The 2024 UEFA Euros kick off on June 14th! Of the six groups, Group A may be the most interesting to watch. While the German hosts headline the group, there is still plenty up in the air in what could turn out to be a group that has three teams qualify for the knockout stages. We break down the 2024 Euros Group A along with giving you our predictions and best bets to make for the group stage.
2024 Euros Group A
Team Overviews
Germany
Since they won the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Germany has been a complete letdown. The Germans finished third or better in four straight World Cups from 2002-2014 but have yet to make it out of the group stage in the last two World Cups. While they did make the semifinals of the 2016 UEFA Euros, they were knocked out in the Round of 16 in 2020.
Germany is clearly the best team, on paper, in this group. They have two fantastic goalkeepers and have a deep midfield. The only question for Germany is whether they have the depth in their defense and elite scoring options. While the Germans do have plenty of young talent, this will certainly be the last hurrah for aging goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, midfielder Toni Kroos, and attacking midfielder/forward Thomas Muller.
Major USA Sports Team Comparison: Los Angeles Lakers
Scotland
This Scotland team is the ultimate wild card in this group. Scotland has qualified for the Euros just once (2020) since 1996 and hasn’t qualified for the World Cup since 1998. With that in mind, they have some players that have proven key for their club teams such as midfielder Scott McTominay and defenders Andrew Robertson and Kieran Tierney.
This team is dangerous when they’re hot as seen by them winning or drawing seven of their eight qualifying matches, including a 2-0 win over powerhouse Spain. Since those qualifiers, however, Scotland has gone winless over their last seven matches. Scotland is a defensive team that has extremely limited experience. With that in mind, Scotland is in a very weak group and has as good of a chance as any to qualify for the knockout stages.
Major USA Sports Team Comparison: Orlando Magic
Hungary
Hungary is an interesting team in that they qualified without a ton of star power. Outside of midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai and goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi, they don’t have many players who played a lot of high-stakes games this season. Much like Scotland, they have struggled to qualify for tournaments, failing to qualify for the World Cup since 1986 and qualifying for the Euros just twice since 1972.
Although they are not the most exciting team to watch and weren’t lights out during qualifying, they also didn’t lose a single game in their qualifying group as they finished atop their group. They allowed just seven goals across eight qualifying games and look to have their defense carry them into the knockout stages for the second time in their last three appearances.
Major USA Sports Team Comparison: Buffalo Sabres
Switzerland
Although the Swiss haven’t ever made the semifinals of either the World Cup or the Euros before, they deserve credit for qualifying most years. They have qualified for the last five World Cups and five of the last six Euros championships. That makes them easily the second-most experienced team in this group.
Switzerland is led by legendary Swiss midfielders Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri. The pair are first and second in Swiss history in appearances respectively with defender Ricardo Rodriguez fourth. While all three are still under the age of 33, this is surely the last tournament before their play start to taper off.
Major USA Sports Team Comparison: Minnesota Twins
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Group A Predictions
Although Germany has struggled mightily in the group stages of tournaments in recent years, this is by far the easiest group they’ve ever been a part of. They should be able to breeze through and qualify for the knockout rounds as the group winner.
As for the other three teams, that’s where it gets difficult. This group will be a dogfight and there is absolutely no margin for error. While Scotland is an intriguing team, there’s a reason Switzerland is able to fight its way into so many tournament appearances. Switzerland’s experience along with having two of the best players in the group not on the German team should allow them to take second place and also qualify for the knockout rounds.
While Scotland will likely finish third above Hungary, it’s hard to see them picking up enough points to qualify for the knockout rounds as one of the top third-place teams.
2024 UEFA Euros Schedule – Group A
Here is the 2024 UEFA Euros schedule for Group A matches.
Friday, Jun. 14
3:00 PM ET: Germany vs. Scotland
Saturday, Jun. 15
9:00 AM ET: Hungary vs. Switzerland
Wednesday, Jun. 19
12:00 PM ET: Germany vs Hungary
3:00 PM ET: Scotland vs Switzerland
Sunday, Jun. 23
3:00 PM ET: Scotland vs Hungary
3:00 PM ET: Switzerland vs Germany
Group A Best Bets
Germany To Win Group: -250
Hungary to Not Advance: +110
Germany & Switzerland Top 2 in Any Order: +115
