The Favorites Likely to Flop at Euro 2020
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UEFA Euro 2020 trophy
As the world slowly awakens from the sporting slumber of 2020, major events are once again beginning to take place. Few on the soccer calendar are as big as the European Championships, which plays second fiddle only to the World Cup when it comes to world-class teams. Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands are all former winners, whilst England are the pre-tournament favorites. The Belgium side, managed by Roberto Martinez, warmed up for the tournament by smashing eight goals past Belarus according to ESPN and will be hoping for a first major international trophy.
With Euro 2020 being the first major international soccer tournament since the health crisis, expectation for fans is also high. There is expected to be a huge increase in the number of fans betting on the tournament. ExpatBets, which has several posts on sports betting, details how soccer is one of the most popular sports across the globe to bet on. With the Euros known for their unpredictability, many fans will be using straight bets, as these allow fans to create a large bet spread on the underdog.
It promises to be a huge event over the summer, but for some of those teams and fans, the hype and expectation will be met with failure. Failure on the major stage is not unusual in soccer. At Euro 2012, the Netherlands went home without a point despite having finished runner-up in the previous World Cup. In 2016, a much-fancied England were eliminated in the last 16 by Iceland, a country with a population of fewer people than London.
This year will be no different, one or two of the big boys will fail. But which ones? These three big names are all looking a little shaky going into the tournament, and are likely to fail in their attempts to live up to the hype.
Italy
Italy won the European Championships in 1968 and have twice appeared in the final in modern times, in 2000 and 2012. There is always a huge expectation on them back home, which will be intensified as they play all their group matches in Roma’s Stadio Olympico. They are amongst the favorites too, but they might just fall a little short. The pressure of the home crowd, plus a side high on skill, but lacking certain experience, may struggle.
The Italian side is talented, without a doubt, but they do lack any real winners. In 2012 they had one of the strongest squads with four players making the Team of the Tournament (Gianluigi Buffon, Daniele De Rossi, Andrea Pirlo, and Mario Balotelli). If Italy are to succeed they need more players with the top tier experience of players like Rossi and Pirlo.
Only five of the expected squad have won titles domestically, and despite the apparent good form, that could be a worry Manuel Locatelli is one to watch, he has come through with Sassuolo and could be the dark horse in terms of stars of the future, but there is an air of blind hope around their chances, rather than assured confidence.
Germany
Germany are three-time winners of the tournament, four-time World Cup winners and have only failed to reach the semi finals of a European Championships on three occasions. They are a soccer behemoth and by rights, should be amongst the favorites. The draw was not kind though, pitching them in with France, reigning World Champions, and Portugal, reigning European Champions. It is a group of death, and one of the big guns are likely to falter. For the record, poor old Hungary are likely to be the group’s winless team.
Preparation has been horrible, Germany lost 6-0 to Spain in the Nations League, their heaviest ever loss, and were beaten 2-1 recently by minnows North Macedonia. Joachim Low leaves the role of coach after the competition and there is a strong feeling the mess his successor inherits could include early elimination from the Euros. The name alone will not carry them through, and the pressure continues to mount on Low and Germany.
The Netherlands
In recent years, the Netherlands have flattered to deceive. Their showing in the 2010 World Cup Final was horrible, brutal and drew much derision and since then, they have struggled to live up to their reputation. Total football originated in the Netherlands and yet success and style elude them in their current guise. They have failed to qualify for two major tournaments now, Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, and manager Frank de Boer is struggling to find a coherent and effective lineup.
They were recently beaten 4-2 by Turkey, and struggled to find a clinical edge in their 2-0 win against Latvia, in which they had 35 shots. The group draw has been kind, they should emerge as winners with Ukraine, Austria and North Macedonia as their opponents, and maybe even the last 16 where a third-placed team will await, but beyond that they seemingly lack the form, or world-class players, to go any further.
Also Read: UEFA allows teams to have a 26 member squad for the 2020 Euros
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