With representatives at England, France, Portugal and the Netherlands, it’s fair to say that Liverpool have a strong chance of having at least one winner at the EUROs this summer.
Andy Robertson’s Scotland will be hoping to upset the applecart with a win or two along the way as well, but for the most part the feeling is that one of the pre-tournament favourites is ultimately likely to prevail.
But could it be England?
Red Men in Europe
The EURO 2024 betting odds are sweet about England’s chances – making them the 3/1 favourites ahead of the likes of France (7/2) and Germany (5/1) in the rollcall of likely champions.
The betting guides often like to focus on dark horses too – those sides that might go somewhat under the radar, so to that end Diogo Jota’s Portugal (15/2) and Dutch duo Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo (14/1) could be ones to watch.
But England expects… now can they deliver? There’s a galaxy of attacking talent in Gareth Southgate’s preliminary squad, although a few holes in defensive areas will need plugging.
It will be interesting to see how he uses Trent Alexander-Arnold too. Southgate hasn’t shown the tactical nous of a Jurgen Klopp so far, which suggests that TAA will play either as a right back or a central midfielder – not as a hybrid of the two.
Proud to hit 100 goals and assists ???? https://t.co/rAR3s6Bi0X
— Trent Alexander-Arnold (@TrentAA) April 21, 2024
England have decent options at right back, but in midfield there’s a dearth of talent in the number six role – only Declan Rice can lay claim to being a natural there. But it’s a role that Alexander-Arnold has fulfilled for Liverpool, in one way or another, and so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him playing alongside Rice in a 4-2-3-1 system.
There’s a vacancy at centre back alongside John Stones too – could Joe Gomez get the nod? Perhaps his lack of game time in the position for the Reds will count against him, but his versatility will surely prove a great asset in the squad nonetheless.
The Chasing Pack
A run to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 2022, where they lost out on penalties to eventual champions Argentina, suggests that the good times are close again for the Netherlands.
Van Dijk will captain a side that will blend youthful exuberance with battle-hardened experience, with the likes of Nathan Ake, Denzel Dumfries and Teun Koopmeiners all winning trophies at domestic level this term.
A front three that includes Gakpo, Donyell Malen and Memphis Depay has pace, guile and goals in spades, so there’s a solid spine to Ronald Koeman’s side. Relative success at the World Cup could be followed by something even more substantial in Germany.
Portugal meets Morocco ????
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 6, 2022
The Quarter-Finals are set ???? #FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022
As for Portugal, this is a set of players used to winning. Also quarter-finalists at the World Cup, their squad boasts players that have won countless trophies in their careers – Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva, Raphael Guerreiro and Jota chief among them.
There’s the elephant in the room of Cristiano Ronaldo – is his presence a help or a hindrance at the top level these days? But otherwise, Portugal look to have a fine chance.
So will a Liverpool player get their hands on the European Championship trophy this summer?
