We are counting down to the start of Euro 2024 , with host nation Germany kicking it off on June 14 when they take on Scotland.
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All 24 teams are starting to make their final plans for the tournament, hoping that star players don’t get struck down by injury beforehand and looking to hit the ground running in top form. Meanwhile, there’s plenty of players desperately hoping to break into their country’s squad, which is set to be raised to a maximum of 26 players and has to be named by Friday, June 7.
Here, we take a look at the tournament favourites to see how they are shaping up ahead of European football’s showpiece international event.
– Euro 2024: Bracket and fixtures schedule
ENGLAND Fixtures: Serbia (June 16), Denmark (June 20), Slovenia (June 24) KEY PLAYERS
All eyes will be on midfielder Jude Bellingham after a stunning first season at Real Madrid , where his deployment in a more-advanced attacking role has seemingly taken his game to new heights. Harry Kane ‘s absence up front for last month’s defeat to Brazil and draw against Belgium underlined how much poorer England ‘s attack is without him. Declan Rice is the only elite-level midfielder in the squad who is capable of playing a holding role, so any injury to the Arsenal man would be a major blow.
FRANCE Fixtures: Austria (June 17), Netherlands (June 21), Poland (June 25) KEY PLAYERS
No surprise here … Kylian Mbappé . The Paris Saint-Germain forward, who set to join Real Madrid in the summer, will be France’s most important player again during this tournament, his first one as captain of his country.
We saw in March, in the 2-0 loss to Germany and 3-2 win over Chile , that France without Antoine Griezmann are not the same. The 33-year-old is crucial with his intelligence, work rate, flair and creativity. As did at the World Cup to such great effect, he is expected to play in a deeper midfielder role where he is granted a lot of freedom.
WHO’S IN DANGER OF MISSING OUT
Kingsley Coman has entered a race against time to be fit to be called up by Didier Deschamps. The Bayern Munich winger was injured last month and faces at least another two or three weeks out — which would give him only a short window to get fit for the Euros.
UP-AND-COMING PLAYERS
Midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery turned 18 in March and is already a regular at PSG, where he has been a revelation this season. Deschamps gave him his France debut in November against Gibraltar, and he scored too.
Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto , 20, has a card to play. He has impressed Deschamps at times this season with strong performances at club level and made his debut for France in October against Netherlands.
GERMANY Fixtures: Scotland (June 14), Hungary (June 19), Switzerland (June 23) KEY PLAYERS
Even though 34-year-old Toni Kroos has just returned to the national team after reversing his decision to retire from international football in 2021, it was abundantly clear during the most recent friendlies that the Real Madrid star will be the pivotal cog in Germany’s midfield. Everything related to ball possession will revolve around him. Hence, Kroos will probably need the support of a more defensive-minded midfield partner such as Bayer Leverkusen ‘s Robert Andrich .
Whether Ilkay Gündogan will be such an important player in Germany’s attacking midfield remains to be seen. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann appreciates the Barcelona star’s talents, but Gündogan could become redundant with Kroos now back in the fold. Other difference makers are two top young prospects: Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz of Bayern and Leverkusen respectively.
SPAIN Fixtures: Croatia (June 15), Italy (June 20), Albania (June 24) KEY PLAYERS
Spain’s standout player is Rodri . The Manchester City midfielder has been in imperious form for his club over a sustained period of time now and is arguably the only genuinely world-class player available to La Roja coach Luis de la Fuente.
There are several players with the potential to reach that level, though, and many eyes will be on exciting young forwards Lamine Yamal (Barcelona ) and Nico Williams (Athletic Club ) to deliver for Spain in the final third. Atletico Madrid’s Álvaro Morata is perhaps not as fashionable as Yamal and Williams, but he has been the regular striker under De la Fuente, often captaining the side, and has scored 34 goals for his country.
WHO’S IN DANGER OF MISSING OUT
Barcelona’s young duo Gavi and Alejandro Balde are both expected to miss out with injuries. Gavi, who tore his ACL playing for Spain last November, is perhaps the biggest loss as there are few midfielders with his tenacity and technique. And, when fit, he is a starter.
Another Barça midfielder, Pedri , is fighting to prove his form and fitness before the tournament. He has recently returned from another muscle injury and, if the 21-year-old doesn’t get any knocks before the end of the season, he should make the squad. However, he has work to do to win his place back in the starting XI.
Meanwhile, Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Gerard Moreno (Villarreal ) and Ansu Fati (on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion ), regulars in the squad at times in the past, are far from certainties to be in Germany.
UP-AND-COMING PLAYERS
At 16, Yamal is already looking like Spain’s best option in attack. He was so good in last month’s friendly against Brazil that he was given a standing ovation by the Santiago Bernabéu crowd. His Barça teammate Pau Cubarsí, a 17-year-old centre-back, has also played himself into contention for a spot in the squad with a string of assured performances for his club.
