Euro 2024 predictions

The Euros is the standout sporting event of the summer and will be watched by millions of sports fans around the world. UEFA Euro 2024 will take place between June 14th and July 14th in Germany with games being staged at ten different locations.

Across the four week period, there are many questions to be answered: Can England justify their position as favourites? Can Cristiano Ronaldo still perform at the highest level? Will Italy be able to defend their crown?

If you’re planning to have a bet on Euro 2024, then you’ll be pleased to know that there are hundreds of different markets to choose from and we have a squad of football experts who will be sharing their tips, knowledge and international football know-how throughout the month.

International football is completely different to domestic football so it’s important to make sure that you are fully clued up on each country and the structure of the tournament before placing a bet this summer.

If you are completely new to betting on international football or you simply require us to refresh your memory, then our comprehensive overview will provide you with all of the information you’ll need and our expert-guided betting strategies will hopefully help you to more profitable decisions when it comes to having a flutter on this fantastic footballing spectacle.

It all begins with the group stage and each team has been drawn into one of six sections. This is a great opportunity to place a bet as there are several markets available including group winners, group runners-up, group forecast and stage of elimination.

The top two will automatically go through whereas the four best third-placed nations will also join them in the next round.

You can find our predictions for this stage of the tournament right here.  We have predicted who will make it through to the knock-out stages with relative ease and which nations will struggle to make it out of their section.

Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland

Germany are the headline act in Group A with the hosts kicking off proceedings against Scotland. Julian Nagelsmann has improved their fortunes since arriving and they’ve taken some notable scalps in international friendlies throughout 2024. They have some hugely talented players and that should be enough to finish top of this section.

Scotland will look to keep things tight and they beat Spain during qualifying, so they cannot be underestimated.

Switzerland are regulars in the round of 16 and will be expected to make it through once again. However, they aren't getting any younger and the fans aren’t completely on board with the coaching staff.

Hungary are the dark horses in this section. They competed well at the previous tournament despite being drawn in an incredibly tough group and may have enough to get through this time around.

Winner: Germany

Runner-Up: Hungary

Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania

This has been dubbed the so-called ‘Group of Death’ and it may not be a straightforward task for Spain, who have been priced up as favourites. La Roja should have enough talent to finish top of this section, especially as they look extremely well-organised under Luis de la Fuente.

Italy are struggling for firepower and have a few injuries in midfield. Luciano Spalletti is an excellent manager, but this is far from a vintage Italian outfit.

Croatia are another ageing side, who always compete admirably, yet their squad isn’t as strong as it used to be and Luka Modric’s influence is waning as he approaches 40 years old.

Albania will be tough to break down under former Arsenal star Sylvinho, yet they lack star quality in the matchday squad.

Winner: Spain

Runner-Up: Italy

Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England

England have been priced up as the favourites for this section and understandably so. Under Gareth Southgate, the Three Lions have a terrific record of getting out of the group and they have been drawn in a winnable-looking section.

Denmark will be seen as the main challengers, yet they’ll need striker Rasmus Hojlund to find his shooting boots. The Danes are usually exceptionally well-organised and will be expected to get through.

Serbia are one of the more entertaining sides and their matches are usually incredibly high-scoring. However, they tend to struggle at the back and that could be an issue.

Slovenia has plenty of individual talent, but it might not be quite enough.

Winner: England

Runner-Up: Denmark

Group D: Netherlands, Austria, France, Georgia

France are the most likely side to progress from Group D and should dominate proceedings. Les Bleus have the most talented squad and they reached the final of the 2022 World Cup. They should be too strong for their rivals here.

Netherlands will be seen as their nearest challengers, yet there are question marks surrounding this Dutch squad and Ronald Koeman.

Austria have performed well under Ralf Rangnick and have some very dangerous players. They could be tough to beat and may be the side who spring a surprise.

Georgia are making their debut at the event, yet aside from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, they lack depth.

Winner: France

Runner-Up: Austria

Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine

Belgium will be expected to ease through to the knock-out rounds of Euro 2024 and there is no reason why they cannot finish top of this section. They have a talented squad and Romelu Lukaku is close to full fitness.

