Ten days before the start of Euro 2024, the main favorites for the title arrive at different times, between France weakened after the friendlies in March, Germany on the rise and England that counts on the duo Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane to end a fast 58 years old without title.
Ready for EURO 2024! 🤩#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/Fb7WEdgJff
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) March 26, 2024
France: forget March and find Mbappé again
After an impeccable campaign in the qualifiers, the current world runner-up did not do so well in the friendlies in March, when they were defeated by Germany 2-0 and beat Chile (3-2) in a lackluster performance. Star Kylian MbappĂ©, lost at the end of the season with Paris Saint-Germain, but with his future already defined after being announced by Real Madrid, should focus on finding his level again to try to lead the ‘Bleus’ in the search for a third continental title.
England: bet on Kane and Bellingham
Finalist in the last edition, England relies on an excellent generation of players to lift its first title since the 1966 World Cup. Harry Kane, despite a season without titles at Bayern Munich, showed that he is one of the best European strikers, and young Jude Bellingham was one of Real Madrid’s leaders in winning the Champions League and the Spanish Championship. All it takes is for coach Gareth Southgate to find the formula to end the ‘Three Lions’ title drought.
Germany: keep evolving
The Euro host ended 2023 with defeats to Turkey (3-2) and Austria (2-0), which led coach Julian Nagelsmann, in charge since September, to take drastic decisions, leaving several regular players out and bringing in the experienced Toni Kroos returns. The two victories in March (2-0 over France and 2-1 over the Netherlands) gave confidence to the Germans, who dream of reliving the atmosphere of 2006, when the ‘Mannschaft’ reached the World Cup semi-finals playing at home.
Spain: an unknown
Two-time continental champions in 2002 and 2012, Spain arrives in Germany with a rejuvenated team that is still an unknown. After the fiasco at the 2022 World Cup and the departure of Luis Enrique, new coach Luis de la Fuente gave tranquility and calm to a group that maintains some players who played in the World Cup, such as Unai SimĂłn, Morata, Rodri, Laporte and Dani Elm.
Despite not being one of the big favorites, Spain cannot be ruled out, as they already showed by being champions of the last edition of the UEFA Nations League.
Italy: many doubts and absences in defense
Current European champions, Italy suffered until the last minute of the last qualifying game (0-0 against Ukraine) to seal their place in the continental tournament.
Outside of the last two World Cups (2018 and 2022), coach Luciano Spalletti’s ‘Azzurra’, who led Napoli to the historic victory of the ‘Scudetto’ in 2023, comes from victories in the friendlies they played in March, but against teams from the second tier (Venezuela and Ecuador).
Italy arrives in Germany weakened in defense, with the absences due to injuries of Francesco Acerbi and Giorgio Scalvini.
Portugal: farewell to CR7?
The disappointment with the elimination in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup against Morocco seems to have been digested and the change of coach (Spanish Roberto MartĂnez replaced Fernando Santos) served to re-motivate a large generation of Portuguese players who had a perfect campaign in the Qualifiers of the Euro (ten wins in ten games).
Eight years after the continental title in France, Portugal and the endless Cristiano Ronaldo dream of repeating the feat.
At 39 years old, CR7 will compete in his 11th major competition (and last?) for his country’s national team.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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