With Euro 2024 now just over two months away the international coaches are busy fine tuning their squads, to give them the best hopes of a successful summer.
But I’ll tell you one thing. Anyone who doesn’t know who his captain is by now is probably in for a tough four weeks in Germany.
The head coach needs leaders on the pitch and one main man who can inspire his team-mates to go above and beyond. The captain is the guy who can pick a team up when it’s down, push his team-mates on when the going is tough and, when they smell blood, he’s at the forefront of the attack…and the celebrations.
The teams that thrive at Euro 2024 will have the best leaders; so let’s take a look at the SBOTOP picks of the captains we’d be happy to play for!
Virgil Van Dijk – Netherlands and Liverpool
Liverpool skipper Van Dijk is the man at the helm of the Netherlands’ Euro push and as a player and skipper he has everything. At 6ft 5in he’s an imposing unit and his speed, skill and aerial ability make him the perfect modern centre back. His leadership qualities are well honed as a senior player for club and country during a decade of success for the Reds and transition for the Oranje.
Like Van Dijk, head coach Ronald Koeman was a ball playing centre back with a knack for scoring crucial goals and he has a captain in the modern game who can inspire his team to take the match to any opponent. The Oranje are a good outside bet to win Euro 24 and if they do, Van Dijk will have a lot to do with it.
Kevin De Bruyne – Belgium and Manchester City
Belgium skipper De Bruyne leads by example. He is certain to make his fair share of Euro 2024 highlights and is one of the most likely match winners in the competition, with an incredible range of passing, a brilliant shot and world class dead ball delivery. De Bruyne is already a Premier League legend, with five league titles and a Champions League medal with the Sky Blues.
De Bruyne is widely accepted to be one of the best players of this generation, but he will be frustrated that the Red Devils, who have been the FIFA top rated nation for much of the last decade, have failed to win a major tournament. Domenico Tedesco has made a good start as Belgium boss and he knows that if De Bruyne sees enough of the ball his team will go deep into the competition.
Kylian Mbappe – France and Paris Saint-Germain
The Euro 2024 betting odds say England, Germany and Spain are good bets to win the European crown but France are the team with the greatest expectations after they came so close to winning the World Cup in 2022. Mbappe won the Golden Boot as Les Bleus eventually fell to Lionel Messi’s Argentina on penalties but, four years earlier he scored as France won the World Cup and he became the youngest Frenchman to score at the finals.
He has the playing pedigree and, still only 25 years of age, plenty of leadership experience and, while he has had the odd spat with club-mates, notably Neymar, Mbappe is popular with Les Bleus and can grab a big game by the scruff of the neck.
Andrew Robertson – Scotland and Liverpool
With all the bravery of any true Scot, wingback Robertson is one of the most inspirational captains in the competition, and he leads a side which needs to punch way above its weight if it is to avoid its customary early exit. Scotland did just that when they earned a 0-0 draw against the old enemy England at Wembley in 2021, a result which elevated Robertson to hero status.
He’s a calm leader and an astute tactician and player, with time for the younger players who are making their way in international football. One of the most important players in Jurgen Klopp’s 2019 Champions League and 2020 Premier league winning teams, Robertson could play for any international team, and captain most of them.
Alvaro Morata – Spain and Atletico Madrid
La Roja are one of the favourites for Euro 2024 with a relatively young side and they are captained by Atletico Madrid striker Morata. He took over the captaincy in 2023 and is ready to lead Spain in their quest for a first tournament win since the 2012 European championships.
He’s played for some of Europe’s top clubs, including Juventus and Real Madrid and this season Morata has built a prolific striking relationship with Antoine Griezmann at Atletico. With 34 goals in 71 games for Spain he is one of the most consistent performers on the European stage and is a cool head in front of goal, and in the dressing room.
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