The beautiful game is upon us! Get ready for the thrills and spills of Euro 2024 with this comprehensive breakdown of how the tournament might unfold, courtesy of 90min:
Group Stage Battles:
Group A: Germany, with home advantage and a returning Toni Kroos, is predicted to win. Switzerland follows closely, with Hungary sneaking into the knockout stages as a third-place finisher.
Group B: Spain emerges on top, edging out Italy who are still finding their footing under new management. Croatia might struggle to replicate their 2022 World Cup success.
Group C: England is heavily favored, with Denmark and Serbia battling for the second spot. Slovenia might find the going tough.
Group D: France, led by the world-class Kylian Mbappe, is tipped to win. Austria could be a surprise package, potentially knocking out Netherlands. Poland might struggle.
Group E: Belgium, boasting experience and youthful talent, is expected to dominate. Ukraine is predicted to finish second, with Slovakia and Romania facing an uphill climb.
Group F: Portugal, under a new manager, is expected to excel. Turkey might fare better than their last Euros outing, while Czechia and Georgia might struggle.
Knockout Stage Drama:
Round of 16: Hungary stuns Spain in a penalty shootout. Familiar foes France, England, Portugal, and Belgium all progress comfortably. Germany overpowers a diminished Denmark. Austria edges out Ukraine, while Italy gets past Switzerland on penalties.
Quarter-finals: Germany falls short against a resurgent Portugal led by Cristiano Ronaldo. England exacts revenge on France for their World Cup defeat. Austria's dream run ends against a dominant France, while Italy is edged out by England in another tight encounter.
Semi-finals: Portugal, fueled by Ronaldo's hunger for glory, overcomes Germany. France, with Mbappe in top form, defeats England, leaving their fans heartbroken once again.
The Final Showdown:
A repeat of the Euro 2016 final is predicted! This time, however, 90min believes France will emerge victorious, led by the unstoppable Kylian Mbappe. Portugal, despite their valiant effort, will fall short.
Golden Boot Race:
Kylian Mbappe is predicted to claim the Golden Boot, replicating his feat at the 2022 World Cup. Harry Kane, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Bukayo Saka are expected to be close contenders, but Mbappe's goalscoring prowess is likely to prevail.
Breakout Stars:
Several young talents have the potential to shine. Keep an eye on Maximilian Beier (Germany), Joao Neves and defenders Goncalo Inacio/Antonio Silva (Portugal), Davide Frattesi (Italy), Johan Bakayoko (Belgium), and Kenan Yildiz (Turkey). But the name to remember could be Maximilian Beier, who might emerge as a surprise hero for the host nation.
Potential Flops:
Netherlands, despite reaching the World Cup quarterfinals, is predicted to underperform due to managerial issues and uncertainties in key positions.
Dark Horses:
Austria and Hungary, with their impressive qualifying campaigns and strong team spirit, could surprise many. 90min predicts them to not only progress from their groups but also reach the quarter-finals.
This is just one prediction, and as always, football is full of surprises. Who will lift the trophy? Only time will tell, but Euro 2024 promises to be an unforgettable tournament!
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