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Euro 2024: The Tournament’s Top Performing Teams So Far

Euro 2024: The Tournament’s Top Performing Teams So Far

Euro 2024 has already provided its fair share of surprises, with several teams standing out for their exceptional performances. 

The Euro 2024 group stages have been full of last-minute drama. In Group A Niclas Füllkrug’s crucial 92nd-minute goal devastated Switzerland as Germany secured a draw in the dying moments, whilst in Group A Italy’s Mattia Zaccagni bagged a 98th-minute equaliser to save Italy from elimination. The tournament has been packed full of great entertainment, but let’s take a look at some of Euro 2024 best performers so far.

Georgia

In the qualifiers, Georgia put on a series of strong performances, showcasing their solid defence and effective counter-attacks. The team’s cohesion on the field has been nothing short of extraordinary, with every player contributing to their success. This newly found synergy is a testament to their hard work and dedication, along with coaching staff that have clearly done their homework. 

Heading into the tournament as massive underdogs, Georgia quickly captured the imagination of football enthusiasts across Europe. Led by the prodigious talent of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, they stunned many with their unexpected qualification and a remarkable 2-0 victory over Portugal in Group F. After the majority of pundits wrote the nation off before the tournament even began, Willy Sagnol’s men found themselves in the round of 16 before being eliminated by one of the favourites, Spain. 

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Euro 2024
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia playing for Georgia

France

This is a nation that speaks for themselves in the footballing world. France have always been a dominant force in European football, and despite some of their performances in Euro 2024 being fairly disappointing, they’re consistently finding ways to make their way through the tournament. These bad performances did however mean France failed to top their group leaving them with a trickier run to the final.

On a positive note, the squad will be boosted by the return of Kilian Mbappe. After a nasty head collision, the French superstar was limited to the bench before making his full return to the starting 11. Despite some questionable performances, it’s impossible to write off Didier Deschamps’s men. The devastating pace of Kilian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele make them a team that’s almost impossible to defend against, even for the most seasoned defenders. This combined with the experience of Antoine Griezmann and a solid defence is what still makes them a favourite to go on and win the tournament. 

Kylian Mbappe Euro 2024
Kylian Mbappe playing for France

Austria

When it comes to surprise packages, Austria tops them all. Before being knocked out by Turkey in the round of 16, the team finished top of Group D which was dubbed as one of the hardest groups in the tournament. Austria beat both the Netherlands and Poland to solidify their place as group winners ahead of France. With a disciplined approach and key contributions from all around their squad, they have positioned themselves as a team to watch closely in future tournaments. 

Although they lost their game to France 1-0, it was actually an own goal that they scored against themselves that put them in this losing position. It is highly unusual and very surprising that they were able to hold their own against France for a full 90 minutes without having one goal scored against them. With French players like Mbappé and Kanté, the French team is worth more than five times the value of the Austrian team and yet, the only goal scored against them was their own. Not bad for a team that wasn’t really considered a contender. If betting on the unpredictable sport of football isn’t for you, check here to see some of the latest online casino offers.

Marko Arnautivic Euro 2024
Marko Arnautivic playing for Austria

Turkey

Turkey is another team that is emerging as one of the surprise packages of Euro 2024. Their excellent performance in the qualifiers has turned heads, and their team dynamics, laced with young, local talent playing both domestically and internationally, have been nothing short of impressive. 

Turkey’s defence has been resolute, consistently thwarting some of Europe’s top attackers. The midfield, characterised by its robustness and creativity, has been pivotal in controlling games and creating scoring opportunities. Up front, Turkey’s attack has notched up crucial goals, with strikers converting chances with clinical precision. The nation now find themselves in the quarter-finals after beating Austria in the round of 16. Can Turkey go all the way?

Hakan Çalhanoğlu Euro 2024
Hakan Çalhanoğlu playing for Turkey

Spain

Perhaps the most impressive team in the tournament so far, Spain have consistently delivered top-quality performances in each of their games. After winning every game in their group, which contained Italy, Croatia and Albania, the Spaniards headed into the round of 16 full of confidence. Their quick and direct style of play was too much to handle for Georgia in a 4-1 victory which sent them to the quarter-finals where they will play the hosts of the tournament, Germany.

Spain is another nation that harnesses a great blend of experienced players and young attacking talent. Most notably, Barcelona’s youngster Lamine Yamal has impressed viewers across the world and he’ll certainly be one to watch in the future. Unsurprisingly, Manchester City’s Rodri has had another solid tournament. Known for his tactical intelligence and impeccable passing accuracy, he has proved himself to be the lynchpin of the Spanish midfield. This tournament has seen him step up in crucial moments, showcasing his leadership and ability to control the game’s tempo. Does this Spain team have what it takes to win their first major trophy since 2012?

Lamine Yamal Euro 2024
Lamine Yamal playing for Spain

Germany

Last but certainly not least we have, the hosts of the tournament, Germany. When you think of European football powerhouses, Germany is likely one of the first teams that comes to mind. With their rich history of football excellence, Germany have had high expectations put on them to deliver silverware on home soil. After a great start to the tournament, beating Scotland 4-1 in their opening game, Germany’s performances dropped off slightly as they were held to a 1-1 draw against Switzerland.

Heading into the quarter-finals, Julian Nagelsmann’s men will have a difficult task on their hands as they face an in-form Spanish side full of confidence. Germany will have to rely on both the experience of Manuel Neuer and Toni Kroos, and the attacking threat of Niclas Füllkrug if they are to make it to the next stage of the tournament.

Toni Kroos Euro 2024
Toni Kroos playing for Germany

As you can see from the above, there are a few teams are performing much better than many thought they might, and there are also teams that are currently underperforming but have the talent to go all the way. Whilst the end result of the Euro 2024 Championship is unclear, we’re certainly in for an entertaining couple of weeks. Who do you think has what it takes to go all the way?