EURO 2024 Group Predictions

Germany

Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Star player: Kai Havertz

Chances: With home advantage and players such as Serge Gnabry, Kai Havertz and young rising star Florian Wirtz in their ranks, the Germans have a decent chance of going all the way.

Tournament best: Winners (1972, 1980 & 1996)

Qualifying record: Automatically qualified as hosts

Qualifying stat: Germany claimed 12 votes out of a possible 17 during the final stage of host selection. The only other competitors, Turkey, gained just five votes, with one abstention.

Scotland

Coach: Steve Clarke

Star player: Andrew Robertson

Chances: Scotland's troubles in getting past the group stages of a major tournament are well-known, with 11 previous attempts all ending in failure. Opening the tournament against the hosts is certainly an undesirable start, contributing to the odds against them reaching the knockouts.

Tournament best: Group stage (1992, 1996, 2020)

Qualifying record: W5 D2 L1

Qualifying stat: Scotland conceded an average of exactly one goal per game during qualifying.

Hungary

Coach: Marco Rossi

Star player: Dominik Szoboszlai

Chances: Not likely winners, but they acquitted themselves well at Euro 2020, memorably drawing with Germany.

Tournament best: Third place (1964)

Qualifying record: W5 D3 L0

Qualifying stat: Hungary's qualification campaign was the first to end without defeat since the 1964 qualifiers.

Switzerland

Coach: Murat Yakin

Star player: Granit Xhaka

Chances: Switzerland are never amongst the A-list of favourites, but they should never be underestimated. Euro 2020 brought the Swiss their best-ever run, as they eliminated then-world champions France.

Tournament best: Quarter-finals (2020)

Qualifying record: W4 D5 L1

Qualifying stat: Switzerland are the only finalists in the tournament who drew at least 50% of their Euro 2024 qualifiers.

Spain

Coach: Luis de la Fuente

Star player: Rodri

Chances: Spain haven't tasted group stage elimination since 2004, and with a new generation of talent breaking through, they could easily improve on their bronze medal of 2020.

Tournament best: Winners (1964, 2008, 2012)

Qualifying record: W7, D0, L1

Qualifying stat: All but one of Spain's qualifiers saw a margin of 2+ goal separating the teams.

Croatia

Coach: Zlatko Dalić

Star player: Luka Modrić

Chances: Although Croatia have never made it past the quarter-finals, the fact that they've finished on the podium at the last two World Cup editions suggests they have an appetite for going far. A solid run to the semi-finals here is certainly not beyond them.

Tournament best: Quarter-finals (1996, 2008)

Qualifying record: W5 D1 L2

Qualifying stat: Just one of Croatia's last seven qualifiers saw both teams score.

Italy

Coach: Luciano Spalletti

Star player: Gianluigi Donnarumma

Chances: As reigning European champions, Italy bear a burden of expectation. At 34, first-choice striker Ciro Immobile is an imperious but aging figure, meaning that the Italians may revert to tradition and utilise their defence to retain the trophy.

Tournament best: Winners (1968, 2020)

Qualifying record: W4 D2 L2

Qualifying stat: Italy's last three qualifying wins each saw one player score exactly twice.

Albania

Coach: Sylvinho

Star player: Elseid Hysaj

Chances: Having made it to the finals for the second time in three Euro stagings, Albania look like a side enjoying steady progress where once there was pure, uninterrupted despair. However, they look badly outclassed compared to their group stage opponents.

Tournament best: Group stage (2016)

Qualifying record: W4 D3 L1

Qualifying stat: Jasir Asani netted Albania's first goal in three of their four qualifying wins.

England

Coach: Gareth Southgate

Star player: Harry Kane

Chances: England remain trophyless since 1966, but several key players who only just lacked the edge needed to finish Italy off in the Euro 2020 final are now stronger than ever. Only France and Germany currently command better outright odds than England.

Tournament best: Runners up (2020)

Qualifying record: W6, D2, L0

Qualifying stat: Each of England's last three qualifying games saw them open their account via an own-goal or a penalty.

Denmark

Coach: Kasper Hjulmand

Star player: Rasmus Højlund

Chances: Having made it to the Euro 2020 semi finals, and taken England to extra time before their elimination, the Danes are not to be underestimated. A fair proportion of the expected 23-man squad are Premier League regulars too.

