Euro 2024 favourites: how England, France, Spain and others are shaping up

The last international break before the end of the European club season will give those national teams who fancy their chances of winning Euro 2024 a vital opportunity to try out new players, and maybe swing the axe at a few of the old guard, too.

France — World Cup finalists in 2022 — will be looking to finesse a seriously impressive squad, Euro 2020 runners-up England will be plotting to go one better this time around, while tournament masters Germany will be desperate to improve on the disappointments of the last European Championship and World Cup.

The Athletic assesses how those teams and the tournament’s other big hitters are shaping up…

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England

Any surprise inclusions?

Gareth Southgate is continuing to experiment and try out new players even though most of his first XI is in place. Uncapped centre-backs Jarrad Branthwaite and Ezri Konsa are in this squad, each with a big chance of making the plane to Germany, and so is Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon. Southgate has also brought back Brentford striker Ivan Toney after his gambling ban, meaning there is real competition for the in-form Ollie Watkins as the backup to Harry Kane up front.

Any surprise exclusions?

Ben White’s exclusion was not a shock given he has not been involved since the 2022 World Cup, but it was still surprising to hear Southgate explain exactly why he has not been picked in so much detail.

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Raheem Sterling has not been involved since Qatar either and it looks as if his England career may be over. If there is a genuinely surprising omission it is Kalvin Phillips, a player to whom Southgate has been very loyal, and who has moved to West Ham United in search of more playing time. As Southgate said on Thursday, his form there has not been good enough for him to be in.

What does the squad tell us about their preparation for the Euros?

Southgate is still determined to keep trying out new players. It might have been easier for him to stick with the established players that he knows from the last few tournaments, such as Sterling and Phillips, or to bring back Eric Dier, but he wants to keep trying out new players even in the last meet-up before he names his squad for Germany. Southgate wants to keep learning even now, almost eight years into his tenure.

Jack Pitt-Brooke

Any surprise inclusions?

No major surprises. One key talking point concerned who would replace the injured Kingsley Coman. The Bayern Munich winger is out with a lateral knee ligament injury and manager Didier Deschamps has opted for Aston Villa winger Moussa Diaby. His last appearance for France was in March 2023 against the Republic of Ireland. Adrien Rabiot returns despite a foot injury that has kept him sidelined for the past couple of weeks. Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate has also returned to the group, ahead of Chelsea’s Axel Disasi and Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo.

Any surprise exclusions?

Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola was competing with Diaby for the Coman spot, particularly with Christopher Nkunku also out injured at Chelsea. Diaby has scored seven goals from 41 appearances this season for Villa but has not started any of their last six league games. That has not dissuaded Deschamps.

“He is one of the players that we follow,” said Deschamps of Barcola, who will play with France’s under-21s. “He showed some good things in this series of matches. He is a player with great potential.”

There was no return for N’Golo Kante despite his run of games for Al Ittihad, while Jordan Veretout and Matteo Guendouzi remain out of the picture as Warren Zaire-Emery retains his place. There were concerns over right-back but Jonathan Clauss and Jules Kounde retain the faith of Deschamps.

What does the squad tell us about their preparation for the Euros?

Deschamps’ words about Diaby’s inclusion spoke to his thinking. “Moussa Diaby has already been with us, even if he has reduced playing time,” said Deschamps. “He has nine caps and he has already shown some great things. It seemed more logical to recall Moussa.” Logical, therefore, suggests tried and trusted.

There is a consistency to the squad with three months to go and Deschamps rarely makes many unforced changes between March and May. There are only three alterations from the last squad here (Coman misses out through injury, and Aurelien Tchouameni and Benjamin Pavard return after missing the last international call in November).

Randal Kolo Muani’s inclusion suggests a settled forward line. “If (Paris Saint-Germain manager) Luis Enrique could give Kolo Muani more playing time that would suit me,” Deschamps joked when asked about Kylian Mbappe’s game time. France’s Euro 2024 squad is likely to be similar to these games with Germany and Chile.

Peter Rutzler

Any surprise inclusions?

The most interesting new name was Barcelona centre-half Pau Cubarsi, still just 17, getting a first senior call. Cubarsi looks a tremendous prospect, poised in possession, fast across the ground and aggressive in the tackle. He was named man of the match on his Champions League debut against Napoli last week but it is still very early for him to play international football, with just 12 first-team appearances for Barca.

“All of us who have seen Pau play can see his level,” said manager Luis de la Fuente on Friday. “We do not look at the date of birth, just pick the best players available, as we want to win. And Pau Cubarsi is in a great moment, exciting for these two games, and for the future.”

Any surprise exclusions?

Real Madrid schemer Brahim Diaz’s non-inclusion was expected, given he had switched allegiances to Morocco a few days previously.

