Ivan Larsen 
Euro 2024 is on the horizon, as football fans prepare for a busy summer of football. Germany hosts a major tournament for the first time since the 2006 World Cup, and are heavily backed as one of the favourites to lift the trophy in the Euro 2024 betting odds.
Other favourites to go the distance include England, France, and Spain, who all command good prices due to their strong squads, experience, and form in qualifying. But whose players will step up and deliver when their country needs them most?
In this article, we take a look at the star player for each of the pre-tournament favourites and assess their chances of winning Euro 2024.
Germany – İlkay Gündoğan
Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has been particularly cut-throat in his squad selection heading into his first Euros in charge of an international side, leaving out a plethora of stars from the Bundesliga and across the continent.
Indeed, the notable absences of Marco Reus and Leon Goretzka put pressure on Toni Kroos, as well as İlkay Gündoğan, who will need to be the engine of the side in the middle of the park.
A treble winner with Manchester City, Gündoğan moved to Barcelona last season and will lead his country as captain in the hopes of adding to his medal collection after injury prevented him from playing in Germany’s 2014 World Cup win.
England – Harry Kane
Gareth Southgate has his best chance of ending England’s long wait for a trophy this summer, with one of the best sides the Three Lions have had in years.
Many Euro betting offers have Harry Kane to finish as the top scorer for the tournament, and after bagging 44 in his debut season for Bayern Munich, it’s easy to see why.
Kane has demonstrated he can score in big games for club and country and will be keen to avenge the penalty miss against France that proved so costly in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final.
France – Antoine Griezmann
While Kylian Mbappe would be everyone’s obvious choice for France’s star player, the forward can only do such by himself and will need a strong supporting cast, led by Antoine Griezmann, to win Euro 2024.
Approaching the twilight of his career, Griezmann is now 33 years old and back at Atlético Madrid where Diego Simeone has reinvented him as an attacking midfielder.
By playing off the shoulder of Mbappe, Griezmann can occupy different space and allow other players like Marcus Thuram, who himself hit double figures as Inter Milan cruised to Serie A, to play to their own strengths.
Spain – Lamine Yamal
One of the best youngsters to come out of Spain is Barcelona prospect Lamine Yamal, who is already making waves at 16 years old.
Born in 2007, the tricky winger has the youthful exuberance and blistering pace to be fearless for Spain this tournament, and when protected by senior players like Rodri and Alvaro Morata, Luis de la Fuente’s side has a unique player on his hands.
It’s too soon to judge just how far Yamal can go in his career, but if he can make an impact at Euro 2024 and burst onto the scene at such a young age, he truly has the world in his hands.
