(Paris) The Champions League has barely ended with the coronation of Real Madrid, all eyes are now on Germany where Euro-2024, from June 14 to July 14, promises a bitter battle with two big favorites, France and England, and the organizing country as the main outsider.
Three years after a 16e edition spread over eleven countries to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the competition, UEFA returns to a classic formula with a unique host, who hopes to relive a new “Sommermärchen”, this summer fairy tale experienced during the 2006 World Cup, led by master hand.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Euro 2021 took place with often considerably reduced capacity. No more restrictions: the ten stadiums will welcome 2.7 million spectators during the 51 matches scheduled until the final at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.
The tournament will nonetheless be placed under very high security surveillance due to a still-present Islamist terrorist threat and possible repercussions from the conflict in Gaza.
Two strong contenders emerge among the 24 participants to seek the succession of Italy.
France, led by its great star Kylian Mbappé, can rely on its inexhaustible reservoir and its incredible permanence at the top (3 finals in the last 4 major competitions, Euro-2016, World Cup-2018, World Cup-2022) make it a candidate for the essential title.
The failure at Euro-2021 and the inglorious elimination in the round of 16 against Switzerland (3-3 a. p, 5 tab b to 4) are an anomaly in this regard and Didier Deschamps will be keen to go and get the only trophy missing from his managerial record.
“We will approach the Euro with ambition, but lucidity. I am well aware that with everything we have done, the expectation is growing. But the experience also reminds us that in a competition, there are stages to take,” declared the boss of the Blues to AFP in early May, warning against a “tough group” including the Netherlands, the Austria and Poland.
The Mbappé question
Doubts are already appearing about the state of freshness of the French at the end of a tiring season for most internationals. Several players are also recovering (Aurélien Tchouaméni, Mike Maignan, Kingsley Coman).
Mbappé’s state of form also raises questions. Author of a second part of the season without relief since the internal announcement in February of his departure from PSG and perhaps his head elsewhere, the one who is preparing to join Real Madrid will have to recover physically and morally if the vice-presidents world champions want to go far.
The Blues will also have to count on a strong rival in England. Finalists in 2021, the “Three Lions” arrive in Germany full of ambitions and carried by exceptional individuals, symbolized by the prodigy midfielder of Real Madrid Jude Bellingham (20 years old), the prolific striker Harry Kane or the two wisps of Manchester City Phil Foden and Jack Grealish.
But if any team has the ability to thwart the plans of the French and English ogres, it’s Germany. In front of its public, the Mannschaft risks being formidable and very difficult to maneuver.
After a catastrophic friendly match campaign in 2023, the arrival at the helm of Julian Nageslmann in place of Hansi Flick changed the situation and awakened the Germans, once again aspiring for a fourth continental coronation, the first in 28 years. Their resounding success against France in March in Lyon (2-0) was a striking demonstration of this.
“I have the feeling that we can win the tournament,” said the coach confidently when revealing his list of players on May 16.
Miraculous in qualifying after having already missed the last two World Cups, Italy, title holder, is on the other hand not puffing out its chest and will already have to escape alive from the group of death with Spain, Croatia and Albania .
The format of the first round, which allows the first two of the six groups and the four best third places to qualify for the eighth, should nevertheless spare the big nations an unpleasant surprise. In 2016, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, still there at 39, finished third in his group, which did not prevent him from lifting the cup by beating France in the final at the Stade de France (1-0 after) .