As Euro 2024 nears, football fans and pundits alike are primarily focusing on the likes of England, France, and host nation Germany.
Yet, the history of the European Championships reminds us that surprises in the Euro 2024 betting odds are not just possible but rather expected.
This century alone has seen underdogs such as Greece, Portugal, and Italy defy the odds to claim the coveted trophy.
Looking ahead to the 2024 tournament, three major teams —Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands— stand out with enticing odds of 16/1.
That begs the question, could one of these squads emerge as the dark horse of Euro 2024? Read on as we take a look.
Italy
Italy, the Azzurri, enter Euro 2024 as the defending champions, after defeating England on penalties at Wembley in 2021 under Roberto Mancini.
Despite their triumph three years ago, Italy are now considered a longshot to retain their crown this year.
Their failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was a significant blow, and a mixed qualifying campaign under new boss Luciano Spalletti, consisting of four wins, two draws, and two losses, has not inspired much confidence.
Despite retaining much of their victorious 2020 squad, Italy’s lack of a true goalscoring threat looms large over their campaign.
Their recent form doesn’t compare to their surge before Euro 2020, leaving many to wonder if they can truly defend their title successfully.
Belgium
The narrative around Belgium’s national team is tinged with a sense of missed opportunity by their ‘Golden Generation’.
With a squad brimming with top-tier talent over the past decade, Belgium have not managed to capitalise fully, failing to move beyond the quarter-finals in the last two Euros and bowing out in the group stages of the 2022 World Cup.
Now under Domenico Tedesco, Belgium had a strong qualifying run, remaining unbeaten with six wins and two draws.
However, questions remain about their ability to perform in a major tournament. With what may be the last hurrah at the Euros for some more of their ‘Golden Generation,’ including stars like Kevin De Bruyne, the pressure is on to make a significant impact.
Their relatively manageable group may provide the perfect stage for Belgium to build momentum into the knockout stages.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands have had their share of ups and downs in recent times, failing to qualify for Euro 2016 and exiting early in Euro 2020.
However, their performance at the 2022 World Cup —reaching the quarter-finals before losing to eventual winners Argentina on penalties —suggests potential that could be harnessed at Euro 2024.
Finishing second to France in qualifying, the Dutch face a challenging group yet again, including a rematch with France and tricky opponents Poland and Austria.
Although likely to progress to the knockout stages, the Netherlands will need to navigate a potentially tough route to the final if they finish second to Les Bleus.
The key question for the Oranje will be whether they can turn potential into success on the European stage.
—
For the fans, a victory for one of these three sides in Germany would be a huge shock. However, we know that upsets are not uncommon in the Euros, and Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands perhaps have the quality to spring a surprise.
