The CIES football observatory has carried out an analysis of the competitiveness of the squads involved in the competition which will begin this Friday July 14. Ahead of England and especially France, reigning world vice-champion, Germany, the host country, and Spain, European champion in 2008 and 2012, are the most likely semi-finalists.
Led by its offensive leader Kylian Mbappé and the recognized know-how of its coach Didier Deschamps who took the Blues to the roof of the world in 2018, reaching three finals in the last four tournaments with different generations, France and its inexhaustible reservoir of talents can legitimately approach the competition in the position of favorite.
The objective assigned by the president of the French Football Federation to reach at least the semi-finals is not unrealistic on paper. The CIES football observatory also ranks France and England among the most likely semi-finalists in its latest weekly letter.
But there are two other favorites for the final victory which emerge after analysis by the CIES of the competitiveness of the workforce, “calculated from an index weighting the minutes played by those selected during the last year by the sporting level of their met”. The host country, Germany, although eliminated from the 2022 World Cup in the first round, is presented as the big favorite, just ahead of Spain, which exited in the round of 16 in Qatar.
La Roja has regained color
Spain crushed Northern Ireland (5-0) with a double from Pedri for their last preparation match before entering the fray against Luka Modric’s Croatia in Group B, considered the toughest in the competition with Italy and Albania. European champion in 2008 and 2012, world champion in 2010, La Roja had already scored 5 goals against the very modest Andorra team. Surprising? Not really. Spain scored 25 goals in their qualifying campaign for this Euro. Only Portugal and France did better.
Held in check (0-0) by Ukraine in Nuremberg last Monday, the Nationalmannschaft struggled to get rid of Greece, only beaten 2-1. Dominated and trailing at the break, Julian Nagelsmann’s players reversed the course of the match in the second half, securing victory in the last minute of regulation time thanks to Pascal Gross’ first goal. The Germans will start the Euro against Scotland on June 14 in Munich. Manuel Neuer’s teammates will continue in Stuttgart against Hungary on June 19, and will complete their first round in Frankfurt against Switzerland on June 23.
