Euro 2024 Group E predictions: Belgium and Ukraine forecast for top two
- Belgium are currently third in the FIFA world rankings
- Ukraine only lost twice during qualifying
- Recommended bet: Group E Dual Forecast: Belgium & Ukraine
Belgium and Ukraine will fancy their chances of qualifying from Group E at the European Championship having been drawn alongside Slovakia and Romania.
The Red Devils have perhaps underachieved in recent years and what has been considered a Golden Generation is coming towards an end, but they should be able to emerge from what looks a favourable group draw.
Slovakia are 48th in the FIFA rankings and Romania are only two places better off, meaning two of the bottom-five ranked teams who have qualified make up this group.
Belgium to top Group E at 4/11
Belgium are the heavy favourites to win the group and they should be able to top this pile with relative ease.
Kevin De Bruyne may have endured an injury-hit season with Manchester City but that may work in Belgium’s favour here as the veteran midfielder will come into the tournament relatively fresh.
They have quality in all areas with Leandro Trossard and Romelu Lukaku in attack, Youri Tielemans anchoring the midfield and the evergreen and experienced Jan Vertonghen in defence.
The absence of injured keeper Thibaut Courtois is a huge blow, but Belgium breezed through qualifying and look a level above their opponents in this group.
Ukraine (1/2 to qualify) should take second spot
Ukraine are lacking the level of quality the Belgians possess but that does not mean they are lacking in talent.
Striker Artem Dovbyk has enjoyed a sensational season in Spain with Girona and he finished as LaLiga’s top scorer with 24 goals.
He is joined in attack by Roman Yaremchuk, while Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko and the vastly experienced Andriy Yarmolenko bring further quality.
Ukraine came through a tricky qualification process but only lost twice, once to England and once to Italy, and they sealed their spot in Germany by beating Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iceland in the play-offs and they should be fancied to secure second spot.
Romania (13/20 to qualify) could be the surprise package
Romania finished ahead of Switzerland in qualifying and emerged from their group unbeaten with six wins and four draws.
There are no real superstars in this Romania outfit but as a team they are perhaps greater than the sum of their parts, and after their strong qualification bid they should head to Euro 2024 targeting the knockout stages as third place may be good enough to reach the next round.
Ianis Hagi, the son of national legend Gheorghe, is one of a handful of the Romanian players who ply their trade in one of Europe’s top leagues after he spent the season on loan at Alaves in LaLiga.
Slovakia (9/10 to qualify) the underdogs
Slovakia are rated as the underdogs and it may be that they end up in a straight fight with Romania for third place when they meet in the final round of group fixtures.
They have relied heavily on Marek Hamsík at major tournaments in years gone by but the former Napoli man has now retired.
Stanislav Lobotka brings quality to their midfield but on paper they have the weakest squad in this group and may struggle to avoid finishing bottom and falling at the first hurdle.
Verdict
Belgium and Ukraine are clearly the strongest teams in this group so backing them to finish in the top two spaces in the dual forecast looks a good play.
There is not a huge amount of difference between Romania and Slovakia but the former’s unbeaten qualification bid suggests they can be competitive, and they can edge out the Slovaks for third place.
