The draw for the European Cup is released: Italy made the group of death, Ronaldo was signed and the qualification is stable!
The draw for Euro 2024 came to an end not long ago, and since the draw is based on the qualifying results, it also greatly increases the probability of the group of death. And the result did not surprise everyone, the Italian team in the fourth gear created a "super death group", whether it can break through smoothly, is still a big unknown.
As the defending champions of the European Championship, the Italian team almost overturned in this European Championship qualifier, and after drawing with Ukraine in the final round of the group stage, they relied on the narrow advantage of the winner-loss relationship to beat their opponents and successfully got a ticket to the main competition. However, due to the poor results in qualifying, the Italian team was also forced to fall into Pot 4 in the draw, which also greatly increased the probability of them being placed in the group of death.
In the end, the "signing" that the Italian fans were hoping for did not appear, and they were placed in Group B, which included Spain, Croatia and Albania. In this group, except for the slightly weaker Albanian team, the remaining two teams are European powerhouses with the ability to win the championship, and it will be difficult for the Italian team to grab three points no matter who they meet. In the worst-case scenario, the Italian team may even go home early after the group stage, once again becoming a joke in world football!
The hosts' German team had a decent draw, avoiding the likes of Croatia, the Netherlands and Italy, but they were drawn in Pot 4 against Switzerland, who were considered Europe's "hardbourers". The remaining two teams, Hungary and Scotland, may not be able to win safely with the current form of the German team, so the realistic goal of the German team is to try to break through from the group stage and not lose people on their doorstep.
England and Denmark will undoubtedly be stronger in Group C, but Slovenia and Serbia will certainly not sit still, and the competition for qualification will be fierce. France in Group D have an equally difficult schedule, with their opponents Austria, the Netherlands and the play-off Group A sides similarly tough. They were disappointed to stop in the round of 16 at the last European Championship, and the Frenchman certainly don't want to be a spectator on the sidelines so early this time.
If you want to say who among the traditional European powerhouses has been drawn, it must be Belgium and Portugal. Belgium are in the same group as Romania, Slovakia and the play-offs in Group B, while Portugal are in the same group as Turkey, the Czech Republic and the play-offs in Group C. On paper, Belgium and Portugal are clearly a cut above their opponents in the same group, and their qualification should be a certainty. It looks like Ronaldo's last European Championship trip of his career should be able to go a little further.
Of course, the draw is a draw, and what really determines the outcome of the game is the team's on-the-spot performance. In the world of football, there is no shortage of examples of the weak beating the strong, and I wonder which team will be the backdrop for miracles at the European Championship in Germany?