The five bookmakers’ favourites to win Euro 2024
A brief Fantasy overlook of the main nations backed by punters and leading bookmakers to win Euro 2024 outright.
We’re in the final days before this international festival of football kicks off in Germany. 24 participants, with five backed by British betting sites to be the leading pack.
Successful Euro 2024 Fantasy sides will likely need players that go deep into the competition, so let’s check out these favourites.
WHO WILL WIN EURO 2024?
ENGLAND
Perhaps a slight British biasedness currently places England ahead of France with bookmakers. The Euro 2020 runners-up have a brilliant set of world-class, in-form attackers but Friday’s shock home friendly defeat to Iceland was a reality check.
Then again, dampening the optimism may end up being a good thing. And the Three Lions suffered 2022/23 relegation from their Nations League group.
Given a soft-looking group, three of Fantasy’s eight most-owned players belong to England: Harry Kane (€11.0m), Jude Bellingham (€9.5m) and Phil Foden (€9.0m). It looks rougher at the back though, especially with injuries causing Harry Maguire’s withdrawal and Kieran Trippier‘s (€6.0m) awkward shift to left-back.
Marc Guehi (€4.5m) could become a bargain but, for many, Jordan Pickford (€5.0m) will be the safe defensive coverage of choice.
FRANCE
Whereas the French possess many of the world’s best all over the pitch, boasting superb depth. That’s why Didier Deschamps’ team consistently goes deep in tournaments, reaching three of the last four major finals.
A quick Group D reunion with the Netherlands won’t worry them, winning both qualifying matches thanks to Kylian Mbappe (€11.0m) braces. The new Real Madrid man joins Kane as Fantasy’s most expensive asset but is overwhelmingly the most-owned, being in a whopping 77% of squads. Therefore, attacking gain might need Antoine Griezmann (€9.0m) too.
At the back, Jules Kounde (€5.0m) saves money but Theo Hernandez (€5.5m) gets forward so often. Les Bleus cruelly hammered Gibraltar 14-0 in November but were also held to a 0-0 draw with Canada on Sunday night. Still, confidence will be high that they can win Euro 2024.
GERMANY
Additionally, they recently lost to Germany on two separate occasions. That’ll provide a timely boost to this summer’s hosts, who’ve been way below par in the previous three tournaments. However, to put everything in perspective, November brought successive losses to Turkey and Austria.
Full-back Maximilian Mittelstadt (€4.0m) is extremely popular in Fantasy circles because of his low price. A great season for Stuttgart saw the Swabians finish second in the Bundesliga, above Bayern Munich. All four of his caps came this year, netting against the Netherlands in March.
Elsewhere, wonderkid Florian Wirtz (€7.5m) is nearing 40% ownership. 18 goals and 20 assists took Leverkusen to the verge of three trophies.
And, unlike in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Kai Havertz (€7.5m) is listed as a forward. A great end to 2023/24 included nine goals, eight assists and six double-digit hauls in his final 14 outings. He’s netted in two of Germany’s last four appearances.
PORTUGAL
Meanwhile, the Euro 2016 winners have such a strong squad under Roberto Martinez. Though they lost the weekend friendly to Croatia and did similar in March versus Slovenia, no side conceded fewer goals (two) or scored more (36) throughout qualifying. They had a perfect record of 10 wins from 10.
Being in the final group means Fantasy managers will already know whether it’s worth bringing in Bruno Fernandes (€9.0m), Cristiano Ronaldo (€10.0m) or Diogo Costa (€5.0m) from the bench. The Man United playmaker delivered six goals and seven assists in qualifiers, with Ronaldo netting 10 times.
Portugal begin by facing Czechia and Turkey, ending against minnows Georgia.
SPAIN
Iberian neighbours Spain are the current Nations League champions and chasing a record fourth Henri Delaunay Trophy. They overcame an early loss to Scotland by winning every other qualifier but a ‘Group of Death’ awaits them. Third at the World Cup Croatia, then Euro 2020 winners Italy.
Alejandro Grimaldo (€5.0m) bagged an absurd 12 goals and 19 assists in all competitions for Leverkusen and should have La Roja’s left-back spot now that Jose Gaya has been ruled out with injury.
The appeal of Rodri (€6.5m) is that not only did his 18 attacking returns place him inside FPL’s best dozen midfielders but he’ll now be rewarded for ball recoveries in Euro Fantasy.
Surrounded by a bunch of young attacking talents, captain Alvaro Morata (€8.5m) will lead the line. He scored three times in both World Cup 2022 and Euro 2020.
