Who are the favourites for Euro 2020?
Managers have assembled their squads and preparations are well underway heading into Euro 2020, but who are the clear favourites and what are the latest betting odds?
The mouth-watering tournament has been capable of throwing up shocks in the past, with Portugal being crowned surprising champions of Euro 2016, while Greece’s miraculous triumph in Euro 2004 remains the biggest shock to date.
Given the teams entering a tournament have had an extra year to prepare, not many would envisage a shock on the cards and that remains the case in various betting markets.
But recent times would suggest that carving a path to the prize on offer is no easy feat and the current form of the big-hitters in the competition leaves much to be desired.
France laboured to a 1-1 draw with Ukraine, Belgium were held against the Czech Republic and perhaps most surprisingly of all, Germany were beaten by minnows North Macedonia.
Form heading into a tournament is crucial and after a tiring domestic season, teams can be caught out with a slow start. So how has recent form altered the betting odds and who are the favourites for the competition. Mirror Sport delves into a closer look at the betting markets.
The Favourites:
France are favourites with Grosvenor at odds of 5/1. Their squad is littered with mercurial talents at the top end of the pitch, with Mbappe expected to set this tournament alight.
England head into this tournament as second-favourites and are available at 11/2. The domestic form of Harry Kane and their favourable group of Scotland, Czech Republic and Croatia catapults them into early contention for the tournament.
The Three Lions are also in scintillating form having suffered two defeats in their last 14 outings. However, England have never handled the pressure of expectation, so how their tournament pans out could be make or break for Gareth Southgate.
Third favourites are Belgium at odds of 6/1. With their ageing squad coming towards a trophyless ‘golden generation’, the Euro’s could represent a last swansong for a large portion of their squad.
There were surprise inclusions of Nacer Chadli and Thomas Varmaelen, with their tournament hopes hinging on the form of Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku and Manchester City ’s Kevin De Bruyne.
Portugal’s strength in-depth is frightening, so to see them come in at 8/1 is surprising. A firing Cristiano Ronaldo and an ability to keep out their opponents in a similar manner to their Euro 2016 victory is a formula they will be hoping to replicate in this tournament.
Germany are also available at 9/1 but are in the group of death alongside Portugal and France. In Joachim Low’s final tournament with Germany before he departs, the weight of expectation hasn’t ever been lower.
Spain (9/1) and dark horses Italy (11/1) make up the rest of the top seven favourites in the bookmakers odds.
