It’s set to be an exciting few weeks that kicks off in Munich and finishes with a stunning showpiece at the Olympiastadion in capital city Berlin. Fans and bettors alike will be assessing the teams and if you wish to take advantage of our exclusive bonuses and offers for new players, there are plenty of options to consider when looking ahead to which countries could make the final. In the meantime, the continent’s best players are set to meet with some epic head-to-heads already scheduled in the group stage.
The Race for the Golden Boot
France forward Kylian Mbappe will be one of the hot favourites to top score at Euro 2024 ahead of a massive season. The attacker has finally made his long-touted switch to Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain and will be keen to get on the scoresheet this summer before settling into his new home in the Spanish capital.
Harry Kane, who enjoyed a fine debut season in Germany having joined Bayern Munich from Tottenham in 2023, top scored in the Bundesliga with an incredible 36 goals in 32 matches. The England talisman clinched the Golden Boot at the World Cup in 2018 and will be determined to win the prize for the Euros.
Jude Bellingham, Kane’s Three Lions’ team-mate and Mbappe’s future colleague at Real, scored a total of 23 goals in the Champions League and LaLiga last season. Not bad for a midfielder who will only turn 21 during the Euros and Bellingham should be confident of finding the net during the tournament.
Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo is always part of the goal conversation for Portugal while Romelu Lukaku has been a regular scorer all through his career with Belgium.
Who Will be the Assist King?
The majority of chief creators at this summer’s Euro 2024 play club football for Manchester City it seems. Teeing up Erling Haaland – who failed to qualify with Norway – at the Etihad with stunning regularity, it will be interesting to see which of Pep Guardiola’s midfield maestros top the charts when it comes to setting up goals.
Kevin De Bruyne leapfrogged Cesc Fabregas in the all-time Premier League assist charts last season and is now only second to Ryan Giggs. The playmaker will be key for Belgium and particularly Lukaku if the striker is going to net the most goals.
KDB’s club and international team-mate Jeremy Doku is a completely different player but has been tipped to be up there when it comes to assists this summer. The pacy, tricky winger enjoys confusing opposition defences and is certainly capable of causing chaos in the area. England’s Phil Foden has also been talked about when it comes to creating goals at this summer’s Euros.
Elsewhere, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes will look to unlock defences for Portugal while Germany’s Florian Wirtz, fresh from an unforgettable, title-winning campaign with Bayer Leverkusen, and Antoine Griezmann of France are also among the favourites to tee up the most goals.
Keeping Clean Sheets
Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa kept nine clean sheets out of ten matches during Euro qualifying, only conceding twice in a 3-2 win over Slovakia. It’s no surprise then to see the Porto stopper among the names in the frame who have been tipped to record the most shutouts at Euro 2024.
The ideal tactics, formation and a solid defence are key to success for goalkeepers while the pressure must be immense as an attacker approaches and you are stood between the posts tasked with stopping a goal.
England number one Jordan Pickford recorded the second most clean sheets in the Premier League last season for Everton, behind Arsenal’s Spain David Raya while Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma and France keeper Mike Maignan will also fancy their chances of keeping goals out at this summer’s tournament.
Who will be Saying a Fond Farewell?
Toni Kroos will hang up his boots at the end of Euro 2024 as one of the most decorated players in football history. Winning the World Cup with Germany a decade ago, the midfielder also lifted an incredible 32 trophies during his club career with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. For that reason, Kroos will be remembered as one of the all-time greats regardless of Germany’s performance this summer.
France striker Olivier Giroud will also call time on his international career after the tournament while Euro 2024 is also expected to be the last for Croatia’s Luka Modric.
Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, will be 43 years of age when Euro 2028 comes around and so this will likely be his final Euros for Portugal having helped the nation to win the tournament back in 2016.
Summing Up
With Europe’s best sides including France, England, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Italy set to meet at Euro 2024, it promises to be a mesmerising summer of football. From current stars Mbappe and Kane to legends like Kroos will say goodbye, the players are sure to put on a show with the world watching this continent’s battle for glory.