Why Defending Champion Germany is a Long Shot in EURO 2024

When you look at the odds, Germany doesn’t seem so low on the scale. With their triumph from recent years, they have a championship title and that alone drives up the numbers in their favor. However, many predictions out there are placing Germany among the long shot selections when it comes to EURO 2024 soccer betting (judi bola EURO 2024) analysis.

Transitions and Evolution
One of the reasons Germany is considered a long shot this year is because they have been facing a lot of transition. While they hold a prior title, the time since then has brought forth a lot of change and evolution for the team. They’ve had significant changes to players with some top talent retiring from the game and new, young talent joining the force.

Germany lost some key players with the retirement of Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng, and Mats Hummels. These players held leadership and talent on the field. However, they’ve also had some opportunity with the integration of young talent coming in to fill the void. Their new players like Joshua Kimmich and Kai Havertz show a lot of potential. The question is whether they have enough experience to pull out a win.

Adaptation in Uncertainty and Change
The team has been forced to tactically adapt in a season of change and much of that comes with managerial uncertainty too. Their longtime manager departed the team after EURO 202 and a new head coach was another part of their change and transition.

New leadership brings potential, but the team has had a lot of experimentation and adaptation as they figured things out. They’ve worked to find a balance and build their identity among the changes.

Fierce Competition
Of course, Germany faces some rather fierce competition this year, which contributes heavily to their long shot status. England, France, and Spain stand out against them for much of the odds in EURO 2024 soccer betting.

The team still hosts a proud legacy of success and they have had enough time of transition and rebuilding that they might just impress us once again.

How Teams Qualified For The EURO 2024 Tournament

Teams earn their spots in the UEFA European Championship (EURO) through a preliminary qualifying tournament happening years before the tournament. Here’s a breakdown of how this qualification process works:

  • Qualification Period

Commencing on October 2022, the qualification phase sets the stage for teams to vie for participation in the EURO 2024.

Fifty-three (53) teams are sorted into groups for the qualifying rounds. These groups consist of seven groups of five teams each, along with three groups comprising six teams each. This ensures balanced competition among the participating nations.

This structured approach allows football teams across Europe to engage in a series of matches, securing their positions in the much-awaited EURO 2024 tournament.

Between March and November 2023, EURO 2024 aspirant teams diligently sneak their way into the qualifying matches. On the final tournament dated December 2, 2023, the 21 qualified teams (including Germany) were officially revealed.

However, the roster is not yet complete, as three additional teams are set to secure their spots through the playoffs. These teams will be divided into six groups of four. Crucial in determining the final three EURO 2024 qualifiers, the play-offs are scheduled from March 1 to March 26, 2024.

  • Playoffs (if applicable)

Set for March 2024, these playoffs play a crucial role in finalizing the tournament’s lineup by determining additional teams. It is important to note that teams securing the top two places in their Euros qualifying groups are exempt from the playoffs, irrespective of their Nations League performances.

  • Points System

Teams earn points through wins and occasionally draws during the qualification matches. Those with the highest points within their respective groups usually secure qualification for the final tournament. 

  • Host Nation

In EURO tournament editions, one or more nations are designated as hosts. These host countries receive automatic qualification for the tournament, regardless of their performance in the qualification stage. As the host nation for EURO 2024, Germany is granted automatic entry as one of the 24 EURO 2024 qualifiers.

  • Final Tournament

Once the qualification process is completed, the final tournament begins. The qualified teams find their way to the coveted title of European football champions.

Final words! It is worth noting that the specifics of the qualification process, like the number of teams, groups, and playoff format, may vary between EURO editions. UEFA determines these particulars based on various factors. Such a decision may be influenced by the number of participating countries and any special circumstances that surround the tournament.

When Do Countries Announce Their EURO 2024 Squads?

The EURO 2024 is an international soccer or football tournament that’s about to happen from June to July 2024 or Summer 2024. It involves 24 men’s national teams from UEFA-affiliated countries. UEFA itself means the Union of European Football Associations.

As for EURO 2024 squads, each qualified country will announce their picks for their national team squads as the tournament in June draws closer. Previously, teams needed to confirm their squad composition 10 days before the first EURO 2024 match.

The Different Squad Previews for EURO 2024

Expect the announcements for the EURO 2024 squads to be completed by June 4, 2024 at the latest, using the EURO 2024 squads format outlined below. We have two major teams as sample squad submissions.

  • The EURO 2024 Squad of Germany: Their GK picks include Manuel Neuer from Bayern Munich, Marc-Andre ter Stegen from Barcelona, Oliver Baumann from Hoffenheim, and Bernd Leno from Fulham.

Meanwhile, Germany’s DF picks are Antonio Rudiger from Real Madrid, Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen, David Raum from RB Leipzig, Benjamin Henrichs from RB Leipzig, Robin Koch from Eintracht Frankfurt, Waldemar Anton from Stuttgart, Jan-Niklas Beste from Heidenheim, and Maximilian Mittlestadt from Stuttgart.

As for the MF picks, they have Joshua Kimmich from Bayern Munich, Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, Ilkay Gundogan from Barcelona, Pascal Gross from Brighton, Robert Andrich from Bayer Leverkusen, Jamal Musiala from Bayern Munich, Chris Fuhrich from Stuttgart, and Aleksandar Pavlovic from Bayern Munich.

Finally, their FW picks include Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund, Thomas Muller from Bayern Munich, Kai Havertz from Arsenal, Maximilian Beier from Hoffenheim, and Deniz Undav from Stuttgart (on loan from Brighton).

  • The EURO 2024 Squad of England: The GK picks are Jordan Pickford from Everton, Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal, and Sam Johnstone from Crystal Palace. They’re among the best from all the EURO 2024 squads.

The DF picks are Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa, Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton, John Stones from Manchester City, Harry Maguire from Manchester United, Lewis Dunk from Brighton, Kyle Walker from Manchester City, Ben Chilwell from Chelsea, and Joe Gomez from Liverpool.

The MF picks include Conor Gallagher from Chelsea, Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid, Declan Rice from Arsenal, Jordan Henderson from Ajax, and James Maddison from Tottenham Hotspur.

The FW picks include Jarrod Bowen from West Ham United, Marcus Rashford from Manchester United, Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United, Bukayo Saka from Arsenal, Phil Foden from Manchester City, Harry Kane from Bayern Munich, Ivan Toney from Brentford, Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa, and Cole Palmer from Chelsea.

As far as Germany is concerned, they have huge pressure to deliver the best squad among all EURO 2024 squads, since their country is the host country for the tournament. England, meanwhile, is among the favorites to win.