New Favorite for 2024 Euros: Germany
Already, this year’s Euros is one for the books. As the elimination stages get underway, it’s sink or swim time for the continent’s most elite teams. As dark horses emerge and favorites stumble, it’s one of the most exciting times in the tournament.
At the moment, Euro 2024 odds have shifted away from the original tournament favorites, England and France. While the Three Lions and Les Bleus still have a fighting chance at the finals, two new potential winners have emerged: Spain and Germany. The latter is gaining attention from analysts, in part thanks to the performance from Musiala.
But the elimination stages and group stages are distinct in one way—pressure. Not all players can handle the responsibility of carrying a national team, while the fans also wield a powerful role in supporting their team’s success. A look at the English national team should paint a solid picture: players can’t always succeed under pressure, especially when it comes internally.
But will new favorites like Germany and Spain really have enough power to make it to the finals, then take home a win? After all, England and France are still in contention—and so are sides like Switzerland.
Fall of the Favorites
England barely managed to beat Slovakia after a mad scramble in added minutes at the end of the game pushed it into extra time. To say that Gareth Southgate’s team just skated by would be an understatement. The momentary relief of advancing might not be enough to get the team on track.
As mentioned above, the English national team has faced a brutal campaign of micro-analysis from English fans and pundits. Could a change of heart from home help the team get into a flow? Or is there no way for England’s star-studded lineup to put forth its best foot?
Meanwhile, the French have looked a little lackluster since Kylian Mbappe broke his nose and missed a key match. Mbappe’s future in the tournament remains unclear, which has already had a profound effect on the team’s stability. Can it find a way to stabilize whether or not Mbappe is on the pitch?
Magic from the German Team
Though Germany will likely need to take down Spain to take home a Euros win, it’s not out of the question. The German team has picked up its pace since the tournament began. Though it looked a little unsteady during a tie with Switzerland, it looks like the German side has benefitted from strong coaching and a growing fluidity in its midfield.
And then there’s Musiala. Though he doesn’t have quite the big-name reputation of other Euros stars, that might change following this tournament. It’s not often that teams have a single player that can single-handedly change the game’s flow and outcome—but Germany certainly does in Musiala.
To top it off, Musiala is working with a well-oiled team that is experienced and—after a few serious mishaps in international football—are more determined than ever before for a win. Tony Kroos, Manuel Neuer, and Thomas Muller are also performing at a high level, providing support throughout.
The team even has the benefit of the twelfth man, which begs the question… if Spain and Germany appear in a final showdown, will home advantage be enough to push the Germans to a big win?
Will Spain Push Past Germany?
After Spain’s dominant performance against Georgia, it might be a tough sell to say that the German side would put the Spaniards down. While Germany has Musiala and a host of seasoned vets to carry it, Spain’s roster is invariably deeper.
This year, the Spanish side looks focused and determined. Though they started off slow against Georgia and entered the second half down by one, they quickly flipped the script for a 4-1 win. That type of level headedness is hard to beat—especially when it’s mixed with a highly talented and endlessly motivated roster.
The only question is—which team comes out ahead in a quarter-final faceoff? The Spanish or the Germans?