The 2021 Euros are finally here. Starting June 11, twenty-four national teams will compete to be crowned European champions. In this post, we will breakdown some of our top contenders and their chances to win and we will even mix in some squads with lesser expectations that can shock the world. Here is how we see it:
France (+460 to win)
The defending World Cup champions will look to make history this year as they look to become the only team in history to win a second “double-double”. They did it once prior, with a World Cup title in 1998 and a Euro title in 2000. Those French teams were special, but this team now just might have more talent. France has one of the best players in the world in young Kylian Mbappe, but they also have plenty of world class talent playing behind him in Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, Ngolo Kante, and so many more players. There may not be a deeper team in this tournament. We will definitely be holding a France ticket before matches begin.
England (+600 to win)
This English national team failed to “bring it home” during the World Cup, but there is still plenty to be excited about with this squad not only this year, but well into the future. In fact, England will enter these Euros with one of the youngest squads in the whole tournament. Fifteen of their players have never played in a senior level tournament. Even with their abundance of youth, England’s attack brings immense experience in ability while lead by Tottenham’s Harry Kane, who won the Golden Boot as the top scorer in the most recent World Cup. History says this may need a little more experience to actually win this competition, but they will certainly be fun to watch as they grow together.
Belgium (+750 to win)
This may be the last run for what has been considered the “golden generation” of Belgian soccer. This team has held the top rank in FIFA’s World Rankings, but they are yet to bring home any international trophies. They certainly have the talent with Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens, Axel Witsel, Toby Alderweireld, and Jan Vertonghen, but each of those star players finds themselves on the wrong side of 30 years old. Their goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, is one of the best in the world and fully capable of carrying this team for long stretches, like he has for Real Madrid, but he is even 29 years old. To their advantage, these players are all well aware that their window is closing, it just comes down to whether they can capitalize on it.
Portugal (+800 to win)
The defending Euro champions have one of the best teams on paper that we have seen in a long while. Lead by the greatest footballer of all-time (we said it, bar none), Cristiano Ronaldo, this roster is loaded with world class talent including Joao Feliz, Diego Jota, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Cancelo, Pepe, and Ruben Dias. This team is sturdy from top to bottom. They have not looked so great leading up to this tournament, but the talent is there and no player in the world thrives more in elimination games than Cristiano Ronaldo. As long as Cr7 is healthy, we will never write this team off.
Italy (+800 to win)
This Italian side may have an aging back line, with Giorgio Chiellini’s and Leo Bonnuci’s best days behind them, but they have a young, talented keeper in Gianluigi Donnaramma, and a handful of emerging midfielders with tremendous talent. This certainly will not be the Italian side we are used to seeing, but this new brand of Italian football, loaded with possession and passing, will certainly create enough chances for their talented but lesser known attackers, like Federico Chiesa and Ciro Immobile, to have an opportunity to finish. The odds are interesting, because we would expect Italy to rank below Germany and some other countries, but maybe the oddsmakers got this one right. Do not write off this team just yet.
Germany (+900 to win)
This German national team has struggled under manager Joachim Low and he has already announced that he will be stepping down after the Euros regardless of the result. It creates an interesting scenario for the German’s and time will tell if they choose to buy in on Low one last time or if their minds have moved on to the next, but the talent to win is certainly on this roster. Not only does Germany have the best goalkeeper in Europe, in Manuel Neuer, but they also have one of the most talented rosters, which includes Thomas Muller, Joshua Kimmich, Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretza, Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Toni Kroos, and Mats Hummels. This list can truly go on and on, but the point is that any failure will not be from lack of ability. This German team looks like one of the few rosters deep enough to lift the cup at the end of this tournament.
Spain (+900 to win)
Spain’s national team finds themselves in turmoil just as this tournament is starting. With a positive covid test from Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets, the entire roster is left in isolation and unable to train together in the weeks leading up to the start of these Euros. In friendlies leading up to this competition, Spain was forced to send out their U21’s as their only option. Health and chemistry will be major storylines for this Spanish side that includes a ton of players whose best days are probably behind them. Interestingly, zero players from Real Madrid were selected for the squad, including long-time captain Sergio Ramos. Madrid media is not happy and it is safe to say that this Spanish side is starting on the wrong foot.
Denmark (+2500 to win)
Denmark’s national team is better than most expect and they are our favorites to pull off some upsets in this tournament. Not only is this side loaded with world class talent, including one of the top keepers in Kasper Schmeichel, but they will benefit from playing their group stage games at home. The stars are seemingly aligned for Denmark to surprise quite a few teams this year.
Honorable Mentions: Netherlands (+1500 to win); Croatia (+4000 to win); Turkey (+5000 to win)
*This preview does not represent our final picks for this event. For our full set of picks, check out our Game Picks section!
**Odds accurate at time of posting.
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