EURO countdown (8 days to go) - Favourites, dark horses and expectations

A little over a week for the delayed tournament to finally begin. Europe’s best will compete for the crown of the continent’s top national team.

Things kick off in Rome on June 11, where Italy and Turkey will meet. Let's take a look at the favourites of the tournament.

Two teams that, as far as odds go, have biggest chances of lifting the trophy are France and England. These two national teams are joint-favourites (Mozzart odds 6,00) to win Euro 2020.

The official squad list for every team in the EURO 2020

FRANCE

France’s star-studded group are justifiably at the top. World Cup holders boast an abundance of star quality throughout their squad with Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante among those likely to feature for Didier Deschamps’ team.

In Mbappe they may well have the best player in the world and in Deschamps a manager who knows how to get it done at a major tournament having done so in 2018. Deschamps won the European champions trophy as a player with France in 2000.

Les Bleus lost the Euro 2016 finals to Portugal at home soil which will bring even more motivation to win the continental trophy.

In their last check before the tournament, in a friendly match against Wales, France looked impressive - score was 3-0 and it could have ended even worse for the Dragons however the returnee to the national team Karim Benzema missed a penalty.

African legacy throughout this squad is mindboggling and it will be mentioned in one of the upcoming articles in the Euro2020 countdown series.

GROUP F: Germany, Hungary, Portugal, FRANCE

France players at training ©AFP

ENGLAND

The Three Lions breezed through qualifying, winning seven of their eight games and scoring 37 goals to book their place in the finals.

Gareth Southgate’s team play in Group D alongside Czech Republic and Croatia, two teams who have managed to beat England them in recent years. England will also see their famous old rivals Scotland to provide us with a certified classic.

Their fourth-place finish at the 2018 World Cup is a the same time something to be proud of and disappointed about and the fans expect for this generation to take that step further.

A huge boost for Harry Kane & Co should be the fact that there is a possibility of playing five of the seven games, including the semi-final and final, at Wembley - where home support could prove invaluable if fans are allowed to return.

With experienced Kane, youngsters such as Sancho, Rashford, Alexander-Arnold, etc will try and win the first ever Euro for the land of the birth of football as we know it.

They weren't as convincing as most would expect in their friendly against Austria were Arsenal's Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the match, but the Three Lions should tune-up their roar by the time Euro 2020 officially starts.

GROUP D: Croatia, Czech Republic, Scotland, ENGLAND

Jane, Sancho and Chilwell (©AFP)

BELGIUM

During qualifiers, Belgium were flawless. They claimed 30 points from 30, scored 40 goals and conceded only three.

The Red Devils' fans hope the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku will hit form when it matters as their national team have so far failed to deliver in big tournaments.

FIFA ranks them as number one team of the world at their list, and their odds of winning Euro 2020 are 7,00.

Belgium have one of the best squads at the tournament with the star power to rival anyone. Under the guidance of Roberto Martinez, questions remain over just how far they can go.

Having been handed what looks like a favourable group, there shouldn't be any problems for bronze winners at World Cup 2018 to advance into knock-out rounds of this tournament.

GROUP B: Denmark, Finland, Russia, BELGIUM

Belgium footballers (©AFP)

GERMANY

Never write off the Germans in a major tournament - but this isn’t quite the Germany of yesteryear or at least doesn’t appear to be. Germany's odds are 8,00, however, their respective records in major tournaments suggest they’ll be there or thereabouts when the latter stages come.

Even though their head coach Joachim Low is set to depart after the tournament, the three-time winners and habitual contenders at this level have their chances. But the group-stage exit at the 2018 World Cup hints at a vulnerability we haven’t often seen before.

The 'group of death' will see them face France and then Portugal in their opening two games, meaning they’ll have to be up to speed early or could be staring at another early trip home.

To add up to the worries, they tested their might against Denmark in a friendly and it just did not look like the Germany everyone remembers from big tournaments - final score was 1-1 and it only proved that Low needs to tighten the ship for the main stage.

Mix of experience and youth, calmness and intensity - Rudiger, Sane, Musiala, Neuer,... - does not allow you to write the Panzers off at any stage of the competition.

GROUP F: France, Hungary, Portugal, GERMANY

Germany's best (©AFP)

PORTUGAL

Reigning European Championship crown holders Portugal were not considered favourites 5 years ago but here they are - the ones to chase after.

Portugal have their odds at 9,00 and they can reach another major tournament victory led by Cristiano Ronaldo who will be assisted by Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Diogo Jota and the rest.

If you take a look at the names, one of the strongest squads at the tournament - Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva are all Premier League champions with Manchester City, Diogo Jota excelled with Liverpool, Cristiano Ronaldo - nothing to add there.

Of course, that group they are in, might give them the feeling of playing in the knock-out stages at the start already.

GROUP F: France, Hungary, Germany, PORTUGAL

Cristiano Ronaldo with Renato Sanchez and Joao Felix (©AFP)

ITALY

Far from the spotlight, Italy are the dark horses of the competition. Being given the odds of 12,00, it looks like few considered their impressive 24-match unbeaten run. They might continue their great spell and go far in the European Championship.

Former Manchester City title winner Roberto Mancini has the team humming with the Azzurri heading in off the back of a perfect qualification campaign. If they can fight their way past sturdy sides in their group, watch out for them in reaching the far stages.

Biggest names of the team are young but experienced keeper Donnarumma, Juventus defending duo Bonucci-Chiellini, passing masters in the midfield Jorginho and Veratti.

GROUP A: Switzerland, Turkey, Wales, ITALY

Italy squad celebrating (©AFP)

SPAIN

Even without Sergio Ramos, Spain again look a force to be reckoned with. Blessed with that winning DNA, champions of Europe in both 2008 and 2012, they will be heavily fancied again here under Luis Enrique.

Hosting high-class players in almost every position (Traore, Alba, Rodri, Busquets,...), Enrique should have an easy pathway in one of the easier groups of the tournament. Odds are expected with such a group - 9,00.

GROUP E: Poland, Sweden, Slovakia, SPAIN

Spain squad at training (©AFP)

NETHERLANDS

List of favourites ends with the squad that has been missing from the big stages in last two occasions. Having failed to qualify for Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, there will be pressure on new coach Frank de Boer to deliver.

Another dark horse this year, The Netherlands have won the tournament in 1988 and are always a factor when they participate. The colossal absence of Liverpool talisman Virgil van Dijk and lack of more big names could prove tough for the Oranje.

It did not look that promising in they friendly test before the tournament in which they trailed twice against Scotland, however Depay did his magic and managed to keep his squad undefeated.

Depay, Wijnaldum, De Ligt, De Jong, ... - the odds of them impressing the continent with winning the competition are 13,00. Can they surprise everyone - we will see.

GROUP C: Austria, North Macedonia, Ukraine, THE NETHERLANDS

Depay, De Ligt and De Vrij stretching (©AFP)

Stay with MOZZART SPORT KENYA for all the exciting news regarding the tournament! See you at the EURO 2020.