Tournament best: Winners (1992)

Qualifying record: W7 D1 L2

Qualifying stat: Denmark opened the scoring before half-time in five of their seven qualifying wins.

Serbia

Coach: Dragan Stojković

Star player: Aleksandar Mitrović

Chances: This is Serbia's first appearance at the Euros since gaining outright independence in 2006, while they've failed to progress from three World Cup groups in that same time period. They'll likely struggle here.

Tournament best: Runners up (1960, 1968 – as Yugoslavia)

Qualifying record: W4 D2 L2

Qualifying stat: Serbia's last five qualifiers all produced a positive BTTS & Over 2.5 result, with a 3-4 total goals ‘band' each time.

Slovenia

Coach: Matjaž Kek

Star player: Benjamin Šeško

Chances: Slovenia have reached the Euro finals just once since gaining independence fron Yugoslavia in 1992. They are outsiders in Group C, but have star quality at both ends, with Atletico Madrid's number 1 Jan Oblak between the sticks and Benjamin Šeško coming off the back of a good season with RB Leipzig

Tournament best: Group stage (2000)

Qualifying record: W7 D1 L2

Qualifying stat: Slovenia netted an average of exacrly two goals per game during qualifying.

Austria

Coach: Ralf Rangnick

Star player: David Alaba

Chances: It was a case of ‘third time lucky' for Austria at the last Euro championships, as they proceeded beyond the group stage for the first time ever, and even took eventual winners Italy beyomd 90 minutes in the Round of 16. Emulating that will be a challenge given the calibre of group stage opposition.

Tournament best: Round of 16 (2020)

Qualifying record: W6, D1, L1

Qualifying stat: None of Austria's last seven qualifiers saw them score in both halves.

France

Coach: Didier Deschamps

Star player: Kylian Mbappe

Chances: For many, France are the outright favourites, having come very close to being only the second post-war team to retain the World Cup back in 2022. Mbappe is as unstoppable as ever, even in a season that has long been a swansong for his time at PSG. They have winning in their blood and will be disappointed at anything other than a run to the final.

Tournament best: Winners (1984, 2000)

Qualifying record: W7 D1 L0

Qualifying stat: France ended up with the highest average goals per game during qualifying (3.63)

Netherlands

Coach: Ronald Koeman

Star player: Virgil Van Dijk

Chances: More recent Euro performances have been disappointing after successive bronze medals in 2000 and 2004. They only got to the Round of 16 last time out, but there is undeniable quality all over the park. Virgil Van Dijk remains a reliable rock at the back, while young Bundesliga stars Xavi Simons and Jeremie Frimpong are expected to form one of the most dynamic right flanks in the tournament.

Tournament best: Winners (1988)

Qualifying record: W6 D0 L2

Qualifying stat: The Netherlands didn't concede a single goal from open play in any of their qualifying wins.

Poland

Coach: Michał Probierz

Star player: Robert Lewandowski

Chances: This is Poland's fifth successive appearance at a Euro finals, but only one of the previous ones (2016) saw the Eagles survive the group stage. Once again, everything good is likely to come through Lewandowski, and a run to the quarter-finals will be seen as respectable enough, especially with them being in such a difficult group.

Tournament best: Quarter-finals (2016)

Qualifying record: W4 D3 L3

Qualifying stat: Six of Poland's 10 goals scored during qualifying wins arrived beyond the hour mark.

Belgium

Coach: Domenico Tedesco

Star player: Kevin De Bruyne

Chances: The golden generation that attained third place at the 2018 World Cup followed up has seen results deteriorate (quarter finals at Euro 2020, group stage at the 2022 World Cup). But the likes of 30-somethings Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne are now complemented well by younger talents. Anything less than the semi finals will be a disappointment.

Tournament best: Runners up (1980)

Qualifying record: W6, D2, L0

Qualifying stat: After Lukaku netted hat-tricks against Sweden and Azerbaijan, Belgium are unbeaten in all 24 major tournament qualifiers to see him score (W20 D4).