Romania and Ukraine will both be tough to beat. The former are exceptionally hard to score against whereas Ukraine have team spirit in abundance and their fans will make a terrific noise.

Winner: Belgium

Runner-Up: Ukraine

Group F: Turkey, Portugal, Czech Republic, Poland

It’s difficult to imagine Portugal not having enough firepower to qualify from this group. They’ve been drawn in an incredibly favourable section here and Roberto Martinez’s side are exceptionally easy on the eye going forward. Cristiano Ronaldo might not play every minute, but he will certainly get plenty of time to make an impact.

Turkey were hugely disappointing at Euro 2020 and they might struggle once again. Czech Republic have some strong individuals and could give Portugal the most to think about ahead of Poland, who surely can’t continue to rely on the a half-fit Robert Lewandowski.

Winner: Portugal

Runner-Up: Czech Republic

Euro 2024 kicks off on Friday 14th June with hosts Germany taking on Scotland in Group A. This will be followed by the group stage where football fans can enjoy watching at least three matches per day!

The tournament consists of 24 teams and these have been split into six groups of four. The top two in each section will automatically progress to the knockout stages with the four best third placed sides also joining them in the last 16.

If two teams are level on points following the conclusion of the group stage, then positions will be decided on goal difference. If they still cannot be separated, then those with the highest number of goals scored will progress.

The best third placed sides across the six groups will be determined by:

• Total Number of Points
• Goal Difference
• Goals Scored
• Wins
• Disciplinary Record
• Ranking in Qualifiers

The group stage concludes on June 26th with the round of 16 getting underway on June 29th. These knock-out games will take place across eight different locations and will be decided by 30 minutes of extra time and penalties, if required.

The round of 16 will conclude on July 2nd with the remaining eight teams progressing to the quarter final stage which begins on July 5th. This will be followed by two semi-final matches which will be held on July 9th and July 10th before the two finalists meet at Berlin’s Olympiastadion for the chance to lift the trophy and be crowned European Champions.

This year’s event looks wide open according to the betting market, but who will come out on top? Our betting predictions will help you to narrow down the field when it comes to predicting the winner of this fascinating event.

This year's competition appears to be wide open and the betting market reflects that. Many bookmakers create their Outright Winner market long before the qualification process has been completed and the odds have changed multiple times over the last few months.

It has been a two-way tussle between 2020 finalists England and 2022 FIFA World Cup runners-up France and the pair can barely be separated at the top of the betting. They are followed by hosts Germany, who should be benefited by playing on home soil, although they haven’t played a competitive game for almost two years.

There has been support for Portugal over the last few months following their emphatic qualifying campaign. They were victorious in 2016 under the pragmatic and stoic head coach Fernando Santos, however, they should be much easier on the eye under the attack minded Roberto Martinez and should be regarded as a contender.

Somewhat surprisingly, defending champions Italy are sixth-favourites alongside Spain. The Azzurri have lost a few key players to injury, which has seen their price drift over the last few weeks and they’ve been drawn in a relatively tough group.

Spain, who have also been drawn in Group B are a little shorter and this may be due to their exciting young talents such as Lamine Yamal.

The Netherlands and Belgium have been drawn in relatively winnable groups and both will be expected to progress to the latter stages of the competition.

France have been backed by many punters due to their vast experience in important games and their significant pedigree. They are also managed by the savvy Didier Deschamps whereas many other nations have relatively new managers in charge (Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Germany).

Deschamps knows how to utilise his players throughout the four week period and he is also helped by having some serious talent at his disposal. They can boast several star names such as Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann in the XI, Les Bleus are likely to get to the final where they will use their big game experience to good effect. France look likely to go all the way this summer and clinch another major tournament success.

Bookmakers' odds for the Title winner:

Every single bookmaker will provide odds on the Euro 2024 and these will be accompanied by a wide range of alternative betting markets. It’s important to note that these odds will still be available after the opening fixture has got underway, but if your chosen side cruises through their first few matches, the odds will significantly shorten, so it’s always best to act on your pre-tournament predictions before the action gets underway.

