MARTIN KEOWN gives his expert verdict on EVERY team at Euro 2024, including 24 rising stars to watch and predicted standings for all six groups

With just under two days to go until the start of the tournament in Germany, Euro 2024-mania has reached fever-pitch. 

Host nations Germany will get the tournament underway against Scotland, with England's first outing - and a chance to get a look at one of the competition's favourites - coming against Serbia on Sunday evening. 

Here, Mail Sport columnist - and Arsenal legend - MARTIN KEOWN offers his comprehensive guide to every team in the competition ahead of Friday's curtain-raiser.  

GROUP A

Germany

World ranking: 16th

Euro best: Winners - 1972, 1980, 1996 

Odds: 9/2

The boss: Julian Nagelsmann

Nagelsmann has been in charge of the tournament hosts for just nine months and results have been mixed. The 36-year-old can only improve on Germany’s 2022 World Cup showing, where they failed to progress beyond the group stage.

Main man: Toni Kroos 

Kroos, who has 109 caps and won the 2014 World Cup, retires after the tournament and will want to sign off with Euros glory.

Rising star: Jamal Musiala

A Bayern Munich starter at 21, Musiala is one of the hottest prospects in Europe. After moving to Bavaria from Chelsea in 2019 for just £170,000 his value has skyrocketed, and the former England youth star will be among the first names on the team sheet due to his creativity and dribbling ability.

Form guide: Middling 

Since Nagelsmann took over, Germany have only won half of their matches and lost to Turkey and Austria. Since those shock defeats though, they have secured notable wins over the Netherlands and France, as well as Greece.

KEOWN'S VERDICT: Recent showings at Euros and World Cups have not lived up to expectations but Germany should top this group under Nagelsmann, the highly-rated tactician hopeful of inspiring the home nation to triumph.

Scotland

World ranking: 39th 

Euro best: Group - 1992, 1996, 2020

Odds: 150/1

The boss: Steve Clarke

Clarke learned the ropes as an assistant to Jose Mourinho at Chelsea and Gianfranco Zola at West Ham, and Scotland’s fortunes have improved notably since his appointment in 2019.

Main man: Andy Robertson 

The Liverpool defender is the consummate modern full back: uncompromising in defence and dangerous in attack. A tough opponent and Scotland’s key man on and off the pitch.

Rising star: Billy Gilmour 

The 23-year-old Brighton midfielder has flourished since moving to the south coast from Chelsea and played 41 games for the Seagulls last season.

Form guide: Poor 

Ended a seven-game winless run dating back to September with a 2-0 win over Gibraltar earlier this month. Denied an uplifting win at Hampden last Friday when Finland scored two late goals to draw 2-2.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: Having pencilled my predictions into my Mail Sport wallchart I’ve got Scotland finishing third behind Germany and Switzerland, which Clarke will hope is enough to see them reach the knockout stages for the first time. You can guarantee the Tartan Army will give everything to make that happen.

Switzerland

World ranking: 19th 

Euro best: Quarter-finals - 2020

Odds: 66/1

The boss: Murat Yakin

With a long managerial CV including stints with Champions League regulars Spartak Moscow and Basle, Yakin led Switzerland to the last 16 of the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

Main man: Granit Xhaka 

The former Arsenal midfielder’s leadership was key to Bayer Leverkusen’s domestic double in Germany. His tactical acumen and passing range will be vital if the Swiss are going to progress.

Rising star: Zeki Amdouni

The Burnley man is an explosive winger who can drive with the ball at his feet and never neglects his defensive duties.

Form guide: Patchy 

Lost just once since Portugal thrashed them 6-1 to dump them out of the World Cup but they drew six out of eight before back-to-back wins against the Republic of Ireland and Estonia in March. Drew 1-1 with Austria in their final warm-up match.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: Switzerland have got used to making it out of their Euros group, reaching the last 16 in 2016 and the quarter-finals in 2020, and I expect the same again here. They have talented players, including the tenacious Xhaka in midfield, and should be targeting second if Germany finish first as expected.

Hungary

World ranking: 26th 

Euro best: Third - 1964

Odds: 150/1 

The boss: Marco Rossi

Six years into the job and Rossi, 59, has helped put this proud football nation back on the map.

