All eyes turn to the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg on December 2nd as the draw for Euro 2024 looms on the horizon. The full lineup of all 24 finalists remains unknown, as a playoff round in March will determine the final three qualifiers. The draw for these fixtures occurs on November 23, following the conclusion of regular qualifying matches this week.
However, teams have already been assigned to seeding pots for the draw, enabling those who have secured their spots in Germany to begin planning for best- and worst-case scenarios. With that in mind, many are wondering which group-stage foursome will be the most challenging and captivating in the finals next June?
Sporting News presents their Euro 2024 Group of Death, based on the current seeding of teams, their relative strength, FIFA rankings, and overall competitiveness of the group. This expert opinion is eagerly anticipated, with the draw set to unfold in December.
Pot 1 is filled with strong teams, but for real Group of Death potential, a team with minimal weaknesses and a clear path to victory won’t suffice. Instead, a team with serious talent and obvious flaws is sought after. Germany, since being awarded the hosting rights to Euro 2024, has seen changes in coaching staff and underwhelming performances. They’ll be under immense pressure to perform at home. The teams in Pot 1 include Germany, Portugal, France, Belgium, Spain, and England.
Moving on to Pot 2, Denmark is a standout team, bouncing back from a dramatic qualification defeat to win their group. The other teams in Pot 2 are Hungary, Turkiye, Denmark, Albania, Romania, and Austria.
In Pot 3, the Netherlands finds themselves in a challenging position due to misfortune in the qualification draw. Having been drawn with France, they finished as runners-up and are now the Pot 3 team everyone will want to avoid. The other teams in Pot 3 are the Netherlands, Scotland, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
Finally, Pot 4 includes the defending champions Italy, who have faced struggles since their Euro 2020 win. The other teams in Pot 4 are Italy, Serbia, Switzerland, and three teams that will make it through the playoffs. With the pressure to defend their title and the challenges they’ve faced post-Euro 2020, Italy is a team to keep an eye on during Euro 2024.
As the draw for Euro 2024 approaches, speculation is rife as to which teams will be pitted against one another in the group-stage draw, set to take place on December 2nd. With the anticipation building and experts weighing in on potential matchups, all eyes will indeed be on Hamburg come December’s draw.
