I’m waiting for the tournament quite excitedly, and I’ll definitely be placing some bets. The likely winners are Spain, England, and Argentina.
Spain is probably the biggest favorite to win on paper.
Argentina has a good squad and a slight geographical advantage on their side. The age structure of the team’s defense is a bit concerning, but if you don’t give the ball to the opponent, that’s enough.
England was built, perhaps for the first time, with the team first; big stars were left behind solely for tactical reasons, and I really like this move. The “JJ policy” goes a long way.
Good challengers are France, Portugal, and Germany. The reason I don’t count France among the top favorites is Mbappe. The team always falls apart due to its biggest stars, and there are already signs of this even though the games haven’t started yet. There should also be a clear hierarchy in the team regarding who leads and who is the first choice for each position, and the team lacks this. It is completely impossible to say who will start in France’s attack before the lineups are out.
Portugal’s quality is admirable, but does the coach have the balls to retire Ronaldo to the bench? If not, they will fall because of Ronaldo.
Germany is always Germany, and if the odds are favorable, this is my horse to win. A suitable squad, enough young blood and experience, and a winning culture.
Behind the challengers, there are many countries that I think could reach the medal games. Morocco and the Netherlands are the clearest ones, as they have sufficient material and expertise for success.
Morocco’s squad is insane. The names are familiar and from big clubs, but when you start digging a little deeper, you realize that this is actually a FIFA top 10 country.
The Netherlands team has a lot of mid-strength depth for every position. The ABSOLUTE superstars are conspicuous by their absence, but when there are enough of their “shadows,” it’s enough.
Norway. I would love it if Norway goes far, and Norway actually has really good quality in every position. Bobb, Sørloth, and Haaland can score goals, and it could even turn into some high-scoring “hurlumhei” football because Norway’s weakest link is the defense. Ajer is certainly a quality player, but the full-backs are very attacking, which could backfire.
Haaland, Gakpo, and Kane will be fighting for the Golden Boot.
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. The tournament kicks off on Thursday, and matches will be broadcast live on MTV3 as well as Yle’s channels. This is also the first thread I’ve ever started, so this moment goes down in the history books – heh. 
. I think the potential is there, especially if you compare it to the success of tiny Bodø/Glimt in European competitions. When you also look at their individual star power (which can be a downside, of course, but I don’t think that’s the case for Norway), one could actually expect some tournament success.
to make a comeback; things haven’t gone very well for them lately. They have the ingredients, but obviously face immense pressure thanks to a fanatical nation. Neuer’s “last dance” – what a magnificent career.
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. And evolution has bypassed Deschamps.