Many feel De la Fuente could have done more to keep a player he coached for Spain’s under-21s. The coach suggested this week he was not impressed by being asked for assurances he would be picked for this summer’s European Championship. Brahim himself responded by denying he had pressured anybody.

The issue dominated a heated press conference on Friday, and has piled more pressure on De la Fuente, who did not look comfortable at all amid some heated back and forth with Madrid-based reporters.

What does the squad tell us about their preparation for the Euros?

De la Fuente continues to chop and change with each squad. This time, Villarreal’s Gerard Moreno, Tottenham’s Pedro Porro and Wolves’ Pablo Sarabia have been recalled after at least a year away. There is still a feeling De la Fuente is yet to decide on his best options in many positions.

Centre-back remains the biggest issue. Athletic Bilbao’s Dani Vivian, 24, also gets a first senior call-up, while Aymeric Laporte keeps his place despite now playing his club football in Saudi Arabia. Lots of questions remain, without much time left to resolve them.

Dermot Corrigan

Germany

Any surprise inclusions?

Plenty. Bayern Munich 19-year-old midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic has been included for the first time, Hoffenheim forward Max Beier, who has scored 12 Bundesliga goals this season, has been promoted from the under-21s, and former Leeds United defender Robin Koch returns after a three-year hiatus.

Deniz Undav, Waldemar Anton and Max Mittelstadt have been rewarded for their contributions to Stuttgart’s excellent season with their first selections, too. Brighton loanee Undav will be familiar, Anton and Mittelstadt probably less so.

Anton is the latest centre-back tasked with making Germany more robust and Mittelstadt is a left-back who was part of last season’s dreadful (and relegated) Hertha Berlin side. He was signed for €500,000 (£425,000; $550,000) last summer and has enjoyed a transformative year as part of Stuttgart’s technical and potent left flank.

Jan-Niklas Beste thoroughly deserves his moment, too. If he plays, he will become the first German international in Heidenheim’s history. Fitting, because he was so important to their promotion last season and this year, in the Bundesliga, his dynamism from the left and superb set-piece deliveries have allowed Frank Schmidt’s team to gain a footing in the top flight.

Any surprise exclusions?

Not really. Niclas Fullkrug is the only Borussia Dortmund player in the squad and there has been some chuntering about Bayern’s Leon Goretzka not making it, but neither of those decisions are unreasonable. Robin Gosens has not enjoyed a good season, either, and he has, to an extent, been a victim of Union Berlin’s more general difficulties. Still, his utility within a tournament and the range of roles he can cover makes him a slightly eye-raising omission.

What does the squad tell us about their preparation for the Euros?

Manager Julian Nagelsmann is nowhere close to being happy with his group of players. The new call-ups are all deserved and, in a different context, reflect meritocracy, but that Nagelsmann is willing to be so experimental now, just three months out from the tournament, shows how far away Germany still seem to be.

Yet there is plenty to like. Whatever the risks may be, this squad has a balance and youth that teases something vaguely positive and may just jolt a disinterested German public into paying attention again.

Seb Stafford-Bloor

Any surprise inclusions?

A couple. The first is Francisco Conceicao, the son of Porto manager Sergio Conceicao. The diminutive winger was a regular for Portugal’s youth teams but this is the first time the 21-year-old has been called up to the senior squad. Then there is Jota Silva, a speed merchant of a forward who has performed well for Vitoria Guimaraes this season. The fact that he has never played for one of his country’s big three clubs (Porto, Benfica, Sporting Lisbon), even at youth level, means the 24-year-old can be regarded as a genuine wildcard.

Cristiano Ronaldo, 39 and playing in the Saudi Pro League, is of course still captain.

Any surprise exclusions?

Roberto Martinez picked 32 (!) players for the games against Sweden and Slovenia, so there was room for pretty much anyone fit. There are three notable absentees through injury, however: Liverpool striker Diogo Jota is still out, as are Ricardo Horta (Braga) and Pedro Goncalves (Sporting), both of whom have been regulars in the squad over the last year.

What does the squad tell us about their preparation for the Euros?

The size of the squad is a little misleading. Martinez has established a very settled core and appears to be simply testing out as many options as possible for the remaining handful of places. The injuries outlined above mean that the two new boys, plus Bruma and Francisco Trincao, have a chance to play themselves into contention, even if the prospect of them gatecrashing the starting XI is vanishingly unlikely.

Jack Lang

Belgium

Any surprise inclusions?

Head coach Domenico Tedesco has only opted for one new call-up — 21-year-old Koni De Winter, who has variously played as a centre-back, right-back, left-back, and defensive midfielder for Genoa. On loan from Juventus, and having played for every Belgium age-group side, his versatility and speed on the ball have seen him be compared to Manchester City’s Nathan Ake.

