Now that we know the 24 teams that will be competing at the 2024 Euros, it's become a little easier to work out who the favorites are to win this summer's spectacle.
In truth, those who came through the playoffs are hardly going to have too much of an impact on the odds of the bigger teams that are considered to be the main candidates. However, as football isn't a sport played on paper, you never know what might happen. Remember what Iceland did in 2016? No one would have predicted that they would get to the quarterfinals and defeat the likes of England or expect Wales to get to the semifinals.
Of course, the 2024 Euros will present several sports betting opportunities for fans. Those who engage in online football betting will want to ensure they have the best experiences possible, which may involve following various tips that can help them to get the most out of a session that they may engage in. Indeed, this can be helpful when trying to identify who the main favorites are to win the competition.
England are the main favorites; France just behind
The early odds ahead of this summer's 2024 European Championships have England as the outright favorites, just ahead of France.
The Three Lions are perhaps considered the main candidates to win following the 2020 Euros, as they reached the final before being beaten by Italy in a penalty shootout at Wembley. Gareth Southgate's side has plenty of weaponry in terms of its attack, while Jude Bellingham continues to be a superstar despite being at the tender age of 20. However, there might be some cause for concern, given their recent results.
England were beaten by Brazil and rescued a very late draw against Belgium in their latest set of friendlies. However, they did go unbeaten in qualification for the Euros, which helps to highlight their credentials as potential champions.
France also went unbeaten in their eight-game qualification process, drawing just one of those and winning the rest. Much like the Three Lions, Les Bleus have an incredible pool of players to choose from, with Didier Deschamps' team boasting many of the world's best players, such as Kylian Mbappe, who might complete an incredible summer for himself if he does leave PSG and go to Real Madrid as expected.
The national team's preparations were a little indifferent, though. They were beaten by Germany, the host of Euro 2024, but they defeated Chile in the next game.
Who else can be considered favorites for 2024 Euros?
Football tournaments as big as Euro 2024 cannot be based on just two teams as the main candidates, as many of the national teams that have qualified boast excellence and quality. Therefore, it's important to consider others to be in the running. If bettors are thinking outside of the two main contenders, then they may want to consider Germany, Spain, or Portugal.
As mentioned, Germany are the hosts of this year's event and will have home advantage. Along with Spain, they are the tied holders of the most titles of this competition, having won three apiece. Both teams have quality across the squad, as does Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo likely to play in his last-ever Euros.
It'll be interesting to see what happens when the first whistle is blown, but fans can expect a quality tournament, nonetheless.