🔮 Best player, Golden Boot, Dark Horses: OneFootball predicts EURO 2024 | OneFootball

EURO 2024 is finally here, and we are about to embark upon what promises to be a thrilling month of international football.

You’re probably wondering how the tournament is going to play out, aren’t you? Our writers have made some predictions.

Which player are you expecting to be Player of the Tournament?

Lewis Ambrose: It’s hardly a big shout but if Germany go far — and the hosts usually do — Toni Kroos will be absolutely central to their success. What a way to crown his career that’d be.

Ben Browning: Florian Wirtz has enjoyed an astonishing campaign and if he is able to recreate his Leverkusen form on the biggest stage, he will be right up there.

Dan Burke: I say this perhaps more in hope than expectation, but I’d love it to be Phil Foden. He hasn’t shone much for England at all so far but after he was Premier League Player of the Season this year, my fingers are crossed that he can transfer his club form to the international stage.

Richard Buxton: Kai Havertz is living his best life as a false 9 for club and country so Germany’s home advantage makes him a strong contender to be the standout.

Alex Mott: He’s already secured his move to Real Madrid and this summer, Kylian Mbappé is going to lead France to glory.

Which player will surprise everyone this summer?

LA: All eyes will be on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia when Georgia push forward but look out for striker Georges Mikautadze too. The French-born 23-year-old already has 10 international goals to his name, carries the ball well, and rediscovered his scoring touch back on loan at Metz after a disappointing first half a season at Ajax.

BB:  Though he was LaLiga’s top scorer across 2023/24, I think that this could be the summer that Artem Dovbyk really puts his name up in lights as he leads the line for Ukraine.

DB: Belgium winger Johan Bakayoko looked really good for PSV last season, and I reckon there will be plenty of clubs sniffing around the 21-year-old after this tournament.

RB: Injuries have hampered Pedri’s Spain prospects for the past two years but a sparkling return has suggested things are finally turning in the Barcelona playmaker’s favour again.

AM: Jude Bellingham has struggled for form at the back of the season and with rumours he could be set for shoulder surgery over the summer, I think this could be a tournament too far for the Englishman.

Who will win the Golden Boot?

LA: Belgium’s group looks like something for Romelu Lukaku could really sink his teeth into. The striker loves the big stage — he has six goals at EUROs and five at World Cups — and has netted 17 international goals in just 11 appearances since the start of 2023.

BB: While Kylian Mbappé is the obvious answer, France have a tougher group than some and for that reason I’ve looked elsewhere. In his place, I’ve opted for Kai Havertz, who will lead the line for Germany and, if he can continue his Arsenal form, should have plenty of opportunities to find the back of the net for the hosts.

DB: If Portugal’s wealth of creative players do their jobs then Cristiano Ronaldo should have plenty of chances to feast on, and he’s usually pretty good at finishing them.

RB: It depends on which of Mbappé and Harry Kane gets their shooting boots on quickest but to save a potential Kylian clean sweep, I’ll go for the England captain.

AM: Alongside his Player of the Tournament gong, I’m also going to plump for Kylian Mbappé in the Golden Boot too.

Which nation has the biggest Dark Horse potential?

LA: One of the sides in Group A. I don’t know how things will pan out when they face each other, but I think any of Hungary, Switzerland and Scotland could go on a surprise run deep into the knockout rounds. They just have to navigate a tough group first.

BB: Ukraine. Stacked with household names, they are also able to call upon Girona star Artem Dovbyk for a goal or two, while they look favourites for second place in their group which will hand them a strong chance at an upset or two in the knockout rounds.

DB: Remember at EURO 2020, when loads of people said Türkiye would be the Dark Horses only for them to finish bottom of their group with zero points? I’m terrible at learning lessons, so I’m gonna say Vincenzo Montella’s side will make a surprise run to the semi-finals this time.

RB: They’ve almost exclusively owned the tag for the past decade but Belgium would actually be Dark Horses this time with their remaining golden generation now elder statesmen to guide the new stars of Charles De Ketelaere and Jérémy Doku through the more testing games.

AM: Nobody seems to be mentioning the Netherlands despite Ronald Koeman’s side having the likes of Micky van de Ven, Virgil van Dijk and Xavi Simons in the squad. I can see the Oranje doing well despite some prominent injuries.

Which nation is set to disappoint?

LA: With the players they have, Portugal should be one of the very favourites but I don’t know if they will get the balance right under Roberto Martínez and manage to turn a lot of possession into enough dangerous opportunities without being caught out on the break.

BB: I think it will be England. They are one of the favourites for the tournament but with the injuries and uncertainty as well as seemingly too much talent to try and shoehorn into their front four, there is a lot that can go wrong.

DB: A team with Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Leandro Trossard and various other young stars should really be dynamite, but unfortunately I can see Belgium flattering to deceive again.

RB: Everything points to England. Their expectations are always huge at major tournaments but Gareth Southgate’s squad make-up feels too imbalanced to emulate their EURO 2020 run.

AM: With a squad in transition and in a group with Spain, Croatia and Albania, I think Italy will crash out at the first hurdle.

And finally, who will win Euro 2024?

LA: The most settled and organised backline/midfield with the star power to win games further forward. After World Cup glory in 2018 (and a near-miss in 2022) and a silver Euros medal in 2016, France will yet again go the distance and are simply the most complete international team around.

BB: France. They are favourites for a reason, and it is hard to find a weakness in their side when everyone is fully fit. With world-class stars across the squad, they are likely to sweep all before them once more.

DB: England. Before every tournament I feel like it’s surely going to click for them one year, and after coming close at the last Euros and unfortunately being knocked out of the last World Cup by France, I really think the time has come for Gareth Southgate’s side.

RB: Heart says Spain but head says it’ll be France. If they meet Germany in the final, it would bring things neatly full-circle given how their EURO 2016 campaign ended.

AM: Despite struggling in their final friendly before the tournament, France will show their quality by beating Spain in the final.