Elsewhere, Alejandro Grimaldo ‘s form for Bayer Leverkusen has not gone unnoticed and he’s making a relatively late run to claim Spain’s left-back spot this summer.
ITALY Fixtures: Albania (June 15), Spain (June 20), Croatia (June 24) KEY PLAYERS
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma captains the side and Italy need him to recreate his Euro 2020 form (which he hasn’t done at club level with Paris Saint-Germain .) Nicolò Barella is the leader in midfield and Alessandro Bastoni should be in charge at the back. Up front, it’s anybody’s guess since the combination of lack of talent and inability to stay fit has really hurt them.
WHO’S IN DANGER OF MISSING OUT
Midfielder Marco Verratti hasn’t been called up since Luciano Spalletti took over as coach and the fact that he now plays in Qatar for Al-Arabi won’t help him. Winder Federico Chiesa has had a rough season with Juventus and, if there are doubts over his fitness (and there often are), he’s by no means guaranteed to go. Same goes with midfielder Nicolò Zaniolo who, despite being talented enough, hasn’t really established himself as a starter at Aston Villa .
Despite the dearth of centre-forwards, Gianluca Scamacca was left out of the last Italy squad; he’ll be hoping his heroics at for Napoli away at Liverpool in the Europa League, when he scored two goals, will help him make the cut.
UP-AND-COMING PLAYERS
Bologna ‘s Riccardo Calafiori has been one of the best defenders in Serie A this season and could well be a late call up having only been capped to under-21 level. Lorenzo Lucca of Udinese isn’t always easy on the eye, but he’s 6-foot-7 and has played regularly this year, scoring seven Serie A goals; many teams freak out when a giant centre-forward comes off the bench. Giovanni Fabbian of Bologna is also a very gifted midfielder who might spring a surprise, though he’s not a regular at club level.
PORTUGAL Fixtures: Czechia (June 18), Turkey (June 22), Georgia (June 26) KEY PLAYERS
For the first time since his breakthrough tournament at Euro 2004, Cristiano Ronaldo will not be the focal point of Portugal’s hopes in Germany this summer. The Al Nassr forward, now 39, remains a key figure for Roberto Martinez’s team by virtue of his ongoing to ability to score goals — Ronaldo is the world-record international goal scorer with 128 — but the depth in the squad means that Bruno Fernandes , Bernardo Silva , Diogo Jota , João Félix , Rafael Leão and Rúben Dias are all just as important, maybe even more so.
Portugal are also blessed by strength in the goalkeeping department with Rui Patrício (AS Roma ), Diogo Costa (FC Porto ) and José Sá (Wolverhampton Wanderers ) all vying for the No. 1 spot.
WHO’S IN DANGER OF MISSING OUT
Liverpool forward Diogo Jota was the big concern after suffering a knee injury in February, but the 27-year-old has now returned to action for Jurgen Klopp’s team and should make the plane.
Otherwise Portugal have an healthy squad at this stage, but with six weeks of the season still to play across Europe, Martinez faces an anxious wait to see if all of his players remain fit.
UP-AND-COMING PLAYERS
Benfica midfielder João Neves is the rising star of Portuguese football and a target for Europe’s leading clubs, with the 19-year-old having won five caps since making his debut for the national team in October.
Forwards Goncalo Ramos and Leao have emerged since Euro 2020 and established themselves as key members of Martinez’s squad, with Ramos scoring a hat trick against Switzerland during the 2022 World Cup after replacing the dropped Ronaldo in the round-of-16 tie.
NETHERLANDS Fixtures: Poland (June 16), France (June 21), Austria (June 25) KEY PLAYERS
Midfielder Frenkie de Jong arguably holds the most crucial role in Ronald Koeman ‘s squad. In recent matches, his absence due to injury made it very challenging for Netherlands to play their preferred style. Without De Jong, Netherlands couldn’t execute their 3-4-1-2 system as effectively. All eyes were on the Barcelona star for Euro 2024, but he left Sunday’s El Clasico on a stretcher and in tears. Every Dutch fan is eagerly awaiting the latest news on his injury, desperately hoping for his swift return.
Other key players include centre-back Virgil van Dijk and forward Memphis Depay . Captain Van Dijk has rediscovered his form at Liverpool, while Memphis remains the country’s most dangerous striker, but he’s been struggling due to numerous injuries this season.
BELGIUM Fixtures: Slovakia (June 17), Romania (June 22), Ukraine (June 26) KEY PLAYERS
Will star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne be fully fit and firing for the Euros? After missing all of the first half of the season, the 32-year-old has been outstanding at times for Manchester City since January and Belgium need him at his best. He missed the March internationals through injury as a precaution.
Striker Romelu Lukaku also needs De Bruyne on song. While Lukaku hasn’t had a stellar season at AS Roma , with 11 goals in 29 Serie A appearances, he is still crucial and needs service to carry this Belgium side.
