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5 nations most likely to win UEFA Euro 2020

By Shane McFarland

PORTO, PORTUGAL - JUNE 5: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Juventus celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Nations League Semi-Final match between Portugal and Switzerland at Estadio do Dragao on June 5, 2019 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
PORTO, PORTUGAL - JUNE 5: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Juventus celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Nations League Semi-Final match between Portugal and Switzerland at Estadio do Dragao on June 5, 2019 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images) /
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PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 7: Olivier Giroud of France celebrates his goal with Antoine Griezmann, Kingsley Coman during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier match between France and Albania at Stade de France on September 7, 2019 in Saint-Denis near Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 7: Olivier Giroud of France celebrates his goal with Antoine Griezmann, Kingsley Coman during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier match between France and Albania at Stade de France on September 7, 2019 in Saint-Denis near Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images) /

1. France

Perhaps no team will have as much pressure on them at Euro 2020 next year than France. However, if there’s a team that could live up to the pressure and the hype that will inevitably follow, it’s definitely Les Bleus. The depth and quality of their squad might be unparalleled in world football today.

Take for instance some of France’s forward options: Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Kingsley Coman, Anthony Martial, Alexandre Lacazette. How could French manager Didier Deschamps possibly go wrong with any combination of those three?

From there, working into the French midfield with quality like Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kanté and Tanguy Ndombele, teams will have fits moving the ball comfortably against this side. While the French did not play as sexy of a game as many had hoped they would during the 2018 World Cup, they do the small things that win championships and many times that means doing the dirty work in the middle of the park. Despite the criticisms Pogba often faces at Manchester United for not tracking back consistently or giving maximum effort, when he puts that French jersey on, it’s all for one and one for all. He’s simply a different player, one that France might not be able to do without.

Finally, looking at France’s defense, there’s no shortage of talent there either. Beginning with captain Hugo Lloris who has earned in excess of 100 caps for his national team, he’s fronted by any combination of Raphaël Varane, Lucas Hernandez, Benjamin Pavard, Samuel Umtiti and Benjamin Mendy. Mind you, that’s leaving out some of the other outstanding French defenders that play in some of Europe’s biggest leagues and most successful clubs like Lucas Digne (Everton), Clément Lenglet (Barcelona), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City) and Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid).

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If all the cards fall the right way and France is able to capture a European title next summer, we could be seeing a golden age for French football in the same way we saw Spain and  Germany dominate the continent in the past two decades.

No matter what, Euro 2020 should provide us with some great story lines and some stellar football to follow the summer through. What do you think? Who are your favorites to take Euro 2020?

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