Romania

Coach: Edward Iordănescu

Star player: Nicolae Stanciu

Chances: Romania still have a very long way to go until they can get close to emulating the exploits of Anghel Iordănescu's first spell (1993-1998) and the strong Euro 2000 that saw them progress at the expense of England and Germany. They are now managed by Edward Iordănescu, son of Anghel, but anything beyond the Round of 16 would be a significant surprise for the Tricolours.

Tournament best: Quarter-finals (2000)

Qualifying record: W6 D4 L0

Qualifying stat: Just two of Romania's six qualifying wins saw no red cards either way.

Slovakia

Coach: Francesco Calzona

Star player: Stanislav Lobotka

Chances: This is Slovakia's third straight appearance at a Euros final. They survived the group stage as recently as 2016. A run to the Round of 16 would be encouraging for a side that recently had to endure the international retirement of a key playmaker and strong onfield leader in Marek Hamšík.

Tournament best: Round of 16 (2016)

Qualifying record: W7 D1 L2

Qualifying stat: Slovakia coincidentally posted the exact same qualification record they got before the 2016 finals, right down to the number of goals for (17) and against (8).

Ukraine

Coach: Serhiy Rebrov

Star player: Artem Dovbyk

Chances: Relying on playoffs to get here can only affect a team's odds for the worse, but Ukraine also had the mitigation of playing home qualifiers on foreign soil. Yet, with Dovbyk breaching the 20-goal mark in La Liga to get Girona into the Champions League against all odds, there is a focal point to their attacks. Another run to the quarter-finals in Ukraine's first post-invasion tournament would be well-received.

Tournament best: Quarter-finals (2020)

Qualifying record: W6 D2 L2

Qualifying stat: Ukraine scored beyond the 80th minute in all but one of their six qualifying wins.

Georgia

Coach: Willy Sagnol

Star player: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Chances: Georgia are the definitive outsiders. If they were to go all the way, it would comfortably rank as the biggest Euros shock of all time – far beyond even the surprise Greece produced 20 years ago. Their group contains teams all ranked inside FIFA's current top-40. They haven't beaten such an opponent since November 2021, meaning that it would be a huge achievement for Georgia to even reach the knockouts.

Tournament best: N/A (debut)

Qualifying record: W3, D3, L4

Qualifying stat: Each of Georgia's last four qualifiers to produce any goals saw an even number of total match goals.

Portugal

Coach: Roberto Martínez

Star player: Cristiano Ronaldo

Chances: Portugal's defence of their maiden Euro crown was a disappointing one in the last edition, as they only just scraped through the group stage with four points before bowing out to Belgium. However, a perfect qualifying campaign is a sign of improving fortunes. Ronaldo is as imperious as ever, while João Félix, Rafael Leão and Vitinha are now in their mid-20s, giving Portugal a newfound edge across the final third. Anything less than the semi-finals would be very disappointing.

Tournament best: Winners (2016)

Qualifying record: W10 D0 L0

Qualifying stat: Portugal didn't concede a single goal before the hour mark during qualifying.

Czech Republic

Coach: Ivan Hašek

Star player: Patrik Schick

Chances: Since they started competing independently after Euro 1992, Czechia have curiously alternated between survival and elimination at the group stage. Though not expected to replicate the form that got them silver and bronze in 1996 and 2004 respectively, the Czechs got to the quarter-finals last time out and will see that as a realistic target. Yet, an incredible proportion of the expected 23 (approximately 8-10 players) are also teammates at Slavia Prague, giving the sense of familiarity that could help break the Czechs' unique cycle.

Tournament best: Runners up (1996) – won as Czechoslovakia in 1976

Qualifying record: W4 D3 L1

Qualifying stat: Each of Czechia's last five qualifiers to be won or drawn saw a second-half goal from Tomáš Souček or Václav Černý.

Turkey

Coach: Vincenzo Montella

Star player: Hakan Çalhanoğlu

Chances: After falling at the group stage for the second successive Euros three years ago, several key men including captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu have grown in stature. Çalhanoğlu himself has become a Serie A champion and a Champions League runner up with Inter Milan, and with so much going through him on the international scene, that can only serve the Turks well. A Round of 16 run is well within their capabilities.

Tournament best: Third place (2008)

Qualifying record: W5 D2 L1

Qualifying stat: Each of Turkey's last five qualifiers saw one half produce no open-play goals either way.