Opening game tonight
©TM/IMAGO
The anticipation is finally over as Euro 2024 commences this Friday in Munich. 24 nations from Europe have descended on Germany for one of the biggest tournaments in international football. Some of the biggest stars will be on show across the next month including Cristiano Ronaldo, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé.
Bellingham’s England, Mbappe’s France and Ronaldo’s Portugal are the three favourites to lift the trophy at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on July 17th but it would be foolish to write off Germany. Julian Nagelsmann’s men are the dark horses and the hosts get Euro 2024 underway against Scotland tonight in Munich. Steve Clarke’s men will be roared on by thousands of Scots but they remain heavy underdogs. The opening game will feature the two oldest squads but which other nations have ageing squads and which nations have the youngest groups at Euro 2024?
The oldest squads at Euro 2024
Based on the average age of the 26-man squads, Germany has the oldest group at the tournament. There’s been plenty of talk about Nagelsmann ushering in a new generation but the average of the squad is 28.5 years old. The average age increased this week when 21-year-old Aleksandar Pavlović pulled out to be replaced by 30-year-old Emre Can. Despite an ageing squad, Germany’s two biggest stars, Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala, are just 21.
As the graphic above illustrates, Scotland has the second oldest squad with an average age of 28.3 years. Scots boss Clarke is renowned for his loyalty to his senior players with nine of their 26-man squad aged over 30 – James Forrest is Scotland’s oldest player at 32. Poland rank third with eight of their players over the age of 30, including captain and talisman Robert Lewandowski at 35.
The youngest squads at Euro 2024
The three favourites to win the tournament all feature amongst the top ten youngest squads. England rank third as their squad has an average age of 26.1 years but, surprisingly, Manchester United sensation Kobbie Mainoo is the only teenager in Gareth Southgate’s squad. France (26.9) and Portugal (27) sneak into the top ten and it’s widely accepted that both their squads possess the perfect balance between experienced players and younger talents.
As the graphic below highlights, Czech Republic has the youngest squad at Euro 2024 with an average age of 25.5 years. Bayer Leverkusen starlet Adam Hlozek (21) is a young player to watch for the Czech’s and his market value on Transfermarkt is €12 million. Turkey has earned a reputation for developing young talent across recent years and they have three teenagers valued at over €10m. Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz and Real Madrid’s Arda Güler are both valued at €30m, while Semih Kilicsoy has a valuation of €12m.