The Euro 2024 tournament is about to begin, with Germany hosting Scotland in the opening match. There are high expectations for the tournament, with speculation about potential outcomes ranging from outsider victories to dramatic upsets. Six writers from The Athletic share their predictions for the tournament, including their picks for the winner, Golden Boot winner, best player, best young player, penalties missed, and dark horses.
Oliver Kay predicts France will win the tournament due to their strong squad and track record in high-pressure situations. Other writers also predict France as the likely winners, with Liam Tharme highlighting Kylian Mbappe’s potential contribution and James Horncastle discussing Roberto Martinez’s success with international ‘Golden Generations’. Nancy Froston and Carl Anka also favor France as the winners, while Nick Miller questions if France might experience a meltdown, suggesting the Netherlands as potential contenders.
Predictions for the Golden Boot winner vary among the writers, with Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Niclas Fullkrug all cited as potential candidates. The writers also share their picks for the best player, with a focus on players like Kevin De Bruyne, Toni Kroos, and Jude Bellingham. The best young player under 23 is another category of discussion, with players like Benjamin Sesko, Xavi Simons, and Jamal Musiala mentioned as potential standouts.
The writers share their expectations for penalties missed during the tournament, with varying predictions on the number of missed penalties in both normal time and shootouts. They also speculate on potential transfer moves for standout players, highlighting names like Heorhii Sudakov and Johan Bakayoko as potential candidates for big moves after the tournament. The writers also discuss their hopes and fears for the tournament, from successful performances by underdog teams to drama-free events and minimal penalty shootouts.
The writers also share their predictions for dark horse teams, with mentions of Serbia, Hungary, Austria, and Ukraine as potential surprises in the tournament. They also discuss potential disappointments, with teams like England and Portugal highlighted as candidates for underwhelming performances. As for England’s expected performance, predictions range from a quarter-final exit to a dramatic loss in the knockout stage against Germany.
Finally, the writers offer their most outrageous predictions for the tournament, including surprising outcomes like reigning champions Italy being knocked out in the first round and France exiting in the group stage. They also discuss what might evoke emotional reactions during the tournament, from unlikely players scoring crucial goals to underdog teams pushing favorites to the limit. The Euro 2024 tournament promises to be full of drama and excitement, with unpredictable outcomes on the horizon.
