Euro 2020 Group Stage Predictions - Which Nations will Progress?
Euro 2020…
One year later than initially expected, Euro 2020 is just around the corner and the stage is set for a fascinating summer of football.
Can England really bring it home? Can Portugal retain their title 5 years since they won in 2016? Will France replicate their World Cup triumph? Or will Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ finally win a major tournament? All those big questions will be answered over the next month and I for one, cannot wait.
“Group A - My prediction:
1. Italy 2. Turkey 3. Switzerland 4. Wales ”
This is a tough group to call, Italy is the standout team but otherwise there is very little in it.
For me, whilst with players Denis Zakaria, Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka, Switzerland on paper have a stronger squad, I think Turkey can surprise people. Burak Yilmaz at 35 is having the best spell of his career right now (talk about leaving it late!) and he helped Lille to a shock Ligue 1 title.
Turkey have a good team with some standout X-Factor type players and come into the tournament in good form, having been unbeaten in their last 6 games. Unfortunately for Wales, I can’t see them producing what they did in 2016 and despite having Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramey fit for the competition, they are lacking the same quality as they did 5 years ago elsewhere.
“Group B - My prediction:
1. Belgium 2. Denmark 3. Russia 4. Finland ”
Belgium have to be the outright favourites for this group.
There is pressure on them to perform and deliver their first major tournament win but first they must navigate their way out of a high-quality group. There aren’t any weak teams in this group, so they will have to bring their A-game right from the start.
Players like Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku are going to be so important to their chances.
Ultimately, Belgium have more than enough fire power to top this group and I would expect them to, comfortably enough.
Denmark are my dark horses for the tournament along with Turkey; they have strength in all areas and a leader in Kasper Schmeichel. Their midfield also excites me, with players like Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Christian Eriksen and Thomas Delaney and then Andreas Christiansen in defence who looks a new and vastly improved player since Thomas Tuchel joined Chelsea.
Don’t get me wrong, Russia have some good players and we can’t forget they were World Cup Quarter-Finalists in 2018. However, Russia and Finland will be battling out for 3rd and for a chance at getting one of the four 3rd place spots.
“Group C - My prediction:
1. Netherlands 2. Ukraine 3. Austria 4. North Macedonia ”
The Netherlands won’t be as strong without Van Dijk but ultimately, they are the most superior side in this group and should win it.
There will be question marks if they do not but if anyone can stop them, I believe it is Ukraine.
They have impressed in the pre-tournament friendlies and have some exciting talent, no more so than Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko. I wasn’t a fan of his before last season, but I thought he massively improved and is now strong both in attack and defensively. They could just cause an upset and swing the group in their favour but equally, Austria have the individual talent in a player like David Alaba to finish above Ukraine into second place.
North Macedonia go into their first ever major tournament on Sunday, so the pressure is completely off them. I just hope they enjoy the experience, and you never know, perhaps their hero Goran Pandev can shock Europe by helping North Macedonia cause some massive upsets.
“Group D - My prediction:
1. Croatia 2. England 3. Czech Republic 4. Scotland”
There is a a great deal of expectation on England to win this group and go far at these European Championships but also a lot of pressure. English fans are excited by the prospect of an attack full of talent and world class quality, but I would urge both neutrals and English fans to temper those expectations a little.
England do have some great talent and they could go far as they did in 2018. Gareth Southgate is a role model in a lot of ways, and he’s been a positive step both on and off for the field for England. However, his naturally cautious approach begs the question whether he is the man to take this team bursting with young prospects to the next level? Can he incorporate Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Mason Mount and Harry Kane in a positive and promising attack?
I don’t expect Croatia to go deep into this tournament (they could face France, Germany or Portugal in the round of 16) but with their experience in knockout tournaments and a world class player in Luka Modric, they should be able to navigate this group. They are also World Cup finalists and that alone is reason to not write them off completely.
I hope I’m wrong on this as I do like to see all British teams do well, but I think Scotland will struggle against both England and Croatia, meaning the third-place spot will go down to them vs Czech Republic. Che Adams is a new weapon for them and does enhance their chances, but Czech Republic are no pushovers and in Thomas Soucek, they have a different option which could cause problems for the Scots.
“Group E - My prediction:
1. Spain 2. Poland 3. Sweden 4. Slovakia”
Spain may have a young and inexperienced squad at this type of major tournament, but it is bursting with quality, and they have players who can bring the Euros to life. Due to their inexperience, I don’t expect them to win the tournament but progressing through this group top, should be comfortable enough. The addition of Aymeric Laporte to their team is a big bonus as well and strengthens them defensively.
Poland and Sweden are similar in ability in my opinion and the match between the two will be an interesting game to watch. Sweden will miss the experience and moments of magic that Zlantan Ibrahimovic would have brought but in Alexander Isak they have one of the most promising strikers in Europe and he is an ideal replacement for the injured Ibrahimovic.
Poland, though, have the best striker in Europe.
Robert Lewandowski might carry his national side at times, but he is so good that I think he gives Poland the edge for second place. Slovakia do have some good players and can’t be ruled out completely but ultimately, I think they’ll fall short.
“Group F - My prediction:
1. Portugal 2. France 3. Germany 4. Hungary”
The group of death.
There is no other way of looking at it, three teams who are each big favourites to go deep into this tournament and Hungary aren’t bad either. France will either win the Euros or they’ll get knocked out in the early stages, in my opinion. There has already been talk about trouble in the dressing room between Mbappe and Giroud.
The problem with a team that is so brimming with flair and ability is that they have egos and that can cause clashes. History tells us that France and International tournaments can end ugly. Can they keep their egos in check and play the level of football needed to win a tournament with so many strong teams?
Portugal are one of those teams, they have strength in every position and are my favourites to win the tournament. That’s why they’ll top this group ahead of France and Germany. If they can get the best out of Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Jota and Bernado Silva, defences will be petrified.
Hungary are a good side and play enjoyable football but this group couldn’t have been harder for them and ultimately they will struggle to win a game.
“3rd place qualifiers:
1. Germany 2. Sweden 3. Switzerland 4. Czech Republic”