Euro 2024 is back with the first qualifying group matches taking place this weekend. Who will qualify and go on to lift the trophy in Berlin on 14th July 2024. Our expert takes a look at a few of the opening qualifying group games

 

It’s come around so quickly but it's back, Euro 2024 qualifying is here and the first domestic international break for a lot of leagues across Europe. Euro 2024 always captivates football fans worldwide with a thrilling display of top European teams. This highly anticipated tournament will bring together the continent's best teams, igniting fierce competition and showcasing exceptional talent. 

England will want to rewrite history and eventually win a major final after such a close final against Italy in the last Euros tournament where they ultimately lost 3-2 breaking the hearts of a nation.

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France vs Republic of Ireland (Thursday 18:45 UTC)

Didier Deschamps’ team is almost a who’s who of European talent but pretty much built around the impressive Kylian Mbappe. With depth, skill, class and experience in this squad we should be looking at a team that can at least get to the semi-final stages if not win the whole thing Les Bleus as champions for a third time is one of the strongest possibilities. Mbappe has got a great partner up front with Olivier Giroud between them scoring 94 goals but then Antoine Griezmann as well with a handy 43 goals to his name will take some defence to stop just these three guys from scoring – sacre bleu.

Ireland will still have that Thierry Henry handball in their minds when they take on this ultra-strong French team which I’m sure Stephen Kenny will remind the team of as a rallying cry for them. Currently ranked 53rd in the world some work to get back to the dizzy heights of sixth in the Charlton era in the 90’s. Despite some real battlers in this Ireland team and with the experience of James McClean and Shane Duffy, the French side will overpower them but determination may kick in more and make life a little difficult for Mbappe et al. However, if Preston North End's Will Keane is on fire, you just never know!

Ireland are way out in price at 16.46 and the French team are far off in the distance at 1.2 but you never know if a draw is on your mind at 6.47 may be worth a shot.

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North Macedonia vs Italy  (Saturday 18:45 UTC)

Luciano Spalletti is thrown right into his first major tournament as Italy boss taking over from Saudi-bound Roberto Mancini at the end of August, but he is certainly no stranger to success and overachieving with managing Roma, Inter Milan and more recently title-winning side Napoli.

Italy’s squad is stacked with experience; Gianluigi Donnarumma from PSG has 54 caps, captain Leonardo Bonucci has 121 caps to his name in defence, Marco Verratti with 55 caps in midfield and Ciro Immobile up top has 56 caps. With such a vast amount of experience, granted comes age, but also the mentality to win these kinds of tournaments.

North Macedonia hasn't been hanging around, the lowest ranking of 166 in FIFA’s world rankings since March 2017 but now they’re in 68th place. However, they had a recent thrashing at the hands of England at a mere 7-0 so they won't want a repeat of that scoreline for sure or anywhere near it. This team has always punched above where they should be as a team and could potentially be an opening grind for the Azzurri.

Italy clear favourites at 1.303 but a draw is a healthy 5.44 if you think Luciano’s men are going to struggle.

 

Ukraine vs England (Saturday 16:00 UTC)

Gareth Southgate’s made his squad announcement to some aghast with the addition of Jordan Henderson and more specifically Harry Maguire, but the omission of Raheem Sterling was the shocker. Southgate has not been shy of making these tough decisions for his squad and has gone for very attacking players so we may see a ‘bazball-esque’ attempt by the manager to go smash through this tournament with aplomb. Harry Kane is a mainstay at the front with a galaxy of stars to choose from in midfield it's sure going to be difficult to pick even a starting XI. Also, a great mix of experience and youth in the squad will enable Southgate to bring on the next generation of England players.

Serhiy Rebrov and his team will probably be the best-supported team in this tournament for neutrals given the ongoing issues in their country and they certainly will not need any more motivation in this competition. Ranked 24th in the world, Ukraine is no easy pass for any team in the world; they're a dogged and determined set of players with huge amounts of experience. They only have one single uncapped player in the squad. Although apart from the 5-0 drubbing of Armenia away in the nations league they’ve hardly lit up the soccer world losing to England, but impressing with a draw against Germany they’ve scraped through against teams they should’ve overpowered.

Gareth's guys are priced at 1.403 to win with Oleksandr Zinchenko and his team at 8.42 if you fancy England to have over 3 goals in the match a handy price of 2.56.

 

Groups

The qualifying draw took place in Frankfurt on Sunday 9th October 2022. With Germany already qualified as hosts and Russia currently suspended, the 53 remaining teams were split into ten groups: seven groups of five teams and three groups of six teams. The top two from each group will qualify for the final tournament.

In total, 23 teams will join hosts Germany in the 24-team UEFA EURO 2024 finals. The first 20 places will be decided by the qualifying group stage, with the top two in each section advancing. The remaining spots go to the winners of the play-offs, linked to the Nations League 22/23

It's a who’s who of top European teams in the running to win the whole tournament with France topping the charts, only just though, The top 5 being:

France 5.46

England 5.48

Germany 6.43

Spain 9.47

Portugal 9.97

All Gameweek Fixtures

Thursday 7 September 2023

Group B: France vs Republic of Ireland, Netherlands vs Greece

Group E: Czech Republic vs Albania, Poland vs Faroe Islands

Group G: Lithuania vs Montenegro, Serbia vs Hungary

Group H: Kazakhstan vs Finland, Denmark vs San Marino, Slovenia vs Northern Ireland

 

Friday 8 September 2023

Group A: Georgia vs Spain, Cyprus vs Scotland

Group D: Croatia vs Latvia, Türkiye vs Armenia

Group J: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Liechtenstein, Luxembourg vs Iceland, Slovakia vs Portugal

 

Saturday 9 September 2023

Group C: Ukraine vs England, North Macedonia vs Italy

Group F: Azerbaijan vs Belgium, Estonia vs Sweden 

Group I: Andorra vs Belarus, Kosovo vs Switzerland, Romania vs Israel

 

**Odds are subject to change. Odds accurate as of 09:00 UTC Thursday 7th September**

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