leagues, four La Ligas, three Bundesligas, three German Cups, one Copa del Rey, and one UEFA Super Cup, among others. Muller, meanwhile, won two Champions Leagues, 12 Bundesligas, six German Cups, and one UEFA Super Cup, among others.
Kroos started all games for Germany in Euro 2024, as he was their rock in midfield, while Muller played an ancillary attacking role off the bench.
Germany will miss Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller’s veteran leadership and experience, but they shouldn’t skip a beat because of the emergence of their up-and-coming players.
Germany have their future building blocks
Germany’s Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz celebrate their first goal against Spain in Euro 2024
With Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, Germany already have the ready-made replacements for Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller.
Musiala won the Man of the Match award in their 5-1 demolition of Scotland, as he scored an early goal to set the tone and he was unplayable alongside Wirtz. Musiala ended up as the top scorer for the Germans with three goals, while Wirtz was right behind him with two, making up for most of Germany’s Euro 2024 highlights.
Before Euro 2024, these two youngsters have taken the Bundesliga by storm, as Jamal Musiala finished as the second-leading scorer for Bayern Munich with 12 goals and seven assists while Florian Wirtz led Bayer Leverkusen to winning their first-ever Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal with 15 goals and 15 assists.
Both are far from finished articles, but they have already found their stride despite being only 21 years old. Maximilian Beier also belongs in the same conversation as Musiala and Wirtz.
Other than Musiala and Wirtz, Germany have a couple of players who are about to hit their prime, such as Kai Havertz, Chris Fuhrich, Nico Schlotterbeck, Benjamin Henrichs, Deniz Undav, Robin Koch, Maximilian Mittelstadt, and Waldemar Anton, giving Julian Nagelsmann a great foundation to work with.
Nagelsmann will be a better coach
Let’s not forget that their head coach, Julian Nagelsmann, is also young too and has a lot more room to grow. The 36-year-old has done well for himself during Euro 2024, but he could’ve done better with his lineup selection.
Nagelsmann may not publicly admit it, but he over-analysed his starting XI against Spain, which ultimately cost them the match, as per the SBOTOP Euro 2024 odds.
Leroy Sane and Emre Can were inexplicably started over Florian Wirtz and Robert Andrich, despite the latter pair doing well in the matches prior to the quarter-finals.
Nico Schlotterbeck was also benched in favour of Jonathan Tah, despite turning in a good shift against Denmark, another head-scratcher for Nagelsmann.
For Germany to find success in the next big tournaments, Julian Nagelsmann has to go back to his core values that made him one of the best young managers in the first place, which is to trust his young stars instead of relying on veterans who might yield short-term results.
Nagelsmann can only improve from here, and Germany will be better for it.
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