There are many other markets such as top goalscorer and stage of elimination, however, the tournament winner market is the most-talked about option and tends to provide fantastic value. It is possible to back a side each-way in this market (2x your stake). In this instance, if your chosen team is victorious, you’ll get paid out on both bets, however, if they are unable to see the job through, yet they reach the final, you will still get paid out on the each-way part of your bet.

Winners Odds 11.07.2024:

1. Spain 1.67
2. England 2.20

Table about Winners Odds

Table about Winners Odds

Country
England	1.67	1.67	1.64	1.67	1.65
France	2.20	2.20	2.20	2.20	2.20

Alongside the tournament winner market, one of the most popular betting options is the top goalscorer odds.

Every striker dreams of winning the golden boot and as expected, competition is extremely fierce this summer.

There are a number of world-class players heading to Germany and if you are having a bet on this market, you are ideally looking for your player to be part of a side who will progress to the latter stages.

Top Candidates for the Top Goalscorer:

• Kylian Mbappe (France)
• Harry Kane (England)
• Jude Bellingham (England)
• Phil Foden (England)
• Alvaro Morata (Spain)
• Antoine Griezmann (France)

It’s vitally important to consider how a team is set up and it’s also key to look at the opposition that each striker is likely to face. With this in mind, it may be worth backing someone like Romelu Lukaku who is likely to plunder a few goals during the early stages of the competition against the other three sides in this section.

Top Goalscorer Prediction: Romelu Lukaku

Candidates
Harry Kane	2,75	2,75	2,75
Dani Olmo	3.50	3.50	3.50
Jude Bellingham	26.00	26.00	26.00
Fabian Ruiz	34.00	34.00	34.00
Alvaro Morata	51.00	51.00	51.00
Jamal Musiala	12.00	12.00	12.00
Ivan Schranz	12.00	12.00	12.00
Cody Gakpo	12.00	12.00	12.00
Georges Mikautadze	12.00	12.00	12.00
Lamine Yamal	51,00	51,00	51,00

Naming the finalists is another fun market to get involved with. This isn’t as simple as other ante-post markets, however, the odds are much bigger and you could be handsomely rewarded if you successfully predict the final two teams left standing.

As expected, England and France feature prominently here. This market is available with the vast majority of betting sites.

Name the Finalists (08.07.2024):

• England / Spain — 3.25
• England / France — 3.50 
• Spain / Netherlands — 3.50 
• France / Netherlands — 4.00

Another interesting alternative market is To Reach the Semi-Finals. If you can plot the potential path to the final four for each side, you may begin to find that some outfits have significantly easier routes than others.

There are always one or two surprises at every major tournament, so if you can find a team outside of the top four who may progress to the semi-final stage, then you may be able to find tempting odds with the majority of online bookmakers.

To Reach the Semi-Finals (after the 1st round - 19.06.2024):

• England — 1.73
• France — 1.73 
• Germany — 2.00 
• Portugal — 2.25 
• Spain — 2.50
• Italy — 3.4 
• Belgium — 5.0 
• Netherlands — 3.00

International football is vastly different to club football and this is an important thing to note for anyone who is thinking of placing a bet this summer. Representing your country on the international stage is unlike any other situation and each squad is made up of players who have probably become accustomed to facing one another on a regular basis.

It’s important to stay disciplined and focus on the nuances of the competition in order to avoid any potential betting pitfalls. We’ve put together a list of seven tips which will help you improve your European Championship predictions:

1. Research Research Research

   It may sound like an obvious thing to say, but any extra research that you can carry out will enable you to make better informed bets. Repeatedly check the latest competition news to ensure that you haven’t missed an injury. If you can, listen to manager press-conferences and post-match interviews to get a firmer idea of how they may line up.

   Hearing a manager suggest that he may push a player further forward, or that one of the key players is carrying a knock may help you get ahead of the field and get a little extra value from your bet.

   Too many punters simply place bets based on assumptions and they don’t necessarily go the extra mile to unearth crucial information.

2. Consider the Intensity of Each Match

   Although the league schedule is increasingly stacked, nothing compares to the intensity of a major international tournament. Many teams will be playing three group games within the space of nine days and the players must galvanise themselves for each match and find the energy to compete on a regular basis.

