UEFA Euro 2024 is just around the corner, and excitement has already reached a fever pitch. Even though there are several domestic matters still waiting to be resolved, fans are already starting to look ahead to June and July. In England, the Premier League title race is still ongoing, while all three European club tournaments are currently at the semifinal stage. But the football season is about to finish and, soon enough, it will be June 14th.
On that wonderful summer day, European Championship hosts Germany will welcome underdogs Scotland to Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena for the curtain raiser. Over the month that follows, 24 teams will vie for the coveted crown. Among the contenders are the likes of Gareth Southgate’s England, back-to-back World Cup finalists France, and three-time European champions Spain. Here are some hints and tips as to what you should be looking out for when you’re placing a bet on the action this summer.
The Form Book
Understanding current form is crucial. For instance, France and Portugal are two of the on form teams heading into the tournament. France reached their second straight World Cup final 18 months ago and were one of the stars in qualifying, beating the Netherlands home and away to comfortably top their group.
Portugal, meanwhile, shocked everyone when they romped to the title in 2016 and they too were on fire in the qualifiers. They won all ten games and conceded just two goals in the process, while their captain and talisman Cristiano Ronaldo netted ten goals to secure his spot at his sixth European Championships, the most of any player in history. He already holds the record for most goals scored in the tournament’s history and will be aiming for one last hurrah before hanging up his boots at the international level.
Ones to Watch
Here are the players to look out for at UEFA 2024:
England’s Harry Kane: The Three Lions captain is his country’s all-time top scorer. He has taken his side to within a whisker of its first major international trophy since 1966, not once but twice in the last six years.
France’s Kylian Mbappé: Known for his incredible speed and finishing, the Paris Saint-Germain hitman is a game-changer and is perhaps the best player on the planet in his current form.
Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne: Arguably the greatest Premier League midfielder of all time, the Red Devils main man will be looking to thread the eye of the needle in his golden generation’s last hurrah.
Navigating the Group Stage
Euro 2024’s group stage presents a mix of challenging and potentially predictable matchups. Group B, featuring Spain, Croatia, and Italy, is dubbed the ‘group of death,’ offering close contests and unpredictable outcomes. Spain have lifted the trophy more times than any other nation, while the Italians are the reigning champions. The Croats are no slouches, however, and have reached the last two World Cup semifinals despite being one of the smallest nations on the planet.
Betting on matches in such a group is a risky endeavour. Conversely, groups with a clear favourite may offer safer bets but lower returns. Group A should be dominated by the hosts, while the English are expected to top Group D with a 100% record.
Don’t Forget the History Books
What is it that Giorgio Chiellini said about Spurs after a victory against Juventus in the Champions League? “It is the history of the Tottenham.” Well, the same goes for the international stage as well. One can never overlook history.
Teams like Germany are historically strong in international tournaments and often perform well under pressure. They are worth keeping an eye on even though they have been eliminated from the last two World Cups at the group stage and have been in dismal form over the last year.
Meanwhile, England are prone to heartbreak. They lost the 2018 World Cup semifinal to Croatia and the Euro 2020 final to Italy – on home turf no less – despite being heavy favourites. They were also dumped out of the most recent World Cup in Qatar by France, despite performing better throughout the 90 minutes.