Euro 2024 has really met the high bar set by the 2020 edition, and some folks even think it's surpassed it. With Copa America also ongoing, the Euros has still kept both football fans and the online betting community entertained. We've seen some expected stars and a few surprises. On the downside, teams like England, even though they made it to the Round of 16, haven't been very impressive - no thanks to Gareth Southgate’s conservative approach. There’s also Romelu Lukaku who has been unlucky in front of goal. The Belgian striker has had three goals ruled out for offside in his first two games. In an alternate universe, he would be leading the tournament in the race for the Golden Boot. In this article, however, we'll highlight the standout teams, coaches and players and discuss how they might impact our football predictions in the remaining Euro 2024 fixtures. **Granit Xhaka and Switzerland** I know I might sound like a broken record, but Granit Xhaka has been outstanding in this tournament. After Matchday 1, [we highlighted his Man of the Match performance](https://m.betking.com/blog/betting-tips/euro-2024-matchday-1-review/) and how it led to a win against a competent Hungary side. Now that Group A is finished, it's clear he's only gotten better. He's been named Man of the Match in two of the three games, and his Swiss teammates were so close to getting an upset win over Germany on Matchday 3, but Niclas Füllkrug's stoppage-time equaliser ruined that. Switzerland is now set to face reigning champions Italy in the Round of 16, which promises to be a tough game. Based on their performances so far, I wouldn't bet against the Swiss, especially in regular time.
**Musiala and Füllkrug Leading Germany’s Charge For The Cup** Germany needed a last-minute goal to salvage a point against Switzerland, but their overall performance in this tournament has been their best since the 2014 World Cup. The driving force of their attack has been two players whose careers couldn't be anymore different; young prodigy Jamal Musiala and late bloomer, Niclas Füllkrug. Jamal Musiala’s two goals has seen him become the frontrunner in the race for the Young Player of the Year award and we have the best odds for that award on BetKing. Musiala’s impact on this team goes beyond the goals, though. He is one of the most dangerous players in the attacking third and his slick dribbling and ability to wiggle his way out of tight areas makes him a nightmare for defenders. Niclas Füllkrug has made the most of his limited minutes with two goals of his own. With Kai Havertz the preferred choice up top, Füllkrug has played just 73 minutes in the first three games, all from the bench. Yet, he’s been more effective. The 31-year-old, who helped Borussia Dortmund reach a Champions League final, has been praised as a super sub, with some fans even calling for him to start. His playing style, which is more direct and threatening than Havertz's False 9 role, has drawn comparisons to Oliver Bierhoff, Germany's hero in the 1996 Euros. It remains to be seen if Julian Nagelsmann will heed the public's call or stick to his strategy, but one of our betting tips today is for him to finish as Germany’s leading scorer.
**Christian Eriksen & the Danes** Everyone remembers the last edition of this tournament when we almost lost Christian Eriksen. It felt like a nightmare as we watched Eriksen collapse during Denmark’s opener against Finland. Thankfully, he was resuscitated and was responsive before being stretchered off the pitch. Since then, Eriksen has played for Brentford and won two titles with Manchester United, but his performance in this tournament has been the true "comeback." With two Man of the Match awards in the group stage, he's been Denmark’s best player so far. To be honest, the Danes haven’t been special, and their Round of 16 tie against Germany means they’ll likely be knocked out of the tournament soon. But how many people have seen the brink of death, come back, and then dominate games at the Euros? **Ralf Rangnick & The Austrian Overachievers** Ralf Rangnick started his coaching career in 1983 at just 25 years old. Although he didn’t gain mainstream recognition for most of his career, his work at Schalke 04, Hoffenheim, and RB Leipzig was always notable. Many casual football fans only know Rangnick from his disastrous stint at Manchester United, where he won just 37% of his games. However, he’s rebuilt his reputation with the Austrian national team. Based on expectations, Austria has been the most impressive team in this tournament. I mean, they are without their skipper and best player David Alaba. They’ve won two out of three games, topping Group D, which included France and the Netherlands. This is the first time Austria has won consecutive Euro games, making their success even more special. But it’s not just their results that are impressive; it’s also their performance. A quick eye test shows a team that’s exceptionally well-coached. They press aggressively and capitalise on opponents' mistakes quickly. Even France had to work extremely hard for their win against Austria last week. By winning Group D, Austria is now in the “easier” half of the bracket, avoiding Spain, Germany, and Portugal. This gives them a strong chance of going past the Round of 16 for the first time in their history. Needless to say, that’s our bet of the day.
**N'Golo Kanté’s Glorious Return** Just to be clear, France has been underwhelming in this tournament. They’ve only scored two goals in the group stage: an own goal and a penalty. They finished second behind Austria, which puts them in the tougher half of the bracket where they’ll have to go through teams like Spain, Germany, and Portugal just to reach the final. Amid this lacklustre performance, one player stands out: N'Golo Kanté. His inclusion in the squad was surprising since he hadn’t played for Les Bleus since early 2022 and missed the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Thankfully, the Al-Ittihad midfielder has justified Didier Deschamps' faith in him. With two Man of the Match awards in the group stage, his immediate impact has been clear. If France is to end their 24-year wait for a European championship, N'Golo Kanté will be crucial to their success. **Spain’s Unpredictable Attack** Spain has been one of the most consistent teams, winning all three of their games and keeping three clean sheets. While modern-day Spanish teams are known more for their midfield, their outstanding defensive displays in this tournament deserve recognition. Their attack has also been impressive, scoring five goals from different players, adding unpredictability and making it tough for opponents to game plan against them. Alvaro Morata and Fabian Ruiz have also found the back of the net while Ferran Torres scored the winning goal against Albania - the 20th of his career. With youngsters Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal yet to score, there could still be some exciting moments ahead.
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