Euro 2024 Group F Predictions: Plain sailing for Portugal

| Monday 10th June 2024, 13:17pm

Monday 10th June 2024, 13:17pm

Euro 2016 winners Portugal are among the outright favourites ahead of this summer’s tournament, and they will certainly fancy their chances of winning a group containing the Czech Republic, Turkey and first-time entrants Georgia.

Read on for my Euro 2024 Group F predictions and betting tips, as I analyse all four teams and assess their key players.

Euro 2024 Group F Betting Tips

Portugal Total Group Points - 9 @ 5/2
Georgia Total Group Points - 0 @ 3/1

Portugal

World Ranking: Sixth

To Win The Group: 4/9

After crashing out of the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals to Morocco, Portugal made the perfect start to life under new boss Roberto Martinez, winning all 10 Euro 2024 qualifiers to book their spot in Germany.

A Seleção das Quinas conceded just twice - both goals in a 3-2 victory over Slovakia in October 2023 - to announce themselves as a serious contender to reclaim their crown in July, but it’s been a mixed bag of results this calendar year.

Portugal have thrashed Sweden (5-2) and Finland (4-2) in international friendlies but have also suffered defeats to Slovenia (0-2) and Croatia (1-2), ending their invincible run.

Nevertheless, their squad remains one of the strongest at Euro 2024, packed with elite-level players at the top of the game and, who could forget, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Key Player: Bruno Fernandes

Ronaldo will steal the headlines - rightly or wrongly - as per, but it’s Fernandes who makes this team tick.

The Manchester United captain registered more assists (seven) than any other player in qualifying and the onus will be on him to provide the likes of Ronaldo, Diogo Jota and Rafael Leao with goalscoring opportunities.

Prediction:

There’s a lot to like about this Portugal side. There are goals at the top end of the pitch, creativity and bite - I’m thinking of you, Joao Palhinha - in midfield, and some serious know-how at the back.

I would be stunned if Portugal didn’t finish first in their group, and I expect them to at least reach the semi-finals. If they don’t, serious questions will be asked about Martinez’s credentials on the international stage.

Turkey

World Ranking: 40th

To Win The Group: 4/1

Don’t say it, don’t say it - are Turkey dark horses? We all remember those famous last words in the previous edition, as the Crescent-Stars went on to record a grand total of zero points in their group to finish behind Italy, Wales and Switzerland.

But Turkey are back again, looking to restore their great name, this time under former Italy striker Vincenzo Montella, who masterminded an impressive qualification campaign to finish ahead of both Croatia and Wales.

A 3-2 victory over Germany in a November international friendly in Berlin further strengthened Turkey’s name ahead of these finals, but they’ve been humbled this year, losing 1-0 to Hungary on March 22 before being thrashed 6-1 by Austria four days later.

A goalless draw with Italy on June 4 should have helped restore some confidence, however, and Montella will be eyeing a second-place finish behind Portugal in Group F.

Key Player: Hakan Calhanoglu

Could it be anyone else? Recently voted best midfielder in a triumphant Serie A season for Inter Milan, Calhanoglu is the heartbeat of this Turkey side, despite failing to score or register an assist in qualifying.

The 30-year-old struck 13 times in Serie A for Inter and his set-pieces could be crucial for Turkey in Germany this summer.

Prediction:

I - and many others, I’m sure - have been burned badly by Turkey before, but if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

Portugal should sweep all before them, but the other sides - Czech Republic and Georgia - shouldn’t be feared. A top-two finish is achievable for Turkey, but they could face France in the last 16, and that would spell serious trouble.

Czech Republic

World Ranking: 36th

To Win The Group: 6/1

Gone are the days of Petr Cech, Tomas Rosicky, Milan Baros and Jan Koller. That quartet helped the Czech Republic to a semi-final in Euro 2004, but the current crop isn't on that level.

What the Czechs lack in talent, though, they make up for in hard work, and that will be the key to their chances of progression from Group E.

West Ham United duo Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek are the mainstays of this side and will be called upon again in Germany, with the latter his nation’s top scorer in qualifying alongside Vaclav Cerny with three goals.

The Czechs finished ahead of Poland but behind Albania in qualifying, scoring just 12 times in eight games, despite facing the Faroe Islands and Moldova twice each.

Key Player: Patrik Schick

Schick top-scored at the last Euros for the Czech Republic, netting all three of his nation’s goals in the group stage - including a stunner from long-range against Scotland - and struck in both the round of 16 and quarter-finals, finishing level with Cristiano Ronaldo as the competition’s top scorer.

Prediction:

The Czech Republic qualified for the knockouts of the last Euros as one of the four best third-placed teams, and they may require something similar in Germany.

Georgia

World Ranking: 75th

To Win The Group: 14/1

Georgia qualified for their first-ever European Championship by beating Luxembourg and Greece in one-off play-off matches, triumphing against the latter via a penalty shoot-out.

Prior to that, Georgia finished fourth in a five-team Euro 2024 qualifying group, behind Spain, Scotland and Norway, and only in front of Cyprus.

At 500/1, Georgia are the biggest underdogs in Germany - and for good reason.

Key Player: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

If Calhanoglu was an obvious shout for Turkey, Khvicha ‘Kvaradona’ Kvaratskhelia is an even easier pick to be Georgia’s main man.

Kvaradona is the biggest name by far in their squad, gaining notoriety for helping to end Napoli’s long wait for a Serie A title in 2022/23.

His form dropped off last season but he still struck 11 times in the league and was his nation’s top scorer in qualifying with four goals.

Prediction:

Much will depend on the form of Kvaratskhelia, while Georges Mikautadze will need to pull his weight up top after a brilliant second half to the season with Ligue 1 strugglers Metz, for whom he scored 14 times in 22 appearances.

Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili will also be crucial, but they could very well end the group stage with zero points.