With qualifying for the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament just around the corner, we take a look at each group and pick out some potential talents to keep an eye on as well as the favourites to qualify.
With 24 teams set to compete in the tournament, the top two teams from each of the seven groups of five teams and three groups of six sides will qualify directly. Meanwhile, the remaining 12 teams from the UEFA Nations League will participate in playoffs to secure the final three spots.
Sorare just confirmed it will cover international qualifiers too - so we can begin our scouting mission here for some potential bargains in their fantasy football games when the league games pause for international break.
GROUP A
Starting with Group A, which comprises of Spain, Scotland, Norway, Georgia, and Cyprus, Spain is the clear favourite to top the group. Norway and Scotland will likely compete for the second direct qualifying spot, while the remaining teams might only play the role of spoilers. Norwegian fans will be hoping to see the Manchester City striker, Erling Haaland, lead the team to his first senior international tournament. Aside from the usual suspects at Spain (ahem - Pedri!) one of the most exciting talents to track in this group will be Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Georgia - who has broken onto the scene this season in Napoli's title contending side.
GROUP B
Group B includes the Netherlands, France, Republic of Ireland, Greece, and Gibraltar. The Dutch and French teams are expected to cruise through this group, but Greece, the surprise winners of Euro 2004, might cause some problems. The Republic of Ireland, on the other hand, will need to massively improve on their recent woes with the help of an exciting young crop of players. Players to watch in this group will undoubtedly be Cody Gakpo of the Netherlands and Kylian Mbappe of France - but ones to watch outside of the big names we'll go for Evan Ferguson of Brighton and Republic of Ireland, and Konstantinos Mavropanos of Greece. Two young players at either end of their respective sides who will be looking to stake their claim on the European football stage.
GROUP C
Group C features Italy, England, Ukraine, North Macedonia, and Malta. As two of the finalists from Euro 2020, Italy and England are the clear favorites to secure direct qualification. However, Ukraine will be looking to cause an upset or two against the heavyweights. Looking at England, we'll be keeping a close eye on whether Marcus Rashford can continue his Manchester United form at international level. We'll also be keen to see if the likes of Federico Chiesa will be able to stake his claim back into the Italy side after his injury woes with Juventus.
GROUP D
Croatia, Wales, Armenia, Turkey, and Latvia make up Group D. Croatia is the favorite to top the group, with Wales and Turkey likely to compete for the second direct qualifying spot. With the retirement of Gareth Bale, Wales will be looking to the young blood to step in and step up to ensure qualification which will be difficult for them without any true world class options. Turkish wonderkids to keep an eye out for: Arda Guler and Yunus Akgun will hopefully become more regular faces for their national side over the next year and stake a claim for the finals. Croatia's ageing side will look to the future. Salzburg's Luka Sucic has been hotly tipped to become "the next Modric" - only time will tell there!
GROUP E
Poland, the Czech Republic, Albania, the Faroe Islands, and Moldova make up Group E. Poland and the Czech Republic are the clear favorites to qualify directly. Albania however, are sure to provide tough opposition. Poland will still be able to count on Lewandowski, but we'll have eyes on Sebastian Szymanski who has been in great form for Feyenoord this season. Should he be able to return from injury soon enough, we'll expect him to play a key role in qualification. Czech Republic wil undoubtedly be looking to Patrik Schick for their goals once more in what could be an entertaining group to follow.
GROUP F
Belgium, Austria, Sweden, Azerbaijan, and Estonia make up Group F. Belgium is expected to top the group, with Sweden and Austria likely to battle it out for the second direct qualifying spot. After a disappointing showing at the World Cup though, anything could happen. We'll be keeping an eye on Austria's young stars Yusuf Demir and Christoph Baumgartner for creativity. Demir may be a wild card choice here as he's yet to break through fully at club level with Galatasaray. Sweden too have some exciting prospects - with Dejan Kulusevski, Alexander Isak and Amin Sarr all offering exciting attacking output.
GROUP G
Group G features Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, and Lithuania. Serbia is expected to be slight favorites, but Hungary, with their impressive performance in the last two EUROs, and Montenegro, with its rich pool of talent, cannot be counted out. Serbian players to watch will undoubtedly be Tadic, Vlahovic and young centre back Pavlovic. Montenegro have an exciting talent in Sead Haksabanovic.
GROUP H
Moving on to the six-team groups, Group H comprises of Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland, and San Marino. As semi-finalists in EURO 2020, Denmark is expected to qualify with ease, with Northern Ireland and Finland likely to compete for the second direct qualifying spot. The Danes one to watch will likely be Casper Tengstedt who recently moved to Benfica. You can expect he'll be on the end of more than a few deliveries from Christian Eriksen.
GROUP I
Group I includes Switzerland, Israel, Romania, Kosovo, Belarus, and Andorra. Switzerland is the most likely to emerge as the top team from this balanced group. Romania, Israel, and Kosovo all have a chance of making history with a qualification, while Belarus and Andorra are the outsiders in the section. Exciting young Israeli talent Oscar Gloukh is one of the top prospects here in what should be an exciting group. We'll also have our eye on Noah Okafor of Switzerland who plays his club football at the same team as Gloukh - Red Bull Salzburg who have a history of unearthing top talent in recent times.
GROUP J
Finally, Group J features Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Luxembourg, Slovakia, and Liechtenstein. Portugal is the clear favorite to top the group, with the rest of the teams likely to compete for the second direct qualifying spot. Goncalo Ramos will be looking to stake his claim filling in a Cristiano Ronaldo shaped void should the Striker find himself out of the selection for Portugal. It'll be particularly interesting following who will take up 2nd and 3rd place in this group, as it's almost unthinkable that Portugal will drop many points in qualifying.
We're looking forward to the qualifiers kicking off in March - who do you have down as your favourites for each group? And did we miss any wonderkids we should be watching out for?
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