Euro 2024 Group A predictions: Hosts Germany can seal top spot
- Germany are hosting Euro 2024
- Hungary topped Group G in qualifying, winning five and drawing three of eight games
- Recommended bet: Germany to win Group A
Germany are the unsurprising favourites to win Group A and the hosts are unlikely to disappoint, despite the best efforts of Hungary, Switzerland and Scotland.
Germany should be good enough to finish top of the section, but the fight for second and third could be compelling with Hungary, in particular, looking strong.
Germany: Hosts should top group at 4/9
The current Germany side do not look up to the standard of previous victorious European Championship-winning teams, but they should still have enough to finish top of Group A.
Julian Nagelsmann's men have had to endure a year of friendly games after qualifying automatically and some results underlined their fall from grace, following on from the embarrassment of being eliminated at the group stage at the World Cup two years ago.
Germany lost to Poland, Colombia and Japan in 2023, while also going down to Belgium and Austria as preparations for the tournament on home soil began badly.
However, they have recently beaten World Cup runners-up France and then followed that win up with victory over the Netherlands, so things are looking brighter heading into the tournament.
There remains plenty of talent in the squad, including Ilkay Gundogan, Toni Kroos, Florian Wirtz and Leroy Sane, while, up front Kai Havertz has just had an outstanding end to the club season with Arsenal, scoring 14 goals across the campaign.
Scotland (4/5 to qualify): Another group exit looms
Scotland failed to qualify for five successive Euros between 2000 and 2016, but they have now managed to make the last two tournaments.
They qualified well, finishing second behind Spain with an impressive record of five wins, two draws and just one defeat, but since then Steve Clarke's side have faltered, failing to win in seven games before an unconvincing 2-0 victory over Gibraltar.
They are in what looks like being a very tough group and the battle for second should be tight between the Tartan Army, Switzerland and Hungary with Scotland, of those three, looking the weakest on paper.
Clarke's squad, aside from Andy Robertson, John McGinn and Scott McTominay, looks workmanlike at best, and they look set to struggle to impose themselves on the international stage again with another early exit likely.
Switzerland (4/7 to qualify): Underrated Swiss can make last 16
Switzerland are an experienced tournament team, having qualified for the last five World Cups and three Euros.
They rarely get to the latter stages, with their last-eight exit at Euro 2020 their best showing, but they cannot be ignored due to their durability and consistency.
The Swiss have only won one of their last six matches, but in that time they have picked up four draws, and a rigid determination not to get beat, which does not always make for the best spectacle, often stands them in good stead in major competitions.
They do have some genuine quality with Bayer Leverkusen’s former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, who will captain them in Germany, set to line up alongside the likes of Breel Embolo, Manuel Akanji, Fabian Schar and Xherdan Shaqiri.
They will have their eyes firmly set on making the knockout stages once again.
Hungary (5/8 to qualify): Dark horses look very dangerous
Hungary are currently on a 14-game unbeaten streak and will fancy their chances of making the last 16 as well.
They comfortably topped Group G in qualifying ahead of Serbia thanks to five wins and three draws from their eight matches and Marco Rossi's side possess plenty of players who should relish the chance to mix it with the continent's elite on the international stage.
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, Bournemouth rising star Milos Kerkez and the 79-capped Adam Nagy are among their stand-out names, while Freiburg’s Roland Sallai, who has 12 goals for his country from 47 appearances, will be aided by the talented Barnabas Varga and Andras Nemeth up front.
Verdict
Germany, with home backing, should come out on top in what looks like a competitive group.
Hungary, Switzerland and Scotland will all be targeting second place, which could be a close-run thing.
However, Hungary look good enough to edge the scrap to be runners-up, leaving the rest hoping a respectable performance and third will be enough to also progress.
