Every four years, a specific event takes place that excites the whole of Europe. An event that brings a continent to a standstill and focuses its attention on a particular location. The European Championship, also known as the Euro, is a soccer tournament involving the best European countries.
This summer, all eyes will be on Germany, where the 2024 European Championship will be held. The tournament will open on June 14th with hosts Germany taking on Scotland at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Since Germany is the host country, they automatically qualified for the tournament. However, the other 23 countries needed to qualify to participate in this summer's tournament. These 24 countries will compete for one of football's most prestigious trophies in the summer of 2024.
Germany will face Euro 2024 under great pressure. If the country is the host and has the talent, it will immediately become one of the favorites to win the tournament.
Young players like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, along with the returning veteran Toni Kroos, will make the German midfield one of the strongest in the tournament.
Kroos' return to the national team will also boost the team's confidence in bringing home a trophy. He was a member of the German national team that won the 2014 World Cup. His experience and know-how will be essential for the German this summer.
France and England are seen as early favorites to win this summer's Euros. Both had suffered heartbreaking defeats in the finals and were runners-up in the previous two major tournaments.
France lost to Argentina in a penalty shootout in Qatar in the 2022 World Cup final. England lost to the Italians on penalties in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.
Both countries are expected to field the two best teams in this tournament. And with both countries coming so close to glory in the last two majors, it must be time for one of them to regain it.
There are many countries in this tournament that are seen as “hot spots'' and “dark horses.'' Countries like Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Italy are all countries that can make it to the top of the tournament. The Italians and the Portuguese in particular have won the last two European Championships with much different or younger teams. However, the know-how and experience that some of these countries have is always an essential quality when it comes to these international tournaments.
So, who will win Euro 2024? Will it become one of your favorites? Dark horse? Or will we see an underdog story like when Greece shocked the world at Euro 2004 and became European champions? Judging by past tournaments, this tournament is expected to have many surprises. And nothing is certain.
Fox Sports lists England and France as heavy favorites with odds of +300 and +350. Host Germany follows at +500, followed by Spain and Portugal as his fourth and fifth favorites to win at +800 and +900.
