Euro 2024 Bracket Predictions

So here we are. The Euro 2024 group stages have just concluded. And what a group stage it was. We had upsets, amazing goals, and dramatic winners. And very few nations have looked convincing in all 3 of their games. Added to that is the fact that the bracket is unbalanced.

But now is time to predict who will win. And this is my prediction;

Germany will beat Denmark in the round of 16. Denmark have good players, but a nation like Germany simply does not lose a round of 16 game at home. Spain beats Georgia. Anything can happen in soccer, but Georgia will not be beating Spain. Portugal will beat Slovenia. Slovenia are a limited side. And France will beat Belgium. France have been uninspiring in the group stage but have too much for a shocking Belgium side that was lucky to get out of their group.

On to the other, weaker, side of the bracket. How is it that Gareth Southgate’s England always gets the easy path? Netherlands will beat Romania. The Dutch have been poor, and finished third in their group. But because Romania won their group, the Dutch have a great shot at the quarterfinals.

Turkey will beat Austria. Austria have clearly been better in the tournament than Turkey. But when predicting, people rely too much on group stage form as the end all be all. That just isn’t how it works. When the knockout stage starts, everything is reset. Turkey will have massive crowd support as a result of the massive Turkish diaspora in Germany. And sides like Austria, which are decent but not quite top level, usually have a come down to earth moment.

England will beat Slovakia. Add England to the list of sides that have been extremely disappointing. But Slovakia offers nothing to suggest that they will beat England. The Switzerland v Italy game could go either way, and is the game I have the least confidence in predicting. I might as well do a coin flip. I’ll go with Switzerland, as Italy are extremely poor.

Germany v Spain. Based on group stage performance, this should be the final, as these have been the two best performing sides. Like the Italy v Switzerland game, I have almost no confidence in my pick. But I’ll go with Germany. But only because they will get the host nation boost.

France will beat Portugal. Only because this will be the 3rd straight Euro meeting between the two and France is due for a win against Portugal. The Netherlands will beat Turkey. The unimpressive Dutch go through because the quarterfinals is the ceiling for Turkey. England beat Switzerland.

Germany beats France in a reverse of 8 years ago where the French hosts beat Germany in the Euro 2016 semis. The Dutch will beat England in the semis. England has never beaten any of Brazil, Argentina, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands or Portugal in a World Cup or Euro knockout stage game that wasn’t played in England. Look it up for yourself if you don’t believe me.

That streak probably continues despite the Netherlands being a bang average side. Lucky for England, they host Euro 2028. But don’t take the prediction of the Netherlands making he final as a claim that the Dutch are anything more than an average to below average team. They just benefitted from an extremely lucky draw, like England in the 2018 World Cup.

Germany beats the Netherlands. The Dutch won the previous Euro hosted in Germany. They will not repeat the feat. Germany has not won a Euro in 28 years. They’re due. Spain and France are the only other alternative champions.