Are England favourites? Stuart Pearce makes his Euro 2024 prediction

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 4 Jun 2024 12:04 BST
• 4 min read

England legend Stuart Pearce does not agree that the Three Lions should be considered as nailed-on favourites to win Euro 2024 and believes the tournament is wide open.

Gareth Southgate’s men are considered as favourites with the bookmakers to win their first-ever European Championship and a first major trophy for the nation since 1966.

Ahead of the finals, which kick off next week, Stuart Pearce spoke to FootballTransfers on behalf of BoyleSports, who offer the latest Euro 2024 betting.

READ MORE: How England will line up at Euro 2024

And while Pearce acknowledges that England have a wonderful group of young players and are a contender, he believes that Euro 2024 is as wide open a tournament as we have seen in recent years.

What did Pearce say?

“I see Euro 2024 as more of an open tournament than it being cut and dry with England as the favourites,” Pearce said.

“England are always the favourites with the English bookies. I think it drums up business.

“I see this tournament as being more open than any tournament I can remember.

“I don’t think there is any team who are going to turn up and are nailed-on to get to the final.

“The Italians, the Germans, the French, it’s up in the air for a few of the nations.

“The holders Italy will come with a good reputation but probably haven’t been as strong in the last couple of years since winning the tournament.

“But England have got a hell of a clutch of young players.

“They got to the final last time out, they have got to the semi-final (of the World Cup), under Gareth Southgate they have done quite well in building and in the build-up process.”

READ MORE: The players who will miss Euro 2024 due to injury

England are in Group C together with Slovenia, Denmark and Serbia.

The Three Lions kick off their campaign on June 16 against Serbia, before playing Denmark on June 20 and Slovenia on June 25.

In the last Euros, England made it all the way to the final at Wembley before losing on penalties to Italy after a 1-1 draw after extra time.