Main man: Dominik Szoboszlai

The Liverpool midfielder made an instant impact in his debut season at Anfield, scoring seven goals in 45 games. His form tailed off a little towards the end of the season but he will be a key man for his country this summer.

Rising star: Milos Kerkez

The 20-year-old left back made debut in 2022. Played 33 games for Bournemouth last season.

Form guide: solid 

A 14-game unbeaten run dating back to September 2022 was ended by a last-minute Republic of Ireland winner last week.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: The quality of their opponents during their unbeaten run was hardly spectacular and I suspect they will struggle in Germany.

GROUP B

Spain

World ranking: 8th 

Euro best: Winners - 1964, 2008, 2012

Odds: 8/1

The boss: Luis de la Fuente

Since taking the job in December 2022, De la Fuente has suffered just two defeats and led his side to a Nations League title.

Main man: Rodri

Look no further than Rodri’s record with Manchester City as a measure of his quality - the midfielder chalked up an amazing 74 matches without a loss before the FA Cup final defeat by Manchester United.

Rising star: Nico Williams

The 21-year-old winger was key in Athletic Bilbao’s Copa del Rey triumph, contributing three goals and five assists as the club won their first silverware since 1984.

Form guide: Strong 

Spain’s run of eight straight wins was ended by Colombia at the London Stadium in March. Comfortable back-to-back victories earlier this month against Andorra (5-0) and Northern Ireland (5-1) will have boosted the confidence among De la Fuente’s side ahead of their first game on Saturday against Croatia.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: Spain won the Nations League last summer to secure their first international trophy since Euro 2012, when they thumped Italy 4-0 in the final with a glut of generational talents. Heading into this 2024 edition, at the heart of their team is Rodri, the 27-year-old Manchester City midfielder who hardly ever finds himself on the losing side. They should have enough to finish first in this group.

Croatia

World ranking: 10th 

Euro best: Quater-finals - 1996, 2008

Odds: 40/1

The boss: Zlatko Dalic

Now in his seventh year, Dalic has overseen some of the team’s best days, including reaching the World Cup final in 2018. But with an ageing squad the pressure is on to see if the new generation keep up standards set by Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic and Co.

Main man: Luka Modric 

Even at 38, Modric shows no signs of fading. He is now Real Madrid’s most decorated player; this month’s Champions League success represented his 26th trophy at the club. He will be tasked with leading Croatia one last time as they bid for a maiden international honour.

Rising star: Josko Gvardiol

The defender has come into his own at Manchester City after his £78million move last summer, settling comfortably into Pep Guardiola’s system - even adding goals to his game, too.

Form guide: Good 

Late losses to Wales and Turkey threatened to scupper their qualifying campaign but Croatia got over the line and are now unbeaten in six games, including an impressive 2-1 win against Portugal in Lisbon last weekend.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: Midfield maestros Modric and Mateo Kovacic will look to use every ounce of their experience, and Croatia can never be discounted, having proven that they can embark on long runs at international tournaments.

Italy

World ranking: 9th 

Euro best: Winners 0 1968, 2020

Odds: 14/1

The boss: Luciano Spalletti

With three decades’ worth of managerial experience, Spalletti was well placed to take the reins after Roberto Mancini resigned last summer. The 65-year-old led Napoli to their first Serie A title since 1990 in the 2022-23 season.

Main man: Nicolo Barella

One of those players who makes the game look easy. An energetic and experienced figure in midfield, the Inter man is always a threat to change a game.

Rising star: Mateo Retegui 

The Argentine-born striker impressed for Genoa last season and scored two vital goals in qualifying for Italy.

Form guide: Good 

A 0-0 draw with Ukraine was enough to seal automatic qualification on goal difference for the holders. Friendly victories over Venezuela and Ecuador and a draw with Turkey was followed before a narrow win over Bosnia in their last game before setting off for the Euros.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: Italy didn’t qualify for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups but won Euro 2020 in between and, as proud defending champions, they will hope to repeat history under Mancini’s replacement Spalletti. First, though, the Italians will need to navigate their way out of this tournament’s most challenging group. I suspect they will manage it but they may struggle to stop Spain finishing ahead of them.

Albania

World ranking: 66th 

Euro best: Group stage - 2016

Odds: 500/1

The boss: Sylvinho

Former Arsenal and Barcelona star has limited coaching experience after brief spells with Lyon and Corinthians.

