2023-11-22 12:27:00
Time to wait. The draw, the plans on the comet, the lists that we imagine, the wounded that we did not see coming, the endless procession until June 14. In the meantime, and because we have to keep busy, it’s time for the screening. While 21 of the 24 qualifiers are known and the composition of the hats is established, who will shine in Germany?
According to objective criteria, we have attempted to establish a subjective ranking. The observation is clear: how can we not make France the big favorite for Euro 2024? A World Cup finalist less than a year ago, her almost immaculate run in the qualifiers (seven wins, one draw), the variety of her talents and the depth of her squad place her at the top of the pile. Just behind, two serious outsiders draw a fairly clear hierarchy.
“When we compare Clauss’ performance and the last ones from Pavard or Koundé on the right…”
Collective experience: France above the rest
Best European team in the World Cup, France remains on a demonic run: finalist in four of the last seven World Cups and three of the last four major international competitions. To put it another way, for ten years, France has been the most consistent team in Europe. Germany’s victory in Brazil (2014) has never seemed so far away while the Italian coronation at the Euro did not prevent the Transalpines from missing the Qatari World Cup and going through a mouse hole in qualifying this year. That leaves Portugal, winner of Euro 2016, and Croatia, in the last four of the last two World Cups.
Individual talent: Bellingham and Mbappé at the forefront
Whatever happens in Germany, France can always count on Kylian Mbappé to get out of the impasse. This was the case in Qatar and there is absolutely no reason for this to change. Behind its captain, the armada is crazy. If France can count on the Prince de Bondy, England has, in Jude Bellingham, a unique jewel. He too can take the selection on his back and make it climb Everest. The two men should be the two absolute stars of the Euro once morest a Cristiano Ronaldo who is necessarily less influential, a Jamal Musiala who must gain in consistency or a Kevin De Bruyne who is still fragile.
“The Kopa trophy is too small for him”: Bellingham, where is the limit?
Squad depth: France and Portugal, a crazy reservoir
From Ibrahima Konaté to Antoine Griezmann, from Aurélien Tchouaméni to the Hernandez brothers: the Blues list is full of great players who play in the best clubs in the world. And the French bench (Saliba, Camavinga, Zaire-Emery, Dembélé, etc.) really looks good. With, in addition to Bellingham, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka Phil Foden or Jack Grealish, the English have the most dissuasive offensive armada but its central hinge remains a big question. Portugal has a more complete squad and big names in all positions. He is the only one who can look France in the eye on the depth of its squad. Ruben Dias, Joao Felix, Rafael Leao, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandez: a real constellation of stars.
They know how to win, they have teeth longer than ever and a new generation full of promise. Perfectly recovered from the retirements of Hugo Lloris and Raphaël Varane, these new generation Blues have lost nothing in the process. Only a defeat in Germany (2-1) tarnishes a fantastic year 2023. No one is safe from a big crash, like once morest Switzerland in 2021, but, under the leadership of Didier Deschamps, this team has also showed his resilience. In short, good luck to those who get in his way.
France coach Didier Deschamps at a press conference on 11/13/2023
Credit: Getty Images
4 stars: Portugal, England
A very quiet qualifying phase, a selection that is starting to know each other inside out, talent in all four corners of the field: the English and the Portuguese share a lot in common. Kane’s teammates have yet to break the glass ceiling that has stifled their record since… 1966. Those of Cristiano Ronaldo are left with a failed World Cup and they still have to prove that the arrival of Roberto Martinez on the bench ensures their collective cohesion which they sometimes lack in big competition. Because when it comes to talent, they have few equivalents.
2 stars: Spain, Belgium, Croatia
In full transition, Spain is still a little green to hope to be among the big favorites. She has never lacked talent and her victory in the Nations League is a reminder of her potential. But they also collapsed once morest Georgia and the absence of Gavi will be a heavy burden to bear in Germany.
In the transition phase, Belgium saw some eminent members of its golden generation set sail (Eden Hazard first) and rebuilt around Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku. If the new generation embodied by Jérémy Doku explodes, Belgium will have a say but its performance will also depend on the presence or not of Thibaut Courtois who takes care of his crusaders.
With Croatia, it’s always the same story: laborious qualifications but a devilishly effective final phase. Luka Modric’s gang remains in a final and a half in the World Cup. Let’s no longer be surprised, this team knows how to raise its level when necessary.
Romelu Lukaku wandered during Belgium-Azrbaijan
Credit: Getty Images
1 star: Germany, Italy, Netherlands
They are used to being favorites but, in July, no one expects them to be at the top. Germany has suffered one of the most severe downgrades in history since its semi-final at Euro 2016. Since then, the Germans no longer exist on the international scene and they have signed their worst year in 2023 since … 1964 with defeats once morest Austria, Turkey, Colombia, Japan and Poland. At home, with certain talents (Gündogan, Kimmich, Sané, Gnabry and especially Musiala), they have assets but it would take a miracle.
Title holders Italy did not play in the World Cup in Qatar and came close to not being able to defend their chances next June. Behind Gianluigi Donnarumma, she lacks talent even if Luciano Spalletti does a good job. Italy is never as strong as when you don’t expect it (2006, 2021) so, all the same and in principle, pay attention to the “one shot” selection par excellence.
The Netherlands has always been teeming with talent but the source has dried up. Between the stars who are declining (van Dijk, De Jong, Depay), young people who are slow to blossom and key positions lacking talent (goalkeeper, center forward), the selection relies on Xavi Simmons. That’s not enough and the two setbacks once morest the Blues were a reminder of what keeps them away from the very high level.
“Germany looks at its socks when things are going wrong”
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