At InterBet we recently covered the excitement building around Southgate’s new-look England team, with momentum gathering around England’s prospects of winning next summer’s European Championships. Since their recent qualification double-header there has been an influx of bets on the Three Lions to win a first major tournament since 1966. But what if England don’t win Euro 2020? What if football doesn’t come home? Here we run the rule over all the other nations in the running to win the Euro 2020 title.
France
Odds: 10/3
Key Player: Kylian Mbappe
World Champions, France, impressed in their recent qualification games and they are without a doubt the team to beat next summer. The French ran out comprehensive winners against both Moldova (4-1) and Iceland (4-0) this week. In a squad packed with talent, it is their front three in particular that has provided cause for optimism. Chelsea forward, Olivier Giroud, has proved to be the ideal target man for Les Bleus. His physical presence has allowed superstars, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann to thrive. In fact, all three were on the scoresheet in each of France’s recent wins.
Paul Pogba has pulled the strings in midfield and looks revitalised after a turbulent few months under former club manager, Jose Mourinho. Similarly, N’Golo Kante looks much more at home in his traditional holding role for France. The Chelsea midfielder has been played in a more advanced role under Blues boss, Maurizio Sarri.
Their potent attack and powerful midfield are complimented perfectly by their strong defensive line. Built around the wonderfully athletic duo of Real Madrid defender, Raphael Varane and Barcelona counterpart, Samuel Umtiti. The fact that Manchester City central defender, Aymeric Laporte, is yet to win a single senior cap speaks volumes for the incredible strength in depth the French possess.
Spain
Odds: 11/2
Key Player: Isco
Spain’s reign as the dominant force in international football may be over but they are still a formidable outfit, on paper at least. Inspired by Andres Iniesta, Xavi, David Villa and co, Spain won back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012 as well as the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
However, despite boasting a star-filled squad that most nations could only dream of Spain have been disappointing in each major tournament they’ve entered since that 2012 success. Spain exited the 2014 World Cup at the group stage whilst they only made it to the last-16 in both Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup.
Footballing greats including Iniesta, Xavi, Villa, Fernando Torres, Gerard Pique, Xabi Alonso, Iker Casillas, Carlos Puyol and David Silva have all retired but Spain have no end of talent available at their disposal.
Now under the guidance of former Barcelona boss, Luis Enrique, Spain will hope to restore past glories at next summer’s European Championships.
The key men for Spain next summer will be Real Madrid duo, Isco and Marco Asensio. Both were expected the fill the void left but so many retirements but have endured an indifferent 2018/19 campaign. Under the now-departed Real Madrid bosses, Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari, Isco and Asensio were used as bit-part players. In fact, speculation over their respective Real Madrid futures started to build. Both players have enjoyed a new lease of life at the Bernabeu thanks to the return of boss, Zinedine Zidane. Ironically, if French football legend, Zidane, can help Isco and Asensio reach their potential then they could potentially help Spain and not tournament favourites, France lift the Euro 2020 trophy.
With so many new faces around the Spanish set-up the experience of captain, Sergio Ramos, will be vital. Incredibly the legendary defender has already amassed a huge 162 caps for Spain. At the modest age of 32, who would bet against Ramos going on to reach 200 caps?
Belgium
Odds: 7/1
Key Player: Eden Hazard
Belgium are developing a tag as international football’s biggest underachievers. The formidable Belgian squad is full of world class players yet they always seem to fall short on the biggest stage. Boasting the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard amongst their ranks, Belgium were the bookies’ favourites to win Euro 2016 but were on the receiving end of a shock 3-1 defeat at the hands of surprise semi-finalists, Wales.
Two years on, at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Belgium defeated England in the group stage before edging out Brazil in the quarter final and were now looking like the real deal. However, they were defeated by eventual winners, France in the last-four and their wait for a first ever tournament win goes on.
Boasting experienced campaigners such as Thibaut Courtois, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Vincent Kompany and Dries Mertens, Belgium will no doubt gain plenty of interest in the lead-up to Euro 2020. Don’t expect them to start the tournament as long as the 7/1 currently on offer.
Germany
Odds: 7/1
Key Player: Leroy Sane
Germany’s World Cup defence was disastrous last summer and manager, Joachim Low, is overseeing a huge rebuilding job at the 2014 world champions. Everything seemed to be going right for the Germans a few years ago, World Cup winners in 2014 and under-21 European champions in 2017. However, many feel that their squad had gone stale.
Germany recently suffered further humiliation after being relegated from the top tier of their inaugural UEFA Nations League. Low’s response was to consign Germany and Bayern Munich stalwarts, Thomas Muller, Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng to the international scrapheap. With the trio boasting a massive 244 international caps between them they will undoubtedly leave a huge void.
It is another Bayern Munich player in Niklas Sule that is expected to fill the defensive void whilst Manchester City winger, Leroy Sane, is the pick of the young attacking talent at Low’s disposal. Sane was a shock omission from the German World Cup squad but their group stage elimination only enhanced Sane’s reputation at international level. The 23-year old has since been a key player for the Germans.
Best of the rest
A resurgent Netherlands will also attract a lot of interest at their current price of 12/1. With a UEFA Nations League semi-final on the horizon, those odds are likely to change. A strong performance in June’s Nations League will see the Dutch price slashed considerably.
Holders, Portugal are a 20/1 shot. Although the Portuguese will be fairly unfancied, their squad seems stronger than it was in 2016. Cristiano Ronaldo remains the nation’s talisman but with a talented crop of new stars including Bernardo Silva, Andre Silva, Joao Felix and Goncalo Guedes, the burden on 34-year old Ronaldo will be eased.
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