With the Euro 2016 competition in France due to kick off in approximately 370 days (Friday, 10th June 2016) is the official start date, we felt that now the big seasons over (apart from the Champions League final tomorrow!) it would be a good time to take a look at which teams are the favourites to win the Euro 2016 competition.
Favourites to win Euro 2016
Not surprisingly, Germany are the outright tournament favourites at decimal odds of 4.33. Germany are of-course World Cup holders after defeating Argentina in Brazil during 2014. But they are as well the Euro 2008 runners up, and finished in third-place in 2012, so evidently they’ll be looking to go one-better in 2016 by bringing the trophy home. So far they’ve not had as much luck in the Euro’s, with their last win unfortunately (at least for all English fans) being during Euro 96. It’s unlikely that Joachim Low would really expect anything else apart from a runners-up trophy, and even that will be seen as a disappointment to the Germans.
Other candidates for success in Euro 2016
According to the bookmakers, quite surprisingly the hosts France are 2nd favourites to go all the way in the tournament. They can be backed at decimal odds of 4.50. Given their own international footballing history (eg not winning much since 1998 when they won the World Cup), it would be a bit of a shock if they were to go all the way in 2016. However the one thing they do have on their side, and which understandably plays a huge part in these tournaments, is that they are the hosts. They won the World Cup in 98 when they hosted the games, and the last time they hosted the Euro’s they also won it (albeit all the way back in 1984). It would be a big shock if they won this, but really after Germany there aren’t too many other outstanding favourites from Europe.
Spain are the 3rd favourites to win the Euro 2016 tournament and can be backed at decimal odds of 7.50, which could be worth an outside punt. They’re going through a bit of a transitional phase, and have some key players stepping out of the limelight (Xavi Alonso and Xavi), so it could still be a few years before the Spain of old are back. With David De Gea likely to be their number one for the foreseeable future, they’re sure to have a very steady set of hands to replace out of favour and ageing Casillas. The defence and midfield look to be very strong still, and with Diego Costa likely to be more settled as one of the chosen strikers, they’ll still be a formidable force. It remains to be seen whether Costa will be a lone frontman, or whether Del Bosque will have sorted out some kind of a new system/formation by then – and whether he’ll step away from playing with no strikers this time.
List of odds of winning Euro 2016 for top 5 nations
Germany – 10/3
France – 7/2
Spain – 13/2
Belgium – 10/1
England – 11/1
For those that enjoy a bit of a punt, Kazahkstan and Moldova can be backed at odds of 2500/1…
