EURO 2024: Group A predictions- Hungry Hungarians to be this years dark horse?

With the Euros kicking off on Friday when hosts Germany take on Scotland, the question everyone is asking is, who will get through the groups. Here is my group A predictions. 

1st place- Germany 

The hosts will comfortably top this group with wins against all three of their opponents. In 2024 they are currently unbeaten having played four games so far this year. Their only draw in these games came against Ukraine at the start of June with wins against France, Netherlands and Greece. Julian Nagelsmann has showed he is not messing around by dropping big names in Leon Goretzka and Mats Hummels and plays a positive style of football. While it seems like Germany are lacking in top players this is not the case. Unsung heroes like Pascal Gross and Deniz Undav will take this group by storm. Defensively the Germans will be solid and only concede one goal in their first three games of the tournament.

2nd place- Hungary 

Every tournament has its dark horse and 2024's will be Hungary. Whilst it seems they look the weakest on paper, Hungary will stun Switzerland with a late goal to take all three points in their opening game.  However they will fall short against the hosts who are too dominant for Marco Rossi's side. Captain Dominik Szoboszlai will guide the Hungarians to a final group stage game win with one goal and two assists which will put them into second place. 

3rd place- Switzerland 

Switzerland will comfortably beat Scotland to gain three points which will put them in third place and just enough for a place in the knockout rounds. With some key players having aged from previous tournaments, they will struggle to keep up with the intensity of their other two games. However they will play silky attacking football which is exciting to watch and be a threat on the counter. 

4th place-Scotland

Sadly for the Scots, someone has to finish last in the group and bow out. Tournament after tournament they have struggled heavily and it will be the case once again. Whilst there is some quality in the squad it will just not happen against the other three in the group who want the wins more. I do believe that goal of the tournament will come from a Scotland player which gets the fans bouncing but it will be the only thing they get to enjoy other than the beers.