Group A Euro 2024 Predictions: Germany Is Predicted To Advance, Tight Competition Between Switzerland, Hungary, And Scotland

Germany has experienced an unusual period in recent years. (photo: x @DFB_Team)

JAKARTA - The approaching Euro 2024, the Opta supercomputer has also made predictions for Group A consisting of Germany, Scotland, Hungary, and Switzerland. Then who will qualify for the round of 16?

The 17th edition of the European Cup will start on June 14 when the host Germany faces Scotland in Munich. The other two teams in Group A are Hungary and Switzerland, which make the group one of the most balanced in the entire tournament.

Hosts Germany will start the Euro 2024 party next week, hoping to host the first singles to win the competition since France in 1984.

Good news for Germany and its new coach Julian Nagelsmann is that they have historically tended to perform well at home on the big stage. Every time they host a single tournament, Germany has always finished in the top four, won the 1974 World Cup, reached the semifinals at Euro 1988, and finished third in the 2006 World Cup.

However, these performances are past and Germany has experienced an unusual period in recent years. Amazingly, they haven't won knockout matches in major international tournaments since Euro 2016, having been knocked out in the group stage in the last two World Cups (2018, 2022) and in the last 16 of Euro 2020.

Opta's supercomputer predicts that the bad record will end at Euro 2024, making Germany a clear favorite to qualify from Group A (88.5%). They are predicted to top the group in more than half (52.1%) supercomputer data-based simulations.

In fact, with a 12.4% chance to win, they are Opta's third favorite to win this competition behind England (19.9%) and France (19.1%). Winning Group A will give them the last 16 game that should be profitable against Group C runners-up. From there, a long journey can happen.

But don't get me wrong, Group A is probably the tightest of all. That can be seen from the probability of the success of other teams in this group.

Switzerland (61.0%) is the second supercomputer favorite to qualify for the last 16, but has separated them very little. Murat Yakin's side participated in their sixth European Cup, the third in a row, and will try to repeat the success of the Euro 2020 campaign which saw them beat France on penalties in epic last 16 matches.

Their track record is also strong. Together with France, Switzerland is the only European team to reach the knockout stages in the last five major international tournaments. They have a 61.0% chance of extending the record, while they have a 25.6% chance of reaching the quarter-finals again.

From there, there was a very small decline to Hungary (59.3%). Before the last friendly defeat of the Republic of Ireland, they were unbeaten in 13 matches, so Marco Rossi's team came to the tournament with a good performance. Victory in qualifying marked their first time through the entire qualifying group of the European Championships without losing, and the first time before a major tournament since the 1974 World Cup.

Hungary failed to win one game at Euro 2020, but Liverpool midfielder and captain Dominik Szoboszlai missed the tournament with injuries. With a talent squad from Europe's top five leagues, Hungary could become a dark horse this year.

Scotland completed the group and had a 58.9% chance of qualifying for the round of 16. That would be the first for Scotland, who appeared for the fourth time in the European Cup but had never reached the knockout round.

Steve Clarke's side are very impressive in qualifying, finishing second in a tough group that contains Spain and Norway. They garnered five wins in the campaign, the most in the eight-match qualifying group for a major tournament, including a 2-0 win over Spain at Hampden Park.

Scott McTominay scored both goals and the Manchester United midfielder scored seven total goals during the qualifying process, the most for Scottish players in the Euro/World Cup qualifying campaign.

The second finish in the group - and the model shows they have a 24.6% chance of doing so - will see them face Group B runners-up in the round of 16. If they win, Scotland can face arch-enemy, England, in the quarter-finals.

If that happens, it is certain that the majority of Great Britain will lose its mind.