Germany, France, England, Portugal, Spain… Five contenders for a crown

Three years after Euro 2020 postponed to 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the major continental meeting returns to a more classic formula. No more delays and no more final stages across Europe. This year, the European Nations Championship is being held in Germany, a first since 1988, in what was then West Germany.

Since 2016, no longer 16, but 24 nations have qualified for the final phase. Twenty-four entered as of June 14, but on July 14, in Berlin, only one country will lift the trophy. Before the start of theEuro 2024focus on the five favorites.

Read alsoEuro 2024: find the calendar and results

Germany must raise its head

Honor to the organizing country, favorite under pressure. There Nationalmannschaft can no longer afford to miss out. World champion in 2014 then semi-finalist of Euro 2016, theGermany has continued since the slaps: eliminations in the first round of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, as well as in the round of 16 of Euro 2020. The Germans have largely lost their splendor. Bad results unworthy of a country with a long track record and not used to such setbacks.

At home, Germany cannot tolerate another poor performance. After 15 years of reign by Joachim Löw, then two complicated years with Hansi Flick and a short interim period from Rudi Völler, the young Julian Nagelsmann (36 years old) took the post of coach in September 2023 and revived hope. He convinced the experienced Toni Kroos to come out of retirement for one last round. With executives like Manuel Neuer, Antonio Rüdiger and İlkay Gündoğan, as well as young talents like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, the Mannschaft has strengths to showcase. But above all she has no room for error.

France thirsts for consecration

He had already won almost everything as a player. Having become a manager, Didier Deschamps added a World Cup to his copious list of achievements, becoming one of the rare men to have lifted the supreme trophy as a player and as a coach. But the Euro, won in 2000 shortly before his international retirement, has escaped him twice since he led the team France. Unhappy finalist at home in 2016, the Blues experienced an unexpected exit during the last Euro in the round of 16 against Switzerland. Captain Kylian Mbappé, who failed in the crucial penalty shootout against the Helvetians, has undoubtedly not forgotten it.

2018 world champions and reigning world vice-champions, the French are candidates for the coronation. They do not hide it and assume their status and their ambition. But if they are usually there when the competition begins, some doubts accompany them. This will be the first major tournament in a long time without retired captains Hugo Lloris and Raphaël Varane. Kylian Mbappé has had a lackluster few months and the Blues have not shone during the last friendly matches. The road to victory on July 14, the evening of the national holiday, will not be simple.

England dreams of finally getting there

For a country that claims to be the inventor of modern football – in any case it was the country that codified it – it is an understatement to say that this sport is causing it to suffer at the international level. England only has one World Cup, won at home in 1966. Three years ago, in its Wembley lair, the English selection, which thought it would finally get its hands on the Euro, lost in the final against Italy on penalties. One more heartbreak and failure, but also a sign of the progress of the Three Lions, semi-finalists of the 2018 World Cup. A year after the Euro, they reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar, beaten by more realistic French people.

In short, England is progressing and establishing itself among the favorites. Here she is again, impatient to show that her assets which shine in clubs can do the same with the selection. Still led by coach Gareth Southgate, the England team is moving forward with a group combining youth and experience. Illustration in attack with the nuggets Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Real Madrid playing master Jude Bellingham, in support of the top scorer in the history of the selection, Harry Kane (63 goals in 90 caps). The English have means and ambition; It remains to grant all these assets to go to the end. Finally.

Spain, a revival to be confirmed

The time of Spanish hegemony seems far away. European champion in 2008 and 2012, world champion in 2010, La Roja was then unplayable. But then the laurels withered and theSpain experienced bitter disappointments, as if the twilight of the era of Casillas, Xavi, Xabi Alonso and other Iniestas signaled the end of a golden age. The national team needed to reinvent itself and allow the emergence of new talents from its rich pool. A new page has opened and the Spaniards aspire to a better tomorrow.

Luis De La Fuente succeeded the fiery Luis Enrique as coach and gave some momentum to La Roja, who won the 2023 Nations League and had a good run in the Euro qualifiers (7 wins, a failure). The heterogeneous group has an average age of 27 years, and if Gavi is absent, because injured, the young Pedri (21 years old) and especially Lamine Yamal (16 years old) are there, as well as the captain Alvaro Morata and the engine Rodri. Semi-finalist of the last Euro, Spain is not coming to make up the numbers. Be careful though of possible damage in a very tough group B with Croatia, Italy and Albania.

Portugal, a serious candidate led by veteran Ronaldo

The Euro 2024 qualifiers were a walk in the park for the Portugal. Certainly, Group J was not the most complicated, with Slovakia as the main opponent. But the numbers speak for themselves. The Portuguese achieved a solid result with 10 victories in 10 matches, the best attack (36 goals scored) and the best defense (2 goals conceded). Roberto Martinez, the technician who arrived on the bench at the start of 2023 to succeed Fernando Santos, has in his hands a team with confidence and full of talent.

On all lines, the Selecao has top players. Martinez is even forced to make complicated choices. In the offensive sector alone, the coach must decide between Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, João Félix, Diogo Jota, Rafael Leao, Gonçalo Ramos… and of course Cristiano Ronaldo. At 39 years old, “CR7” is still there, fully pumped up in this new Portugal after a 2022 World Cup where he lost his starting place under Santos. For such a competitor eager for records, it is risky to talk about the last competition. But it is very possible that this Euro, his sixth personal, twenty years after the first at home, will be his last. European champion in 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo could well add a second cup to his incredible record before a possible farewell.