EURO 2020
SportsBeat!
Written by Aaron Cantin
After waiting a year, Euro 2020 is about to happen in 2021. This version of the tournament will take place in 11 cities in 11 different countries, nine of which are in the 24-team field. Of the 24 teams competing, 16 will advance to the knockout stages, first and second place of each group plus the four best third-place finishers.
There really is no excuse for not making it out of the group stage this time around which should set us up for some juicy knockout stage matchups. Today I will focus on the group stage and make my predictions group by group.
Before we dive in, here's a look at the betting favourites to raise the trophy.
Photo from UEFA
Euro 2020 odds
France 9-2
England 11-2
Belgium 6-1
Germany 8-1
Italy 8-1
Portugal 8-1
Spain 8-1
Netherlands 14-1 Group A: Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, Wales
The Azzurri headline Group A, which opens the tournament with Italy hosting Turkey tomorrow. It’s a group that sees the host Azzurri as the favourites, but Roberto Mancini’s side cruised through qualifying with a perfect 10-0-0 record and will look to ride that form into the tournament. Nevertheless, Italy fields a side that is far from tournament tested.
Meanwhile, the Swiss have an experienced squad that advanced to the round of 16 in World Cup 2018 and Euro 2016. The Welsh were one of the biggest surprises of the 2016 edition of this tournament—advancing all the way to the semifinals before falling to eventual champions Portugal. Rounding out the group is Turkey, which pushed France to the very end in qualifying, finishing with 23 points, just two behind the French. So, even though this group looks to favour the Azzurri, it’ll be far from a cakewalk.
Group Predictions: 1. Italy 2. Turkey 3. Switzerland 4. Wales
Group B: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Russia
The Belgians headline this group after being the only side besides Italy to win all of their qualifying matches. It’s a star-studded side that will look to do better than it did last time around—being upset 3-1 by the Welsh in the quarterfinals. The Belgians also finished 3rd in the 2018 World Cup and will be one of the sides to keep an eye on in this tournament. This is likely the last chance for Belgium’s golden generation to lift a title with much of the group now on the wrong side of 30.
Russia was also strong in qualifying, only falling twice to fellow group mates Belgium. Back in 2018, Russia made the World Cup quarterfinals and will look to build on that success at Euro 2020. The Danes made it through qualifying unbeaten but also drew four times. Denmark didn’t qualify for Euro 2016 but did make it to the quarterfinals of World Cup 2018. They could make me look very silly but I think Denmark has a real shot at being the dark-horse team of the tournament. A trip to the quarters or even the semi-finals is not out of the cards for this squad.
Group Predictions: 1. Belgium, Denmark, Russia, Finland
Group C: Austria, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Ukraine
At first glance, this group looks to heavily favour the Netherlands. However, just like Italy, this squad has little tournament experience as the Dutch failed to qualify for World Cup 2018 and Euro 2016. And they will also be without captain Virgil Van Dijk through injury.
The Ukrainians won a qualifying group that included defending champion Portugal with a roster heavy on Shakthar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv players. Meanwhile, Austria and North Macedonia played in the same qualifying group and finished 2nd and 3rd respectively behind Poland. The Austrians Euro 2016 appearance was their first since 2008. This tournament will be North Macedonia’s first-ever since becoming an independent nation ahead of the 1994 World Cup.
Group Predictions: 1. Ukraine, 2. Netherlands, 3. Austria, 4. North Macedonia
Group D: Croatia, Czech Republic, England, Scotland
Featuring World Cup 2018 finalist Croatia and semifinalist England, Group D should be a fun one. The Three Lions enter as one of the co-favourites to win the tournament—according to the betting lines—with one of their most talented sides in some time. England won its qualifying group, losing only once, ironically enough to the Czech Republic 2-1. The English scored 37 goals in their eight qualifiers and conceded just six times.
Despite the loss to the Czechs, Croatia is the biggest threat to English supremacy in Group D. Luka Modric is now 35 but the Croatians have plenty of other talents around the pitch to win this group. The Czechs no longer boast the star power of players like Pavel Nedved and Petr Čech, but the win against England in qualifying shows the Czechs can’t be taken lightly. The Scots enter this one as the likely whipping boys of the group after going only 5-0-5 in qualifying and making the tournament proper by defeating Israel and Serbia on penalties in the play-off. However, an England versus Scotland fixture should be a heated affair given the two nation’s natural rivalry.
Group Predictions: 1. England, 2. Croatia, 3. The Czech Republic, 4. Scotland
Group E: Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden
Spain rolled through Euro qualifying unbeaten with an 8-2-0 record in a group that featured fellow group mate Sweden. Spain no longer has most of the household names from its Golden generation. The Spaniards will be favoured to win the group, but they will have some obstacles.
Sweden will be a tough out as always after they racked up 21 points in qualifying. Meanwhile, Poland enters after winning a qualifying group with Austria. The Poles are led by Robert Lewandowski. With the Bayern man leading the line, Poland is always a threat. Meanwhile, Slovakia qualified by breaking Irish hearts by defeating both Northern Ireland and Ireland en route to winning its playoff. However, the Slovaks will have their work cut out for them. This is a tough one to call.
Group Predictions: 1. Spain, 2. Poland, 3. Sweden, 4. Slovakia
Group F: France, Germany, Hungary, Portugal
This group deserves an article on its own. As far as groups of death go, this is as tough as it gets. Group F features defending World Cup champion and Euro favourite France, defending Euro champion Portugal, and 2014 World Cup winner Germany. This group is stacked.
The French will enter as group favourites, as they boast a plethora of talent around the pitch. They will be tough to beat, but it certainly won’t be a given that they win this group. The biggest threat to them is probably Germany, which won its qualifying group ahead of the Netherlands. The Germans aren’t as dominant as they once were as they continue to rebuild from a disappointing World Cup in 2018. And there are some kinks in the armour as evidenced by a recent loss to North Macedonia in World Cup 2022 qualifying. However, you simply can never count the Germans out.
It feels like a bit of a disservice to Portugal to talk about them last but that’s just how good this group is. The Portuguese actually finished third in a group with Hungary and Iceland back in 2016 then got hot and ran through the knockout round defeating both Germany and France to lift the trophy. They only finished second in their qualifying group behind Ukraine. Nevertheless, if 2016 taught us anything, it’s to not sell Portugal short. Between the three power-houses, this group can go any way.
Group Predictions: France, Portugal, Germany, Hungary
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