UEFA EURO 2024: Tournament Layout, Group Preview & Betting Odds

It feels as if it was not long ago when Italy defeated England in penalties to claim the UEFA EURO 2020 Title. However, this perception is accurate as it occurred merely three years ago. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020, the EUROs were halted that year and rescheduled for the subsequent year. Consequently, the Azzuri emerged victorious over the Three Lions in EURO 2020, which was actually held in 2021.

The European Tournament is making its return, featuring 24 teams competing for the title of King of the Continent. This year, Germany will be the host, with matches scheduled to take place in ten cities across the country. In this article, we aim to be your comprehensive guide to UEFA EURO 2024, providing all the necessary information you need.

• Tournament Layout
• Group Previews
• Betting Odds
• And Much More!

Let’s get right into it!

UEFA EURO 2024 Betting Guide

Italy is aiming to achieve back-to-back victories in the EURO Championships, a feat previously accomplished solely by Spain in 2008 and 2012.

UEFA EURO 2024 Tournament Layout

In EURO 2024, there are a total of 24 teams, which are evenly distributed into six groups containing four teams each. The tournament commences with three matches for each team within their respective group. These matches have a standard duration of 90 minutes, regardless of the game’s outcome. Teams earn 3 points for a victory, 1 point for a draw, and no points for a loss. Once all group stage matches are concluded, the top 16 teams progress to the Round of 16, marking the commencement of the knockout stage.

Who Makes the Round of 16?

In the Knockout Round, the Top 16 teams from the Group Stage will progress. This will consist of the Group Winner and Group Runner-Up from each of the six groups. However, as this only accounts for 12 of the 16 teams, the remaining 4 spots will be filled by the Top 4 3rd place teams. The determination of these 3rd place teams will be based on the following criteria.

• Higher number of points
• Goal differential
• Goals scored
• Higher number of wins

The Round of 16 and subsequent rounds will involve single elimination matches. In the event of a tie after 90 minutes, customary to soccer, there will be two additional periods of 15 minutes each. If needed, a penalty shootout will follow.

The winners progress in standard bracket format until a single team remains as the ultimate winner.

UEFA EURO 2024 Group Preview

Out of a total of 24 teams commencing the competition, only a single team emerges victorious as the ultimate champion.

For the most part, this year’s tournament includes the usual contenders, along with some intriguing group draws.

Group of Death

Group B immediately catches my eye as the undeniable “Group of Death” in this tournament. Despite Albania’s low ranking of 66th in the world and second-to-last position among teams in the UEFA EURO 2024, the remaining three teams in the group all sit comfortably within the top 10 of the FIFA World Rankings. Spain holds the 8th spot, followed by defending EURO Champion Italy, and Croatia closely behind at 10th.

In Group B, all eyes will be on three remarkable teams. The defending Champions, alongside a recent World Cup Runner-Up, are showing they are still capable of greatness. Additionally, a powerhouse team packed with talented young players is eager to make their mark on the international stage. With these impressive lineups, I anticipate all three teams will secure a spot in the knockout stage.

Group Previews

Going back to Group A, this particular group consists of three teams ranked within the Top 25 and all four teams ranked within the Top 40. The host team will undoubtedly face a challenging journey to progress to the next round. Germany’s opponents in this group are Hungary, Switzerland, and Scotland.

The EURO Runner-Ups in the previous tournament have been granted a relatively less challenging route to advance from the Group Stage. With an impressive 4th rank in the World, England has been grouped alongside Denmark (21), Serbia (33), and Slovenia (57). The team, considered as the top contender to win the tournament, would be expected to dominate the group; anything short of that would be seen as a mediocre performance.

In Group D, we have France (ranked 2nd) and the Netherlands (ranked 7th), both being top 10 teams. Austria (ranked 25th) and Poland (ranked 28th) complete the group, making it an easier opening stage for the two strong teams. The spotlight is on Kylian Mbappe, who will be representing France, although he recently left PSG and joined Real Madrid, the reigning UCL champions, during the summer transfer window.

Belgium, holding the third rank, has a favorable path to the knockout stage. They are paired with Ukraine, ranked 22nd, along with Romania and Slovakia, ranking 46th and 48th respectively. Romelu Lukaku, leading the Belgian team, aims to secure a European trophy before concluding his international career. Lukaku’s remarkable performance in the qualifying stage saw him score 14 goals in just 8 appearances, setting a new record for the most goals scored by a player in a EURO Qualifying campaign.

In conclusion, let’s discuss Group F where Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, is expected to dominate the group stage effortlessly. With their impressive 6th position in the world rankings, Portugal’s opponents, including the Czech Republic (36), Turkey (40), and the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, Georgia (75), should pose no significant challenge. It is highly anticipated that Portugal will smoothly sail through the group stage and secure an easy advancement.

UEFA EURO 2024 Betting Odds

Is it possible for Harry Kane and England to reach the EURO Final once more?

Odds courtesy of Bovada.

EURO 2024 Outright Winner

• England +300
• France +400
• Germany +500
• Portugal +800
• Spain +850
• Italy +1400
• Netherlands +1800
• Belgium +2000
• Croatia +4500
• Denmark +6500

The following are the Top 10 teams presented, and the quality significantly diminishes beyond that. Despite being the second-highest ranked team in the tournament and third in the world, Belgium is only considered the eighth favorite to win. This suggests that Vegas lacks confidence in the continued presence of Belgium’s golden generation.

The teams listed with odds of 80-1 to win the UEFA EURO 2024 are Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, and Turkey. Following them, Scotland, Serbia, and Ukraine have odds of 100-1. The Czech Republic and Poland are both priced at 150-1, Romania at 200-1, and Albania, Slovakia, and Slovenia are all listed at 250-1. Lastly, Georgia has the highest odds at 500-1 to win the UEFA EURO 2024.

In my opinion, I believe these teams will undoubtedly remain in the Top 10, and most probably in the Top 8. I won’t be making any future predictions for now, but I might consider getting involved once the Group Stage concludes and the bracket is determined. As for my early favorites…

England is currently leading at 3-1, but I do not consider it a valuable option at the moment due to the revenge narrative. On the other hand, I find Spain at +850 to be intriguing, as I believe their young players could make a significant impact in the tournament. Lastly, I have a personal bias towards the Netherlands at 18-1, as both my grandparents were born and raised there.

Proceed with caution and savor the tournament!

Still Want More Soccer Content?

Here at Betting News, we offer Free Expert Picks for every major sports league. We also host daily streams on our Twitch Channel with our best bets, as well as sweat out games on Playback! Be sure to tune into everything we have going on at our Youtube, TikTok, and X pages as well.

FAQ MLS