Sport
Euro 2020: Five possible winners
The first of ten qualification matchdays on the road to Euro 2020 begins today. In a break from tradition, the tournament will take place in 12 countries starting on the 12th June 2020. We decided to evaluate the five possible Euro 2020 winners next year.
France
Why they’ll win it: Les Blues appeared eerily harmonious en route to winning the World Cup in Russia last year, have they finally learnt their lesson after previous tournament meltdowns?
Didier Deschamps has forged a talented squad with such deep resources that he left Kingsley Coman, Anthony Martial and Alexandre Lacazette out of his squad for Russia.
The French have a healthy blend of youth and experience, spearheaded by future Ballon D’Or winner Kylian Mbappé and are definitely one of the top candidates as Euro 2020 winners.
Why they won’t: Because of their propensity to court controversy.
In 2010 the players striked after Nicolas Anelka was sent home in disgrace. In 2015 Karim Benzema was exiled from the national team after allegedly blackmailing one of his teammates. In short, the French are never far from a ruck.
Can they remain argument free for another year?
Spain
Why they’ll win it: Spain are the most successful international side of the last 12 years, winning three consecutive tournaments between 2008 and 2012 including two European Championships.
They were fancied for the World Cup until Julen Lopetegui was fired as manager days before the tournament after announcing that he had accepted the vacant Real Madrid job.
Despite that poor tournament, Spain have made great strides refreshing their previously aging squad. They are young, hungry and talented.
Why they won’t: Since their golden generation was dismantled, Spain have struggled in big tournaments. In fact, they haven’t made it past the last 16 since 2012, winning four of eleven matches.
The tiki-taka football synonymous with that period of dominance is no longer as effective. Additionally the cohesiveness they once possessed, due to the bulk of their players heralding from either Barcelona or Real Madrid, is long gone with their most recent squad comprised of players from 11 different clubs.
England
Why it’s coming home: Gareth Southgate has replaced serial tournament failures with the cream of the English youth.
The results are already showing, with England reaching the semi-finals of both the World Cup and the UEFA Nations League.
Additionally, Wembley will host three group stage games, a last 16 encounter, both semi-finals and the final. That means that, should England reach the final four again, it will effectively be like a home tournament. It could finally come home.
Why it’s not: Because it never does and we’ve been down this road before. All the talk of new beginnings breeds hope and expectation, which looks extra foolish when we eventually succumb to Portugal in the quarter-finals.
There are still question marks over the squad as well, with the central midfield in particular remaining unconvincing. Southgate’s promotion of youth is hugely admirable but will next summer come too soon for some of them to gain the required experience?
Germany
Why they’ll win it: Germany are the ultimate tournament team, winning seven, finishing seven as runners-up and exiting a further seven in the semi-finals and you can never rule them out when considering Euro 2020 winners.
Their humiliation in Russia cannot be overstated. It was only the fourth time they have gone out at the group stage and they will be determined to make amends. In fairness, they usually do respond well. On the previous three occasions they were runners-up twice and losing semi-finalist once in the following tournament.
The Germans are ruthless, have plenty of talent and a proven winner leading them in Joachim Löw.
Why they won’t: Inexperience. In his bid to reinvigorate the squad that failed so badly last year, Löw has forced retirement on Mats Hummels, Thomas Müller and Jérôme Boateng, with Mesut Özil joining them voluntarily. These four players amassed 338 caps and 67 goals and such experience is hard to replace.
Timo Werner looks the part up front but, beyond him, Germany are lacking in strikers, leaving them in deep trouble if he gets injured.
Belgium
Why they’ll win it: This could be the last chance for many of Belgium’s golden generation.
They have an abundance of quality across the pitch and, in Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, possess two of the finest players in world football.
Belgium score for fun and rarely lose a match. Their run to the semi-finals last year will serve as great experience for to push on and finally win a trophy.
Why they won’t: Because of Roberto Martinez. The former Wigan and Everton manager is incredibly divisive and his tactics have been criticised by Belgium players in the past, Kevin De Bruyne notably accusing him of negativity.
Martinez showed his tactical naivety in the World Cup by putting out a strong team against England in the group stage, thus ensuring that Belgium had a far tougher route to the final.
He was outwitted by Didier Deschamps in the semi-final, with the French emerging victorious despite defending for much of the match.
With so many of the Belgium squad aware that this could be their final opportunity to win a tournament, will desperation be their undoing?
Make sure you check out our extensive Euro 2020 preview.
