Euro 2024 kicks off on Friday in Germany.

All of the regular top teams in Europe are expected to advance out of the group stage and into the round of 16.

The top two teams in each group and four third-place teams make the knockout round, so we’re basically going to find out who the eight worst teams in the tournament are over the next few weeks.

Here’s a look at each of the six groups, and some of the props to consider for New Jersey online sports betting and Pennsylvania sportsbook apps.

 


Group A 

Germany, Hungary, Scotland, Switzerland

Germany is the very clear favorite to win Group A.

The Germans are playing on home soil and have the best collection of talent in Group A, led by Arsenal’s Kai Havertz and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz. Havertz scored 13 goals in the Premier League for Arsenal. I would look into his personal total goals over 1.5 on DraftKings. You can ladder him to have three goals at +200 as well.

Switzerland will likely finish second in the group. I know it’s bad to suggest a -225 prop, but that’s as near of a lock you make for the Swiss to advance. They’ve gotten out of the group at the last two Euros and are one of the stronger defensive teams in the tournament.

Hungary has a local angle with the Philadelphia Union’s Daniel Gazdag on the roster. Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai is their star player. But Hungary’s most in-form striker is Barnabas Varga. He’s scored in double digits in his last three European seasons and has six goals in 11 international appearances. He probably needs to score once or twice to be Hungary’s top goal scorer. He’s +275 on DraftKings for that prop.

Scotland only scored once in its last appearance at the Euros. It will be the underdog in at least two of the three matches and is likely playing for third place in Group A with Hungary.

 

Group B 

Albania, Croatia, Italy, Spain

Here’s your Group of Death.

Spain, Croatia and Italy have all made deep runs in recent international tournaments

The best bet you can make in Group B is for Albania to lose all of its group-stage games at +160. That’s the lowest number any team has to lose every match.

Spain is probably the best suited to make a deep run among the three notables, and Alvaro Morata is worth a look to win the Golden Boot at +2500. He’s the best true striker in the group. Morata’s personal goal total is set at 1.5 on DK. He might set that in the Albania game alone if he starts.

There aren’t many other group-stage props worth looking at since everyone expects Spain, Italy, and Croatia to advance and win big against Albania.

 

Group C 

Denmark, England, Serbia, Slovenia

England is in final-or-bust mode once again.

Group C is all about the Three Lions getting out of it in first place, and they probably will given the weaknesses of the other three countries.

Harry Kane is a safe bet to win the Golden Boot at +550. He is England’s defined top scorer and you know England will at least get into the quarterfinals.

I would also suggest Phil Foden at +2800 to win the Golden Boot and at +700 to be England’s top scorer. He’s coming off a 19-goal season at Manchester City. I would think England preserves Kane at points of the group stage, and that would leave more playing time in front of goal for Foden, who sits at +125 to score over 1.5 goals.

 

Group D 

Austria, France, Netherlands, Poland

Just like England in Group C, Group D is all about France cruising into the knockout round.

France is the co-favorite to win the competition with England.

There’s a very good chance this becomes the tournament of Kylian Mbappe. He has 12 World Cup goals in his career, but believe it or not, he has zero tallies at the Euros. That will definitely change since he had nine goals in Euros qualifying.

I would highly recommend betting Mbappe’s tournament total goals at 3.5. Over 4.5 goals is +175 and Over 5.5 goals is +400. I would look into that, especially if you bet him to win the Golden Boot. Five to six goals is the target total for any Golden Boot future.

Austria and Netherlands are playing for second place in Group D. Poland hasn’t advanced from the group in three of its last four Euro appearances.

I would give the Dutch an advantage, but there are smart soccer people who like Austria to finish second. I wouldn’t be surprised if Group D produces one of the four best third-place teams, though.

 

Group E

Belgium, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine

Gonna keep this simple because there’s no more than one diehard Romania, Slovakia, or Ukraine soccer fan reading this.

Belgium should roll to first place in Group E behind Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku. Belgium’s overall team total for goals is set at 8.5 and the over is plus-money. I’d look into that because there’s a good chance the Red Devils put up at least five or six goals in Group E.

Ukraine has a potentially cool story with striker Artem Dovbyk, who led La Liga in goals this season. He’s going to be a lot of people’s sleeper pick to win the Golden Boot,  but I don’t see Ukraine hanging around past the round of 16 for that to happen.

Romania and Slovakia are happy to be here and might make the round of 16 at best because only eight teams can be eliminated in the group stage.

 

Group F

Czech Republic, Georgia, Portugal, Turkey

Just copy and paste the same text about England, France and Belgium.

Portugal, at least on paper, should run rampant in its group and be way more worried about the knockout round.

Cristiano Ronaldo will be playing in his last Euros, and if Portugal wants to win, it needs its other attackers to step up.

Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick at the World Cup in Qatar. He’s got eight goals in 13 international appearances. I would suggest to bet him at +750 to be Portugal’s top scorer before I would bet Ronaldo at -120.

The Czech Republic has the co-Golden Boot winner from the last Euros in Patrik Schick, but he’s been injured and ineffective in the last year. Georgia has an awesome individual talent in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who might score one wonder goal. Turkey hasn’t made it out of the group stage in its last two Euro appearances.