Main man: Etrit Berisha

The 35-year-old goalkeeper and occasional penalty taker is likely entering his last dance.

Rising star: Kristjan Asllani

The midfielder, 22, has featured regularly for Inter Milan since joining two years ago.

Form guide: Improving 

Stopped the rot after four games without a win by beating Liechtenstein and Azerbaijan.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: Underdogs. An achievement for them to even be here.

GROUP C

England

World ranking: 4th 

Euro best: Runners-up - 2020

Odds: 3/1

The boss: Gareth Southgate

Now entering his fourth - and probably last - tournament, the pressure is on to deliver the silverware fans have been craving since 1966. Critics argue he is too cautious but his record stands up against every England manager since Sir Alf Ramsey.

Main man: Jude Bellingham

Spectacular debut season at Real Madrid saw the 20-year-old win the Champions League, La Liga and Player of the Season with 23 goals and 13 assists. He is central to England’s hopes.

Rising star: Kobbie Mainoo

Teen enjoyed a brilliant season for Manchester United, becoming a mainstay and scoring in their FA Cup final win.

Form guide: Uninspiring

After qualifying for the Euros with ease, last week’s win over Bosnia was England’s first since they beat Malta 2-0 last year. The humbling by Iceland at Wembley was a grim reality check.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: There is no doubt England have players capable of going to Germany and winning Euro 2024, especially in attack. A great deal will depend on whether Southgate can strike a successful balance between attack and providing enough protection for the defence. Here’s hoping we are in that final in Berlin come July 14.

Serbia

World ranking: 33rd

Euro best: First tournament as an independent Serbia

Odds: 66/1

The boss: Dragan Stojkovic

After learning the managerial ropes in Japan and China, he took Serbia to the Qatar World Cup but they were eliminated at the group stage.

Main man: Aleksandar Mitrovic

The former Fulham striker is now playing in Saudi Arabia for Al Hilal, where he has more goal involvements (33) than appearances (28). Won the Saudi Pro League last season.

Rising star: Strahinja Pavlovic

The 23-year-old defender has flourished since his 2022 move to Red Bull Salzburg after struggling for game time at his previous clubs.

Form guide: Patchy 

A 1-0 win over Cyprus in March was Serbia’s first since October. After losses to Belgium, Russia and Austria in their previous five games, Stojkovic’s men signed off for the Euros with an impressive 3-0 win in Sweden last Saturday.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: Serbia finished second in qualifying to Hungary, who beat them twice. Advancing to the knockout stages will be tricky. They will need to be defensively tight but also hope that Mitrovic and Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic can break through the back lines of their opponents in this challenging group.

Denmark

World ranking: 21st

Euro best: Winners - 1992

Odds: 50/1

The boss: Kasper Hjulmand

The exclusion of Celtic’s 19-goal midfielder Matt O’Riley from the squad turned heads. A poor Qatar World Cup saw the Danes finish bottom of the group, below Tunisia and Australia, managing just one point and one goal.

Main man: Christian Eriksen

Inspiring to see Eriksen back at this level after his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. His creative output has slowed but the Manchester United man will be pulling the strings in midfield.

Rising star: Rasmus Hojlund

A difficult first season at United and the weight of a hefty price tag leaves the 21-year-old striker with plenty to prove.

Form guide: Strong 

One defeat in 12 games - a 2-0 loss to Northern Ireland after they had qualified - suggests Denmark are likely to be England’s toughest test. Wins against Sweden and Norway last week boosted confidence further.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: It is 32 years since Denmark stunningly won Euro 1992 and I suspect they will at least qualify from this group - behind England, of course! They have recognisable talents throughout their team, from Eriksen to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Hojlund, and would love a repeat of their semi-final run in 2020 when they lost to England.

Slovenia

World ranking: 57th 

Euro best: Group stage - 2000

Odds: 200/1

The boss: Matjaz Kek

Now in his second stint after guiding Slovenia to the 2010 World Cup where they were beaten by Fabio Capello’s England in the group stages.

Main man: Jan Oblak 

Long-serving captain has had another impressive season at Atletico Madrid, keeping 13 clean sheets.

Rising star: Benjamin Sesko 

The 21-year-old striker has caught the eye of Europe’s big clubs after a fruitful first year at RB Leipzig in which he scored 14 goals in 31 league games. Signed a contract extension this week.

