Euro 2024 will get underway in just over two weeks, with there being quite a bit of intrigue as to who will emerge victorious from the tournament in Germany.
The likes of France, Germany, Portugal, and Spain will all fancy their chances of making a deep run in the championships, with some dark horse nations such as the Netherlands and Denmark also likely to be in the mix.
Of course, England have already anointed themselves as favourites to lift the trophy.
Not only do their supporters expect them to go all the way in the tournament, but many bookmakers across thew water have made them the favourites in the betting.
We know all too well how far a similar attitude has gotten them in the past. Claims like this one from Paul Merson has been commonplace in the country for a number of months.
"I just don't see how we don't win it... France have two players who get into our team!" 🦁
Do you agree with Paul Merson? 🏴 pic.twitter.com/hd2PWDq9pM— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 6, 2024
England certainly possess a very talented squad, but that can also be said about quite a few other nations in Germany. As well as that, there remains some major question marks about their manager when it comes to games against top opposition.
As a result, not everyone is convinced by their status as favourites for Euro 2024.
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Virgil van Dijk ont convinced that England are Euro 2024 favourites
Virgil van Dijk will captain the Netherlands at Euro 2024, featuring in a group alongside France, Poland, and Austria.
While they are not one of the favourites to win the tournament, they do have some quality players and will have the ability to put it up to any other nation if they perform well.
Virgil van Dijk is someone who knows English football well, having spent the last nine years of his career there with Southampton and Liverpool. With that in mind, it seems as though he is not quite as confident in England winning Euro 2024 as many other residents in the nation.
Speaking to Sky Sports at the Monaco Grand Prix over the weekend, he reacted with genuine surprise when he was told that England were favourites to win the tournament.
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Reporter: A word about the Euros and the Netherlands. It's a big competition, England are favourites.Virgil: Are they?
Reporter: I think so, the bookies think so.
Virgil: Okay? Yeah listen, England has a very good team and squad but so many other teams do as well, France is very strong. It will be interesting. I'm looking forward to that as well.
It is next door (in Germany) as we say in Holland, so hopefully we will have a lot of Dutch fans and the Orange army there supporting us.
It's fair to say he is not convinced that England deserve that favourites tag.
France would likely be considered the Euro 2024 favourites among many neutral fans, having finals in three of the last four major tournaments in which they have featured. Of course, that run also featured a win over England in the quarter-finals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
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