   It may be best to avoid those who have been involved in tough, intense matches next time out and favour those who have been able to make changes and rest players. During the knock-out rounds, it’s best to swerve anyone who goes all the way to extra time and penalties, as the extra 30 minutes could really start to take its toll.

   Example

   In Group E. Belgium should beat Slovakia and Romania with relative ease and should be able to rest a few players for their final group game against Ukraine. The Red Devils should be fresh and raring to go when they take on a third placed side in the next round.

   In Group D, the Netherlands will come off the back of a game against France and face Austria in their final contest. They may need to win this match in order to qualify for the knock-out stages and this may be a game too far having faced the World Cup finalists just three days earlier.

3. Focus on Team Spirit and Camaraderie

   International footballers are not necessarily used to being together. These players tend to gather five or six times a year, training and playing together for a couple of weeks at a time.

   As a result, team spirit can be in short supply for many sides. It’s important to identify those with potential fractures within the camp as well as any nation who are likely to be singing from the same hymn sheet.

   Players can fail to bond if they are from rival teams or if they are from conflicting areas of the country. They are unlikely to give 100% and could come up short against a side who are all battling for the same cause.

4. Organisation and Defence often Prevail

   They often say that teams are built from the back and that successful sides tend to be built on solid foundations. Over the course of a full season, it can be difficult to maintain defensive solidity, whereas over a shorter format, it is possible to remain disciplined.

   There are a number of recent case studies including Portugal’s 2016 victory under Fernando Santos. They drew their way to the final and although they conceded a few goals in the group stage, they were breached just once during the knock-out rounds before keeping France off the scoresheet for 120 minutes.

   In 2020, Italy kept three consecutive clean sheets during the group stages and were not breached on more than one occasion during the knock-out rounds. Roberto Mancini’s side were exceptionally well-organised and deserved to be victorious.

   We recommend seeking out those sides who will be exceptionally well-organised and tough to break down. With four third-placed teams progressing to the round of 16, it is possible to qualify with a number of 0-0 draws under your belt.

5. Await Teams News in the Final Group Games

   The final group games kick off simultaneously. In this situation, there are often nations who require points in these matches in order to qualify for the round of 16 and these games can be extremely intense. On the flip side, there are those who have already qualified for the knock-outs and they may opt to make wholesale changes for the final fixture.

   If you’re betting on these games or you are putting together an accumulator, you’ll need to check team news before placing your wager. Managers may opt to put a second string XI out and give fringe players a chance to impress. This can vastly change the outcome of the contest.

6. Low-scoring Finales are Commonplace

   Every international tournament throws up a handful of memorable games, yet there are always a few stinkers too. When it comes to betting, it’s vital to work out which matches are likely to be high-scoring and which have the potential to be damp squibs.

   With so much at stake, many of the later games can be slow-burners. At Euro 2020, each of the semi-finals finished 1-1 after 90 minutes with the final also ending level at the full-time whistle.

   The 2016 final was an incredibly cagey affair and there is no reason why this tournament won’t follow suit.

   With so much at stake and many players left running on fumes, these last few games are always likely to be on the low-scoring side.

7. Trust your Instincts

   Finally, it’s important to trust your gut. If you have any doubts or concerns about placing your bet then perhaps it’s worth looking for something else. Alternatively, if you’re thinking of betting on a side, but you’re concerned about their leaky defence, then perhaps it’s best to look at BTTS or potentially Over 2.5 Goals.

   If you get a good feeling about a game, then make sure you follow it through. If you aren’t sure, maybe it’s best to sit back and just enjoy the spectacle instead!

When it comes to betting on this sort of event, there are an incredible amount of markets to choose from. It can be tough to narrow it down and work out which way to go. It’s important to know what each market means and how it will affect your returns. We’ve picked out five of the most popular betting options when it comes to having a flutter this summer.

Bet type #1 - Match Winner / Money Line

This is the simplest of all the football betting markets. This requires you to pick the winner of a match in 90 minutes. During the knock-out stages, matches may go to extra time or penalties, however, this market ONLY applies to the regulation 90 minutes.

