Euro 2024 Group A Betting Guide: Can anyone challenge Germany?

Whether you like it or not, Euro 2024 is fast approaching and we are now just 65 days away from the tournament’s curtain raiser. 

That opening match will be between the hosts Germany and Scotland at the Allianz Arena in Munich. 

It will also be the first match in Group A, here we are going to take a deeper look at all four teams in the group and assess their chances and pick a betting trend for each. 

The Teams

Germany 

As with every major tournament, the hosts occupy the first spot in Group A. Despite their pedigree, they have been disappointing in recent tournaments failing to reach the semi-final stage since Euro 2016. 

Since their group-stage exit from the Qatar World Cup they have been in indifferent form only winning four of their 13 matches. As hosts, their place in the tournament was automatic therefore they have’t played a competitive fixture since their World Cup loss to Japan in November 2022.

The lack of competitive fixtures is concerning, but they should still have enough to top the group and with odds of 1.39 to do so the market agrees. 

Star player: Kai Havertz

It was a tricky start to the season for the German as he made the move from West to North London. But since Christmas he has been in a fine run of form and is starting to play up to his £60m price tag. 

He has been a regular on the scoresheet for his national team scoring 15 times in his 44 appearances. Germany’s lack of a standout centre forward option means that Havertz is likely to take up the task, something he has been doing for Arsenal of late where has had nine goal involvements in his last seven Premier League matches. 

One to watch: Florian Wirtz

The 20-year-old has been in sensational form for Bayer Leverkusen this season and is a key member of their potential title-winning side. He favours playing directly in behind the main striker but is also capable of appearing anywhere along the front line. 

While he has only scored once for Germany, he has 32 goal involvements in his 39 appearances for Leverkusen this season. It will be interesting to see whether manager Julian Nagelsmann opts for Wirtz or reverts to the more experienced options in Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry. 

Fixtures:

14 June vs Scotland
19 June vs Hungary
23 June vs Switzerland

Betting trend: Over 2.5 goals

You can back over 2.5 goals with a good deal of confidence, in eight of their 13 matches since the 2022 World Cup this has clicked.

Scotland 

The Scots finished runners up in the qualification group only tasting defeat once. They are much improved from the side that failed to qualify for major tournaments between 1998 and 2020. Their team is packed full of Premier League talent including Andy Robertson, John McGinn and Scott McTominay. 

Despite having the longest odds to win the group, 8.6, they will fancy their chances of causing an upset. It was only March last year when they defeated Spain 2-0 at Hampden Park - the last time Spanish midfielder Rodri tasted defeat for club or country. 

They have had a recent slide in form which will be concerning to fans. They are without a win in their last seven matches. While they have played strong sides in that time their loss to Northern Ireland last time out is an issue.

Star player: John McGinn

The Aston Villa midfielder is extremely influential for Scotland, he even stepped in to lead the side when Robertson was sidelined. He has been in great form for his club side this season and his game has taken a big step forward since Unai Emery arrived at Villa Park. 

He plays a slightly more attacking role for the national side and has got on the scoresheet 16 times in his 64 appearances. McGinn is steeped in Scottish football history with his two older brothers playing club football and his grandad a former Scottish Football Association president. 

One to watch: Billy Gilmour

Gilmour launched himself into the public consciousness with a stunning performance for Chelsea against Liverpool in the FA Cup back in March 2020. 

Aged just 18, he dominated the midfield battle against one of the best teams in the world. While he may have not gone to the resounding successes that some predicted after that game he is still a class act with a lot of potential. He is very important to Scotland, who will need him to shield a vulnerable looking defence. 

Fixtures

14 June vs Germany
19 June vs Switzerland
23 June vs Hungary

Betting trend: Both Teams To Score - NO

Both Teams To Score bets are very popular but you might want to reverse your thinking when it comes to the Scots. In seven of their last 12 matches only one side has managed to find the back of the net. 

Hungary 

After years in the footballing wilderness, Hungary are back and they are a real threat in this tournament. They qualified top of their group with five wins and three draws in their eight games. They are spearheaded by Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai but have plenty of talent around him. 

At the back end of the 2021/22 they beat England 4-0 at Molineux in a result that sent shockwaves through the English press and invoked memories of the famous 6-3 victory the visitors enjoyed at Wembley back in 1953. They come into the tournament in a strong run of form having won their last three games in a row and not tasted defeat since September 2022.

Star player: Dominik Szoboszlai

Szoboszlai has been one of the star’s of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side this season, the dynamic midfielder has managed to grab seven goals in his 36 appearances across all competitions. 

For his country, Szoboszlai takes up a more attacking position than he does for Liverpool and since being named captain in November 2022 he has been a regular on the scoresheet including four in his last three matches. While he has got good players to support him, he is the star attraction and the team’s driving force. Without him playing well they will struggle to make an impression on the tournament.

One to watch: Roland Sallai 

Those England fans who watched Hungary’s 4-0 win at Molineux will already be familiar with Sallai who scored a brace on the day. 

The 26-year-old right winger plays his club football for SC Freiburg and despite only scoring three goals this term he remains one to watch for this tournament. In a Hungary shirt he is a man transformed with 12 goals in 47 appearances. He can play in a variety of attacking positions from second striker to attacking midfielder. 

Fixtures

15 June vs Switzerland
19 June vs Germany
23 June vs Scotland

Betting trend: Over 2.5 cards for Hungary

If you like betting on cards it will be worth noting that Hungary are not one of Europe’s best-behaved sides. They have picked up over 2.5 cards in five of their last seven games. 

Switzerland

Switzerland scraped through their qualification group with just one win in their last five games. On the other hand they only tasted defeat once in the group stage but drawing five of their ten games will be a cause of concern. 

According to the market, they are second favourites to top the group at 6.2, while they undoubtedly have some good players I think the Germans will fear Scotland and Hungary more.

If they are to have success in this tournament, it will be based around strong defensive performances. They have Yann Sommer in goal, Manuel Akanji and Fabian Schar in the defence and then Granit Xhaka sitting in front of them. The word solid was invented to describe them and they only conceded 11 goals in their ten qualifying matches.

Star player: Manuel Akanji

Akanji has been a revelation since he joined Man City from Dortmund two years ago. His versatility enables him to play both centre back and right back while being comfortable enough on the ball that he can pop into midfield if required. 

His importance to the side is underlined by the fact that before missing the most recent game against Republic of Ireland, he hadn’t missed a minute of football in their previous 15 games.

One to watch: Noah Okafor

The AC Milan striker is yet to fire in a Switzerland shirt only finding the back of the net twice in his 21 appearances. However, he is obviously well thought of by Head Coach, Murat Yakin,  who has given him minutes in 13 of their last 17 games. 

Okafor’s performances for RB Leipzig last season were good enough to earn him a £14m move to AC Milan. He has managed to score five goals for the Rossoneri this term, he is still only 23 and has a lot of potential.

Fixtures

15 June vs Hungary
19 June vs Scotland
23 June vs Germany

Betting trend: Under 2.5 goals

After some high-scoring contests early on in their group stage campaign the Swiss have tightened their defence. In each of their last five matches Under 2.5 goals has hit.