Euro 2024 Group Stage Analysis: Expectations for Groups D, E, and F

Europe's biggest competition is back in the summer, and football fans all over the world cannot wait to watch the best teams and players on the continent go at each other. The UEFA Euros tournament will be held for the 17th time since 1960, and Germany will have the honor of being its host this June.

The group stage rounds of this prestigious tournament have delivered over the years with memorable matchups, and this year's will be no exception. As the countdown continues, and with Euro 2024 tickets selling out fast, we analyze the potential outcomes of Groups D, E, and F.

GROUP D – France, Poland, Austria, and the Netherlands

France is considered one of the favorites at this year's tournament and should see it through the group stage. Didier Deschamps comes into the tournament armed with possibly the deepest squad in the tournament and on the back of a World Cup Final campaign. With Kylian Mbappé in the form of his life and the likes of Antoine Griezmann ageing like fine wine, France looks to be in a firm position to win Group D.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup winners will hope to avenge their early and disappointing exit from the Euros last time around with dominant displays right from the jump. However, they face a tricky test, with the Netherlands, another European juggernaut, in the same group.

Clashes between these two nations have produced some of the most iconic memories in European football history, from France's dramatic penalty shootout win in 1996 to Frank de Boer's stunning free-kick goal in Euro 2000. Since 1996, both teams have faced each other 11 times in all competitions, with France coming out on top six times to the Netherlands' three. The two teams' most recent matchup was at last year's Euro Qualifiers, with France winning the first leg convincingly and a tight affair in Amsterdam that also ended in favor of Les Bleus.

Fans can expect things to be different this time around though as Ronald Koeman seeks to clinch the more favourable top spot. The former Dutch and Barcelona centre-back will lead a new generation of Dutch talents who have the potential to overcome any opposition they face.

Austria and Poland are likely to settle for the final two spots in Group D, although, at the Euros, one can never tell what shockers are in store. Ralf Rangnick's men took down the hosts Germany late last year and gave Belgium problems at the Qualifiers. However, the Austrian National Team was dealt a big blow when captain David Alaba tore his ACL in December. In what is already a tough group, it's hard to see them conjuring any surprises.

The same can be said for Poland, a team that had to squeeze their way into the tournament via the playoffs after finishing four points behind Albania at the Euro Qualifiers. This will be the fifth straight time they make it to the Euros, and Michał Probierz's men can only hope for a miracle to make it out of the group, with a good third-place finish the most likely outcome.

GROUP E – Belgium, Ukraine, Romania, and Slovakia

Belgium finds themselves in perhaps the easiest group in this tournament and should clinch the top spot without much stress. However, considering the series of disappointments over the years, it's hard to know if they've finally learned their lessons.

Despite having a Golden Generation of players, the Red Devils have struggled to live up to the hype, going only as far as the 2018 World Cup semi-finals. Their last two major tournament campaigns were forgettable, suffering at the hands of defending champions Italy in the Euro 2020 quarter-final, followed by a disaster class at the World Cup in Qatar, where they failed to make it past the group stage. With their championship window now closed, Domenico Tedesco will hope to lead a new generation to the nation's first title.

Belgium will ride on the back of Lukaku's record-setting 14-goal campaign at the Euro 2024 Qualifiers, the most of any player. Remnants from the previous generation of stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Jan Vertonghen could add their veteran experience to the team as well.

Their biggest competition will perhaps be Ukraine and Romania. The latter went 10 games without losing at the Qualifiers, enough to seal the top spot over Switzerland in Group I. However, considering their lack of experience in big tournaments, it could cost them. Ukraine, on the other hand, will hope to improve on their last result when they make it to the Euro 2020 quarter-final round. Serhiy Rebrov’s team finished third in the Qualifiers in a tough group, but booked a spot after defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland.

Slovakia are the underdogs in this group, but considering their tough showing against Portugal last year, they could spark a surprise in Group E.

GROUP F – Portugal, Georgia, Czech Republic, and Turkey

This should be a stress-free one for Portugal, the only team to finish the Qualifiers with a perfect record. Leading the way for the Euro 2016 winners will be none other than captain Cristiano Ronaldo, although it remains to be seen how much of an impact he will make this time around. This will be Ronaldo's record sixth appearance in a competition that already bears his name in much of its record books.

Despite being 39 years old, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been in fine form for club and country. He finished his qualifying campaign with 10 goals in nine games, only behind Lukaku, and also scored 35 goals and 11 assists in just 31 appearances for Al Nassr, the most goals in Saudi Pro League history.

Roberto Martinez will also have the luxury of fielding world-class stars like Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, João Cancelo, João Félix, and Renato Sanches. It's hard to see this team not making it past Turkey, who will likely be their biggest threat to the top spot. The Crescent-Stars failed to live up to expectations in Euro 2020, finishing dead last in Group A, but look like a completely different team under Vincenzo Montella. They earned convincing wins against the likes of Germany and Croatia and could go toe-to-toe with the Seleção.

It will likely be a one-man show for the most part for the Czech Republic as they hope to fight for at least second in Group F. Captain Tomáš Souček will lead the charge for the Balkans, a country that has appeared in all Euro competitions since their first tournament as an independent nation in 1996.

As for Georgia, their fairytale run into a first-ever major tournament might potentially be over from the jump.