As the nations preparations begin tonight, strikers across Europe will be hoping to get their eye in ahead of the tournament kick off in just 11 days...
No surprises to see who the bookies have as golden boot favourites. Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane are 9/2 and 11/2 respectively with Cristiano Ronaldo (12s), and Jude Bellingham and Romelu Lukaku 16s. With the English bookies odds reflecting largely players who have played in the PL, Olivier Giroud and Kai Havertz are both 20/1, while Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden are both 25/1, along with Alvaro Morata and Antoine Greizmann.
Of course, it isn't always the big names at the fancied countries who bang them in. Last time out Patrik Schick matched Ronaldo with 5 goals. This time the Czech star is 50/1.
Artem Dovbyk was La Liga top scorer, and at 40/1 he could be good value up front for Ukraine.
Benjamin Sesko is rumoured to be a PL transfer target, and has England in his sights this summer. Slovenia are outsiders, but if Sesko can get among the goals the 150/1 odds could bring a windfall.
Brian Brobbey is at the very start of his international career, and faces a fight just to get on the pitch. But after a good scoring season with underperforming Ajax he may push Wout Weghorst for a start and look good odds at 66/1.
For hosts Germany it has been a long time since they last picked up a European Championship - 1996 in England. They have been runners-up once and semi finalists twice in the last 4 editions. To win this year you would think Niclas Fullkrug will have to be among the goals. He was relatively unknown and playing in the second tier when he became one of the oldest debutants for Germany at 29. He picked up his first cap just days before the World Cup and made a big impact in the tournament with 2 goals despite Germany flopping out in the group stage. I expect Germany to go far this summer, and at 25/1 I think Fullkrug will put his Champions League final disappointment behind him and come up with the goals to win the top scorer award.
Euro 24 top scorer!
posted on 3/6/24
comment by Darren The String Fletcher (U10026)
posted 6 minutes ago
My dark horse is Ramos for Portugal - they also have a kind group
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He doesn’t start for Portugal, though. Ronaldo still starts.
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He gets subbed on a lot and will be up against tired legs. He is a dark horse like I said, my moneys on Kane though
posted on 3/6/24
I’d still be putting my money on Ronaldo from the Portugal team because he still plays 90 minutes every game.
Kane’s obviously a good shout, but I reckon Lukaku takes it when you look at their group.
posted on 3/6/24
comment by Darren The String Fletcher (U10026)
posted 17 minutes ago
I’d still be putting my money on Ronaldo from the Portugal team because he still plays 90 minutes every game.
Kane’s obviously a good shout, but I reckon Lukaku takes it when you look at their group.
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I never trust Belgium, they did sweet FA with that Golden generation - 3rd place at a World Cup, meh.
They were plain awful in Qatar
posted on 3/6/24
They don’t have to be that good, Lukaku just has to flat track bully.
posted on 4/6/24
comment by Darren The String Fletcher (U10026)
posted 9 hours, 18 minutes ago
They don’t have to be that good, Lukaku just has to flat track bully.
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They had Morocco and Canada in their group last time - got knocked out and Lukaku looked like he had eaten every cheeseburger in Belgium
posted on 4/6/24
Lukaku wasn’t fit. He didn’t even start any of the games.
posted on 4/6/24
In fairness Lukaku has had a pretty good season. Scored 29 goals and will be coming in for what will be his last euros. The Belgium golden generation is pretty much done but they have some good newer players like Doku, Trossard and Openda to support him
posted on 4/6/24
Has he? He’s scored 21 goals, and 13 in the league. I’m not really basing it off his club form anyway.
posted on 4/6/24
Club and country, and a few goals in the Europa league. He’s played fairly well this season and should be going into the euros with a bit of form
posted on 4/6/24
8 in 26 in 2024 doesn’t sound like good form to me.