And the winner is … Robotinho predicts the Euro 2024 champions

The European Championships have started, which means our resident AI football expert is back and armed with bold predictions about who will – and won’t – win the tournament.

On paper, a few nations are in with a realistic chance of lifting the Euro 2024 trophy on July 14. Gareth Southgate’s England are still enjoying their golden period in the sun and will be out to finally bring home a major championship after losing the Euro 2020 final to Italy on penalties. World Cup finalists France enjoy seemingly bottomless depth and are capable of going all the way, and hosts Germany have a point to prove after crashing out of their Qatar 2022 group.

So who are the favourites and dark horses, who is heading for an early exit and who will survive the group of death? It’s time for Robotinho to gaze into its silicon ball and predict the most likely champions, along with all the group-stage results.

Talent and Depth: France boasts an incredibly talented and deep squad. Key players like Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, and N’Golo Kanté offer world-class skill and experience, while emerging stars such as Dayot Upamecano and Aurélien Tchouaméni add fresh energy.

Recent Success: France’s recent history includes winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup and reaching the Euro 2016 final, showcasing their ability to perform in major tournaments. Despite a setback in Euro 2020, their overall consistency remains strong.

Tactical Acumen: Under Didier Deschamps, France has displayed tactical flexibility, effectively countering diverse opponents. This adaptability is crucial for navigating the challenges of a tournament.

Strong Defence: Even without Varane, France’s defence remains solid with players like Upamecano and Jules Koundé. A robust defence allows their attacking talents to thrive.

Balanced Squad: The mix of experienced veterans and dynamic young players ensures France can handle high-pressure situations and adapt to different match scenarios.

These factors make France a formidable favourite for Euro 2024.

Group A prediction

Germany, now coached by Julian Nagelsmann, is expected to leverage his innovative tactics and the home advantage. With a strong squad featuring Joshua Kimmich and Leroy Sané, Germany is poised to dominate the group. Switzerland, consistently competitive under Murat Yakin and with experienced players like Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka, should secure second place. Scotland, improving under Steve Clarke with key talents like Andy Robertson, is likely to edge out Hungary for third. Hungary, despite resilience and promising players like Dominik Szoboszlai, lacks the depth to challenge the top teams effectively.

• Germany vs Scotland - Germany win
• Hungary vs Switzerland - Switzerland win
• Germany vs Hungary - Germany win
• Scotland vs Switzerland - Switzerland win
• Switzerland vs Germany - Germany win
• Scotland vs Hungary - Scotland win

Group B prediction

Group B is the hardest due to the presence of three historically strong teams: Spain, Italy, and Croatia. All three have performed well in recent UEFA and FIFA tournaments, making every match highly competitive and crucial for advancement.

Spain, under Luis de la Fuente and blending youth (Pedri) with other experienced players, is predicted to lead the group. Italy, the reigning Euro champions with a solid defence and key players like Federico Chiesa, should also progress. Croatia, led by Luka Modrić but showing recent inconsistency, may struggle against Spain and Italy but should secure a win against Albania. Albania, despite spirited performances, is outmatched in this competitive group.

• Spain vs Croatia - Spain win
• Italy vs Albania - Italy win
• Croatia vs Albania - Croatia win
• Spain vs Italy - Draw
• Croatia vs Italy - Italy win
• Albania vs Spain - Spain win

Group C prediction

England, led by Gareth Southgate and featuring talents like Harry Kane and Phil Foden, is poised to lead the group. Denmark, with a cohesive unit under Kasper Hjulmand and standout players like Christian Eriksen, is expected to secure second place. Serbia, despite talents like Dušan Tadić, has shown inconsistency, likely securing a win against Slovenia but struggling against stronger teams. Slovenia, lacking depth and star power, is expected to finish last.

• Slovenia vs Denmark - Denmark win
• Serbia vs England - England win
• Slovenia vs Serbia - Serbia win
• Denmark vs England - Draw
• England vs Slovenia - England win
• Denmark vs Serbia - Denmark win

Group D prediction

France, under Didier Deschamps and with stars like Kylian Mbappé and N’Golo Kanté, is expected to top the group. The Netherlands, despite missing Frenkie de Jong, still have strong players like Matthijs de Ligt and Memphis Depay, should secure second place. Austria, without David Alaba, may struggle more but still have solid players like Marcel Sabitzer. Poland, reliant on Robert Lewandowski, is likely to perform similarly to Austria, resulting in a close battle for third place. Both teams will struggle against France and the Netherlands.

• Poland vs Netherlands - Netherlands win
• Austria vs France - France win
• Poland vs Austria - Draw
• Netherlands vs France - France win
• Netherlands vs Austria - Netherlands win
• France vs Poland - France win

Group E prediction

Belgium, even with an ageing squad, possesses top talents like Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, making them favourites to dominate the group. Slovakia, without Marek Hamšík, still shows improvement with players like Milan Škriniar and should secure second place. Ukraine, competitive but inconsistent, is predicted to draw with Romania and Slovakia but struggle against Belgium. Romania, facing difficulties in recent tournaments, is less likely to secure points in this competitive group.

• Romania vs Ukraine - Draw
• Belgium vs Slovakia - Belgium win
• Slovakia vs Ukraine - Draw
• Belgium vs Romania - Belgium win
• Slovakia vs Romania - Slovakia win
• Ukraine vs Belgium - Belgium win

Group F prediction

Portugal, with a balanced squad including Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes, is expected to win all their matches. Turkey, showing potential with players like Hakan Çalhanoğlu, should perform well, securing key points against Georgia and drawing with Czechia. Czechia, competitive but inconsistent, is likely to secure a win against Georgia but struggle against Portugal and Turkey. Georgia, despite some improvements, faces tough competition and is less likely to secure points.

• Turkey vs Georgia - Turkey win
• Portugal vs Czechia - Portugal win
• Georgia vs Czechia - Czechia win
• Turkey vs Portugal - Portugal win
• Czechia vs Turkey - Draw
• Georgia vs Portugal - Portugal win
  

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Summary

Teams progressing to the knockout stage:

• Group A: Germany, Switzerland
• Group B: Spain, Italy
• Group C: England, Denmark
• Group D: France, Netherlands
• Group E: Belgium, Slovakia
• Group F: Portugal, Turkey

Best 3rd-placed teams likely to progress:

• Scotland (Group A, 3 points)
• Croatia (Group B, 3 points)
• Serbia (Group C, 3 points)
• Czechia (Group F, 4 points)