Euro 2024: SportyTrader predicts what to expect from the hosts, Germany

FT Desk

• Updated: 11 Jun 2024 12:45 BST
• 4 min read

Every edition of the Euro Championship is always special as it brings together the continent’s best outfits battling it out for the Henri Delaunay Trophy.

For Julian Nagelsmann’s side, however, playing in front of a partisan German crowd cheering them on will give them an extra incentive to win. This will be the second time that Germany is hosting the Euro Championship.

But what can you expect from Julian Nagelsmann and his men as they go against tournament favorites like France and England? Here’s an in-depth analysis and expert predictions on Germany’s performance in the Euro 2024 Championship this summer.

READ MORE: Euro 2024 Draw: Groups, fixtures, knockouts, favourites

German Football’s Feel-Good Factor

After a thrilling 2023/2024 Bundesliga season, Euro 2024 predictions at SportyTrader rank German football among the favorites right now. In the Bundesliga, the standout squad was of course Bayer Leverkusen after becoming the first team to finish the season unbeaten. Robert Andrich, Florian Wirtz, and Jonathan Tah played a crucial part in this performance, all of which will be included in Julian Nagelsmann's Euro squad.

Technically Gifted Youngsters

Germany owes part of its revival to its exceptional talent pool and its high-quality youngsters. One such player is Jamal Musiala, the Bayern Munich star who is causing a stir in Europe's biggest clubs on the transfer market. The young Bavarian attacking midfielder has an impressive 1-on-1 finishing ability and has already taken on great responsibility in the national team.

Florian Wirtz, on the other hand, comes with undeniable qualities spotted a few years ago before he was sidelined for many months. Under Xabi Alonso, he has set the record books alight this year, even finishing as German champion with Bayer Leverkusen and the Bundesliga's best player. Additionally, Kai Havertz is coming off a successful season with Arsenal, where he was a first-team regular and narrowly missed out on the English league title.

There is also Nico Schlotterbeck, a Borussia Dortmund center-back who is little known to the general public. However, he made a name for himself in the Champions League double-header against PSG thanks to two excellent performances.

Experience at its core

Youthful talent needs nurturing to shine. And in that respect, the German national team has what it takes. For a start, Manuel Neuer is back at the top of his game after a serious injury and has once again proved this year that he has what it takes to seal the goal shut.

Just ahead of him, Antonio Rüdiger and Joshua Kimmich will also be present. While Rüdiger has had a fantastic season with Real Madrid and is an undisputed starter, he has had a less easy time of it. Kimmich underperformed for a long time before being moved to the best position at the right-back and he has enjoyed a second youth since. His experience with Munich and the Mannschaft will be a real asset to this squad this summer.

In midfield, there is Barcelona’s İlkay Gündoğan and Madrid’s Toni Kroos. While the former Borussia Dortmund player has not enjoyed the desired season on a collective level with his new club, on a personal level it has been more than satisfactory.

For Kroos, who recently announced his retirement after Euro 2024, this will be his last chance to lift yet another trophy after winning the 2014 World Cup title. Up front, Nagelsmann will be able to count on Thomas Müller, who is as combative as ever on the pitch.