Tedesco has also stuck with 19-year-old prospect Arthur Vermeeren despite the midfielder struggling for game time since his move to Atletico Madrid in January, having made only three appearances as of Saturday.

“He’s having a hard time in Madrid,” Tedesco said of Vermeeren. “I wanted him here because he did very well last time. He will play and we will help him if he needs it.”

Any surprise exclusions?

Yes — Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium’s best player. The Manchester City midfielder is nursing a minor groin strain, with Tedesco removing him as a precaution. The other notable players to miss out are Yannick Carrasco and Alexis Saelemaekers — the latter is something of a surprise, given his form at high-flying Bologna.

There was also speculation that Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar might be called up — but despite Belgium’s FA exploring the possibility, the 24-year-old’s single cap for Serbia meant Belgium were blocked by the regulations. Thibaut Courtois announced in December that he would not participate in the tournament, feeling that he would not have time to recover from a long-term knee injury. Without Svilar, Wolfsburg’s Koen Casteels is the presumptive No 1.

What does the squad tell us about their preparation for the Euros?

Tedesco has spoken about a desire to make his squad younger — dropping Carrasco, 30 years old, Axel Witsel, 35, and Toby Alderweireld, 35 — but this is a halfway-house squad that shows Belgium still believe they are in a position to win now. For example, he opted for the experience of Thomas Meunier, 32, over in-form Union Saint-Gilloise right-back Alessio Castro-Montes, and still retains Romelu Lukaku, 30, and Jan Vertonghen, 36, alongside several bright young sparks.

One trait Tedesco appears to value highly is versatility. De Winter, Charles De Ketelaere, and Olivier Deman can play multiple roles, mirroring the approach Tedesco took in club football at RB Leipzig.

Jacob Whitehead

Netherlands

Any surprise inclusions?

Georginio Wijnaldum and Marco Bizot return to the squad after spells out. Former Newcastle United and Liverpool midfielder Wijnaldum had not been involved with the national team since joining Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq in the summer. Goalkeeper Bizot, with just one international appearance, was selected based on his form for Ligue 1 club, Brest.

Manager Ronald Koeman currently does not have Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow available because of a calf injury.

Meanwhile, Bijlow’s club team-mate Quinten Timber will join up for the squad for the first time. The 22-year-old midfielder has been an integral part of Arne Slot’s Feyenoord team over the last two seasons.

Any surprise exclusions?

Joshua Zirkzee was included in the provisional squad for the first time in early March, like Timber. However, the 22-year-old Bologna forward, who has starred in the club’s rise to fourth place in Serie A, suffered a hamstring injury last Saturday in a defeat to Inter Milan. Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong is also still injured.

What does the squad tell us about their preparation for the Euros?

There remains uncertainty over who the first-choice goalkeeper will be due to Bijlow’s injury. Memphis Depay’s inclusion after almost a year out due to injuries also indicates he will be a significant figure in the team if fit and available. He has started 10 games for Atletico Madrid this year, scoring nine times across his 26 appearances (at a rate of a goal every 116 minutes), and still offers Koeman a level of experience and class that no other players available to him have.

Simon Hughes

Italy

Any surprise inclusions?

Luciano Spalletti has been in the job less than a year so he named a slightly larger 28-man squad on Friday to try out fringe players. Whereas Udinese striker Lorenzo Lucca and Torino wing-back Raoul Bellanova are no strangers to Coverciano from their days as youth internationals, this is Michael Folorunsho’s first time through the gates of Italy’s training base. The 26-year-old has come a long way since he played in the third division for Virtus Francavilla. He has impressed on his loan from Napoli to Hellas Verona, scoring one of the goals of the season against Juventus. Spalletti has always liked midfielders who act as shadow strikers and Folorunsho can do precisely that.

Any surprise exclusions?

Ciro Immobile started Spalletti’s first game in September but hasn’t played since and didn’t make the squad. Gianluca Scamacca had been groomed as his successor but the Atalanta striker was conspicuously absent from the squad. Scamacca scored in both legs of Atalanta’s round of 16 Europa League tie with Sporting Lisbon but Spalletti isn’t convinced. Elsewhere, perhaps Bologna’s Riccardo Calafiori and Giovanni Fabbian, both 21, deserved a chance with the senior squad but they will stay with the under-21s.

What does the squad tell us about their preparation for the Euros?

Spalletti is still casting for a striker. In addition to Lucca, he is taking a look at one of Roberto Mancini’s last intuitions, the Argentine-born Genoa forward Mateo Retegui. Spalletti could experiment with a strikerless system, which did so well in each of his two spells at Roma. Meanwhile, Domenico Berardi’s torn Achilles constitutes a major blow, particularly with Federico Chiesa playing less frequently than he would like for Juventus.

James Horncastle