The UEFA Euro 2024 has kicked off in style in Germany, and it has been a thrilling watch so far. Among the 24 teams vying for the title, the usual powerhouses like Portugal, Germany, France, and Spain are leading the pack. However, the charm of the tournament lies in the potential for an underdog story, reminiscent of Greece in 2004 or Denmark in 1992, upsetting the odds and taking the crown.
While fans eagerly await the knockout stages 1xgames, let’s take a look at the top five favorites to win the competition and what makes each team so formidable here.
#5 England
Despite a surprising defeat to Iceland in their last pre-Euro friendly, England’s squad is brimming with talent. With stars like Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, Kyle Walker, and Bukayo Saka, manager Gareth Southgate has plenty of options at his disposal. England topped Group C in qualifiers, winning six out of eight games and scoring 22 goals. The UEFA Euro 2020 finalists are determined to shed their “bottlers” tag and go all the way this year.
#4 Spain
Spain made a strong statement with their win over Croatia in their Group B opener, with goals from Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz, and Dani Carvajal. They dominated their qualifying group, winning seven out of eight games and scoring 25 goals. Next, they face Italy in what promises to be a battle for the top spot, followed by a clash against Albania. Coach Luis de la Fuente aims to lead Spain to their fourth continental trophy.
#3 France
France has faced some heartbreaks in recent international tournaments under Didier Deschamps, losing on penalty shootouts in both the 2022 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2020. However, they topped Group B in qualifiers, winning seven out of eight games and scoring 29 goals. Led by Kylian Mbappe and supported by talents like Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelian Tchouameni, and Antoine Griezmann, Les Bleus are determined to make their mark this year.
#2 Portugal
For Cristiano Ronaldo, this could be his final international tournament, and manager Roberto Martinez is keen to ensure a memorable farewell. Portugal had a flawless qualifying campaign, winning all ten games, scoring 36 goals, and conceding just two. Alongside Ronaldo, the team boasts stars like Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leao, Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, and Diogo Costa.
#1 Germany
As the host nation, Germany are the obvious favorites. They kicked off the tournament with an impressive 5-1 victory over Scotland, with goals from Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Niclas Fullkrug, and Emre Can. The German defense, led by Tony Rudiger and Joshua Kimmich, looked solid. Backed by home crowds in ten different cities, Julian Nagelsmann’s men are aiming for their fourth continental title.
