Official, the Azzurri are in the fourth seed: Belgium, Albania, and Slovakia on paper would be the easiest group… but look at what they are risking
After Tuesday’s European qualification matches, the list of the 24 participants for the Euro 2024 in Germany is becoming more defined. 21 teams are certain to participate, and the last 3 will come from the playoffs.
As expected, Italy‘s draw against Ukraine puts them down to the last seed with a concrete risk of landing in a very challenging group. On paper, in the worst-case scenario, Spalletti’s team could draw France, Turkey, and the Netherlands, while the more manageable group appears to be with Belgium, Albania, and Slovakia.
Whoever the Azzurri draw from the first seed will be a trouble: Germany may not be in great form, but they are the host country; France, a finalist in Qatar in 2022, is the number 1 favorite with Mbappé leading a team with very few weaknesses; Ronaldo’s Portugal impressed in the qualifiers (10 wins out of 10) and is a classic dark horse in the race for the Trophy;
England defeated Italy twice in the group and has shown to be a step above us; Spain wants to bounce back after the World Cup disappointment and will be a tough opponent. Lastly, there’s Belgium with Lukaku and the return of De Bruyne: for that generation, it’s the last call to win something significant, but so far, they have always failed.
The teams in the 1st seed are:
- Belgium
- France
- Germany
- England
- Portugal
- Spain
In the second seed, keep an eye on Denmark with Hojlund and Eriksen, as well as Austria, a challenging opponent from Euro 2020. Romania and Albania seem more manageable.
The teams in the 2nd seed are:
- Albania
- Austria
- Denmark
- Romania
- Hungary
- Turkey
There are also dangers in the 3rd seed, especially the Netherlands, an opponent that all the first-seed teams, would like to avoid. The Dutch team has grown a lot and is full with Serie players A like Dumfries, Koopmeiners, De Vrij, and De Roon, along with champions like Van Dijk, Gakpo, and De Ligt.
Croatia, with Modric, Brozovic, and Kovacic, should also be avoided: a group that seems to be at the end of its cycle but is capable of anything. Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic shouldn’t create particular headaches.
The teams in the 3rd seed are:
- Netherlands
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Scotland
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
The teams in the 4th seed are:
- Italy
- Serbia
- Switzerland
- Winner Playoff A
- Winner Playoff B
- Winner Playoff C