Form guide: Impressive 

One defeat in 12 - against Denmark last November - suggests they will be no pushovers.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: Slovenia will rely heavily on goalkeeper and captain Oblak, their Footballer of the Year, to shine if they are to get out of this group.

GROUP D

France

World ranking: 2nd

Euro best: Winners - 1984, 2000

The boss: Didier Deschamps

Led France to World Cup glory — as a player and manager — but the Euros title has so far eluded him, having lost as hosts to Portugal in the 2016 final.

Main man: Kylian Mbappe

The bookies’ favourite to win the Golden Boot has just joined Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain. Mbappe, 25, is already France’s third top goal scorer with 47, behind Olivier Giroud and Thierry Henry.

Rising star: Warren Zaire-Emery

The 18-year-old PSG star scored on his France debut, a 14-0 demolition of Gibraltar. He scored three goals and provided seven asissts in 43 appearances from central midfield last season.

Form guide: Strong

Les Bleus have lost twice to Germany in friendlies since September, but Greece (in a qualifying dead rubber) are the only other team to deny them victory since the 2022 World Cup final defeat by Argentina.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: As finalists in three of the last four tournaments — the outlier being Euro 2020 when they lost on penalties to Switzerland in the last 16 — France will hope to go all the way. My predictions have them clashing with England in the semi-finals and that is where their stay in Germany will end… we hope!

The Netherlands

World ranking: 7th 

Euro best: Winners - 1988

Odds: 18/1

The boss: Ronald Koeman

The 61-year-old has returned to the Dutch dugout after a brief hiatus to manage Barcelona, with his defensive approach suiting the wealth of back-line talent in the Netherlands squad.

Main man: Virgil van Dijk 

Now 32 but still at the top of his game, the Liverpool captain is among the world’s best central defenders. He will be crucial at the back as his side attempt to keep group heavyweights France - Kylian Mbappe et al - quiet in Leipzig on June 21.

Rising star: Xavi Simons 

The Leipzig forward, 21, had a standout campaign in Germany on loan from PSG, racking up eight goals and 13 assists in 32 appearances as his side finished fourth in the Bundesliga.

Form guide: Good 

Six wins in their last seven games will have built confidence ahead of the Euros, including 4-0 victories over Canada and Iceland in their warm-up games.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: The Netherlands boast a mature team packed with experienced players, not least Van Dijk at the heart of their three-man defence. Even someone as supreme as Van Dijk will be tested to his limit by Mbappe and my predictions have them finishing second to France as they chase their first Euros title since 1988.

Poland

World ranking: 28th 

Euro best: Quarter-finals - 2016

Odds: 150/1

The boss: Michal Probierz

Poland are unbeaten in eight matches since Probierz took over in September 2023. His three-at-the-back system has transformed the team’s fortunes.

Main man: Robert Lewandowski

Almost 20 years on from his pro debut, the 35-year-old will be playing in his sixth major tournament. He is his nation’s top scorer with 82 goals and netted 26 times for Barcelona last season - but will miss their opener against the Netherlands with a hamstring injury.

Rising star: Kacper Urbanski

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder was a regular in the Bologna side who finished fifth in Serie A last season. He only made his senior debut for Poland last week and provided an assist.

Form guide: Fair 

Scraped into the tournament by beating Wales on penalties in the play-offs, but are hitting form at the right time having not lost in eight games.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: Poland scored all five of their penalties to ensure they made it to these Euros instead of Wales, with Lewandowski setting the tone with the first spot-kick. Lewandowski will be relying on the hugely talented Piotr Zielinski creating chances for him to help Poland score their way out of this group.

Austria

World ranking: 25th 

Euro best: Last 16 - 2020

Odds: 80/1

The boss: Ralf Rangnick

Remember him? The German led Manchester United to their lowest Premier League points total (58) in 2021-22 but has managed 14 wins from his 23 games in charge of Austria.

Main man: Marcel Sabitzer

Enjoyed a resurgence at Borussia Dortmund last season after an underwhelming loan spell at Manchester United.

Rising star: Leopold Querfeld

The 20-year-old centre back is the youngest member of the squad. Scored three goals in his first full season at Rapid Vienna.