There are three options here:

• 1 X 2
• Home Win / Draw / Away Win

Although there are technically no home or away fixtures here, one of the two teams has to be listed as the hosts and the other will be selected as the visitors. When it comes to creating an accumulator, these markets are easily the most popular option.

Bet type #2 - Under/Over 2.5 Goals / Totals

Some matches are just too tough to call. In this instance, it’s best to simply back the number of goals. The line is always set at Under/Over 2.5, however, it is possible to wager on alternatives such as Under/Over 3.5 and Under/Over 1.5.

One of the best things about these bets is that it can be paid out within the first half of a high-scoring match and even if the game is still 0-0 at HT, there is always a chance of your bet landing.

It’s important to seek out sides who simply cannot keep clean sheets if you’re back Over 2.5 Goals. Those who are generally hard to break down are always a good option if you’re backing Under 2.5 Goals.

Bet type #3 - Anytime / First / Last Goalscorer

There are always a few players who shine at the tournament and if you can spot a potential anytime goalscorer before anyone else, then it can be hugely profitable. There are a number of markets available and most bookmakers will allow you to bet on a player to score the first goal of the game, the last goal of the game or even to simply hit the target within 90 minutes.

If the first goal of the game is an own goal, then your first goalscorer bet will carry over to the next time a goal is scored*

Some bettors enjoy betting in-play and will often back a player coming off the bench. These subs can often change games and they tend to be decent odds to find the back of the net.

Bet type #4 - Handicap / Asian Handicap

Handicap and Asian Handicaps give one side a plus handicap and the other a minus. This is particularly handy during seemingly one-sided matches as it enables bettors to extract value from these markets.

If you are backing a side on the plus (+) handicap, you will be hoping that they keep it tight or manage to snatch a draw.

If you are backing a side on the minus (-) handicap, you will be hoping that they ease to victory and win by several goals.

The biggest mistake with this market is to simply assume that the better nations will just cruise past the minnows. As Finland demonstrated in 2021, some less-fancied teams can keep things tight and may only be defeated by a single goal. Finland's games  ended 1-0, 0-1 and 0-2.

Bet type #5 - Correct Score

The correct score market is one of the most popular options for bettors. This requires punters to correctly predict the final score and there are always multiple options to choose from.

The correct score market can be a very lucrative option, particularly if you are able to predict a 2-2 draw or a 4-3 victory.

It can be a tough market to correctly predict, however, remaining fairly safe with 1-0, 2-0 and 1-1 draws is the best way to go.

When it comes to placing bets, it is vitally important to know which statistics matter. Ahead of any major competition, there are always ample key trends which will potentially point you in the direction of bets. However, it’s important to remember that you also have to make use of these stats and work out which are the most useful when it comes to your own personal betting habits.

There are always statistical quirks and there will always be sides who buck the trend. Nevertheless, the majority of these statistics will hold up and prove to be extremely useful this summer.

Important Statistics:

• Only one side have ever won back-to-back Euros (Spain 2008/2012)
• Four of the last seven finals have either gone to extra time, penalties of golden goal
• Nine of the last ten finals have contained fewer than three goals at the 90 minute mark
• Portugal are the only nation to possess a perfect record when it comes to qualifying for the round of 16.
• France took the most shots during the qualifying period, averaging 21.1 efforts per game
• England faced the fewest shots during the qualifying period, conceding just 4.9 shots per game
• The top-ranked team (according to the FIFA rankings) has been eliminated at the quarter-final stage in four of the last five tournaments
• Thomas Muller (Germany) has yet to score in 15 appearances in this competition
• Cristiano Ronaldo has scored and assisted more goals at this tournament than any other player (14G 6A)
• Since 2016, Antoine Griezmann has been involved in more goals at major tournaments than any other player (11G 7A)
• Only two of Romelu Lukaku’s 11 goals at major tournaments have been plundered in the knock-out stages.

When it comes to betting this summer, it’s vitally important to explore all of the different markets available and make sure that you compare the odds before placing your bet.

Use statistics to your advantage, but also implement some common sense and make sure that you do as much research as you possibly can before finalising your wagers.

It is set to be a fascinating tournament and there are going to be plenty of twists and turns along the way. Get ready to enjoy betting on this four-week footballing extravaganza!