Only 18 months away now so shorter cycle than the usual two year period where teams can experiment for 12 months in certain areas.
Qualifiers start in March with Italy-England the most eye catching.
They always say nowadays tournaments are wide open with no stand out team yet we've just had a World cup with two of the favourites still making the final despite it being a world cup with many shocks.
I do however generally enjoy Euros more as a spectacle and can't go wrong with it being back in the summer and with a top host in Germany. Proper festival of football.
And with regards it being wide open I do think you can make a case due to how many major european powerhouses are still in transition.
Of course France remain team to beat. However many of their regulars will be in their 30s so I think that might be a tournament where they remain unconvincing in general play but of course if Mbappe is shooting 8 goals again you're going to have to play very well to actually beat them.
Everyone expected a better Spain by now. Still losing early in tournaments on penalty shoot outs with a lack of cutting edge.
Germany currently on a run of two group stage and a meek last 16 exit in last three tournaments. However they used a home tournament to relaunch themselves as major contenders in 2006 so wouldn't be shocked if same happened here as they do have some top young players bubbling under the surface.
Belgium will do well to make quarters given the mess of their squad currently.
Who knows from Italy given the last 5 years but they remain light in attack and will be first major tournament in nearly 20 years without one of Chellini-Bonucci at heart of backline so would be very surprised if they threaten to win it.
Croatia actually tend to do better now at World cups than euros, last made even QFs of euros in 2008.
Portugal should've done better at this WC. Free from Ronaldo circus and a new attack minded coach I think they have a serious chance to win.
As do England....yes don't laugh with Southgate staying on. When you look at age profile of squad it's very close to being perfect in terms of tournament experience so England really need to be making the final again imo although would help if a decent young CB emerges in next year from somewhere.
I'd quite like to see Norway qualify for once. With Haaland + Odegaard I actually could see them having a Wales/Iceland type run so think it's a case of qualifying is harder than actually playing at the tournament like with so many other nearly nations who have world class players in their 11.
Qualifiers start in March with Italy-England the most eye catching.
They always say nowadays tournaments are wide open with no stand out team yet we've just had a World cup with two of the favourites still making the final despite it being a world cup with many shocks.
I do however generally enjoy Euros more as a spectacle and can't go wrong with it being back in the summer and with a top host in Germany. Proper festival of football.
And with regards it being wide open I do think you can make a case due to how many major european powerhouses are still in transition.
Of course France remain team to beat. However many of their regulars will be in their 30s so I think that might be a tournament where they remain unconvincing in general play but of course if Mbappe is shooting 8 goals again you're going to have to play very well to actually beat them.
Everyone expected a better Spain by now. Still losing early in tournaments on penalty shoot outs with a lack of cutting edge.
Germany currently on a run of two group stage and a meek last 16 exit in last three tournaments. However they used a home tournament to relaunch themselves as major contenders in 2006 so wouldn't be shocked if same happened here as they do have some top young players bubbling under the surface.
Belgium will do well to make quarters given the mess of their squad currently.
Who knows from Italy given the last 5 years but they remain light in attack and will be first major tournament in nearly 20 years without one of Chellini-Bonucci at heart of backline so would be very surprised if they threaten to win it.
Croatia actually tend to do better now at World cups than euros, last made even QFs of euros in 2008.
Portugal should've done better at this WC. Free from Ronaldo circus and a new attack minded coach I think they have a serious chance to win.
As do England....yes don't laugh with Southgate staying on. When you look at age profile of squad it's very close to being perfect in terms of tournament experience so England really need to be making the final again imo although would help if a decent young CB emerges in next year from somewhere.
I'd quite like to see Norway qualify for once. With Haaland + Odegaard I actually could see them having a Wales/Iceland type run so think it's a case of qualifying is harder than actually playing at the tournament like with so many other nearly nations who have world class players in their 11.