Form guide: Excellent 

One defeat in 16 (a 3-2 loss to Belgium) suggests they should not be underestimated.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: Austria could provide a shock with their high press under former United boss Rangnick. If that does not pay dividends, they are likely to finish fourth in this group.

GROUP E

Belgium

World ranking: 3rd

Euro best: Runners-up - 1980

Odds: 20/1

The boss: Domenico Tedesco

Appointed immediately after Belgium’s group-stage exit from the World Cup, the Italian has yet to taste defeat as Red Devils boss. Won the German Cup with RB Leipzig in 2022.

Main man: Kevin De Bruyne 

The midfield mastermind behind Manchester City’s years of dominance, De Bruyne’s experience will be key to developing Belgium’s youngsters following the retirement of many of their golden generation.

Rising star: Arthur Vermeeren

A young midfielder who has shown bags of potential in limited game-time at Atletico Madrid. The four-time capped 19-year-old has a particular point to prove at this tournament as he looks to show he deserves more minutes at club level.

Form guide: Good  

Belgium are unbeaten in 14 games since the World Cup. They drew both friendlies against Republic of Ireland and England in March before back-to-back wins against Montenegro and Luxembourg in their warm-up friendlies.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: Belgium have started to lose some of the stars from their ‘Golden Generation’ so with that fading tag, maybe the pressure on Tedesco’s side is easing. They still have some stellar names in their attack - it will be interesting to see how successfully De Bruyne can link up with Romelu Lukaku - but I worry for them defensively.

Ukraine

World ranking: 22nd

Euro best: Quarter-finals - 2020

Odds: 100/1

The boss: Serhiy Rebrov

The former Tottenham forward took over the national side after two stints managing in the Middle East and a trophy-laden spell with Dynamo Kyiv.

Main man: Oleksandr Zinchenko

Was a key player in his first season for Arsenal after moving away from Manchester City, where he won four Premier League winner’s medals and four Carabao Cups in five seasons.

Rising star: Mykhailo Mudryk

Became a household name when he moved to Chelsea for £88million in January last year. Mudryk’s superb technique and blink-and-you-miss-him pace make him a dangerous presence in Ukraine’s attack.

Form guide: Good

Defeat by Poland last week was their first since September and came just days after an admirable draw in Germany. Beat Moldova 4-0 on Tuesday.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: With last season’s La Liga top scorer Artem Dovbyk up front, Ukraine should fancy their chances of escaping this group behind Belgium. They did not make life easy for England or Italy in qualifying, before relying on Mudryk’s late winner against Iceland to reach this tournament. It is commendable, given what is going on in their country, that they are here at all.

Slovakia

World ranking: 48th

Euro best: Last 16 - 2016

Odds: 500/1

The boss: Francesco Calzona

The Italian is a multitasker, splitting his time in the last few months of the season by juggling the Slovakia job with a temporary head coach role at Napoli.

Main man: Milan Skriniar

With 68 caps to his name, 29-year-old Skriniar is a rock at the back for both Slovakia and his club, Paris Saint-Germain, where he has just won the league and cup double.

Rising star: Leo Sauer

The 18-year-old winger has made a strong impression at Feyenoord with his quick feet, direct dribbling and ability to create chances. Sauer became the youngest player to represent Slovakia when he made his debut off the bench against Norway in March.

Form guide: Impressive

Three defeats in 17 games and just one - a friendly at home to Austria - in their last six. Calzona’s side warmed up for the Euros with 4-0 wins over San Marino and Wales.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: Slovakia are one of the hopefuls looking to secure second position behind Belgium, but my predictions have them finishing fourth. They rely heavily on their midfield trio of Stanislav Lobotka, Ondrej Duda and Juraj Kucka and may struggle from their first match against Belgium.

Romania

World ranking: 46th

Euro best: Quarter-finals - 2000

Odds: 200/1

The boss: Edward Iordanescu

Modest playing career and not much of a managerial CV. 

Main man: Nicolae Stanciu

Most capped player and top scorer in the squad.

Rising star: Radu Dragusin

No-nonsense centre back signed for Tottenham in January.

Form guide: Decent

Unbeaten in a weak qualifying group and warmed up with goalless draws against Bulgaria and Liechtenstein.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: Romania have won only one match at the Euros - a 3-2 victory over England in 2000 - and need to improve that record to stand a chance here.

GROUP F

Portugal

World ranking: 6th

Euro best: Winners - 2016

Odds: 15/1

The boss: Roberto Martinez

Handed another high-profile job despite failing to lead Belgium out of their group at the World Cup. Has won every competitive match since his appointment in January 2023.

Main man: Cristiano Ronaldo

Probably his last dance at a tournament and the 39-year-old will want to sign off his top-level career with a bang now he plays his club football in the Saudi Pro League at Al Nassr.

Rising star: Francisco Conceicao

The 21-year-old winger has established himself as a first-team regular since joining Porto from Ajax. The son of Portugal great Sergio Conceicao scored eight goals last season.

Form guide: Good 

Won all 10 of their qualifying matches but defeats by Slovenia and Croatia have tempered expectations. Beat Ireland 3-0 in their final friendly on Tuesday.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: Portugal have a real chance of triumphing in Germany under Martinez. They were the only team to qualify for these Euros with a perfect record - 10 wins in which they scored 36 goals and conceded only twice. Ronaldo could yet collect another European Championship medal and will have plenty of talent around him, from Rafael Leao and Bruno Fernandes to Bernardo Silva.

Czech Republic

World ranking: 36th 

Euro best: Runners-up - 1996

Odds: 100/1

The boss: Ivan Hasek

Manager with 25 years’ experience who was president of the Czech FA from 2009 to 2011. A month after taking the role, he appointed himself head coach, then resigned after four months! Returned early this year.

Main man: Patrik Schick

The Bayer Leverkusen striker played an important part in his club’s historic domestic double and 51-game unbeaten run, scoring 13 goals in 33 appearances. He has 19 goals in 38 games for his country.

Rising star: Adam Hlozek

Another Leverkusen striker, who already has 32 caps aged 21. He made the most of limited minutes last season with seven goals for Xabi Alonso’s side.

Form guide: Unconvincing 

Finished second to Albania in their qualifying group, ahead of Poland. Hasek’s side beat North Macedonia in their final warm-up game on Monday with a stoppage-time penalty, having thrashed Malta 7-1 last week.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: The Czech Republic made hard work of qualifying but they are tough to beat, losing only one of their last 14 matches. If the Czechs finish second, as I have predicted here, that would leave them the daunting task of facing the winner of Group D, which will probably be fancied France.

Turkey

World ranking: 40th 

Euro best: Semi-finals - 2008

Odds: 66/1

The boss: Vincenzo Montella

The former Roma striker’s only managerial silverware came eight years ago when he won the Italian Super Cup with AC Milan. He has done well to ensure a third consecutive Euros qualification for Turkey.

Main man: Hakan Calhanoglu

The 30-year-old starred for Inter Milan last season with 15 goals and three assists from central midfield. Turkey’s captain will be key to their chances.

Rising star: Arda Guler 

Made a £17million move to Real Madrid from Fenerbahce last summer aged just 18 and, although his first season there was disrupted by injury, the attacking midfielder showed signs of brilliance, netting six times in 12 appearances.

Form guide: Poor 

Winless in five games since beating Germany 3-2 in November. They did hold Italy to a 0-0 draw in earlier this month but were beaten 2-1 by Poland on Monday.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: The last time Turkey got out of a Euros group was in 2008, when they went all the way to the semi-finals. But they have failed to win any of their last four friendlies in preparation for this tournament, including a 6-1 loss to Austria in March. They will hope Guler, the 19-year-old Real Madrid prospect, can help them pose a threat.

Georgia

World ranking: 75th 

Euro best: Tournament debut

Odds: 250/1

The boss: Willy Sagnol

Former France right back who won the Champions League with Bayern Munich as a player in 2001. Out of work for four years before he took the Georgia job in February 2021.

Main man: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

The 23-year-old Napoli winger’s electric pace and quick feet mean he is drawing interest from Europe’s biggest clubs.

Rising star: Gabriel Sigua

The 18-year-old has impressed at Swiss side Basle, showing his versatility by playing every position in midfield and attack.

Form guide: Fair 

One defeat in seven games (a 3-1 loss in Spain) suggests they will be no pushovers.

KEOWN’S VERDICT: Georgia are entering their first major tournament. Others will see them as cannon fodder but they will no doubt see this as a chance to prove everyone wrong.