England’s national team isn’t the top contender for Euro 2020, according to an analysis by the Stats Perform AI team. The Chicago-based sports data and analytics company forecasts that eight other teams have a much better chance of winning the tournament. It gave Gareth Southgate’s squad a 5.2% chance of clinching the trophy.
The model used by Stats Perform’s AI takes into account market odds and its team ranking database, with rankings determined according to historic and recent performances. Based on that information, the model simulates the competition 40,000 times to come up with the final forecast for the tournament.
France is the favourite with a 20.5% chance of winning Euro 2020.
With a perfect blend of experience and youth, this year’s French team is the favourite. The AI model gave Didier Deschamps’ squad a 20.5% chance of becoming European champions.
If Les Bleus win Euro 2020, they will be the fourth team to hold both the European and World Cup titles. The French squad led by Zinedine Zidane managed to win the World Cup in 1998 and Euro 2000. The only other countries that managed to accomplish this were West Germany and Spain.
If France lifts the trophy, Deschamps will become the first person to win the European and World Cup titles as both a player and a coach. Deschamps is also the only coach in the 2020 competition to have won the Euro Cup as a player.
England has a 64.6% chance of winning the group stage, while France has 46.8%.
France’s lower chances of winning first place in Group F stem from the fact that the team is in the so-called Group of Death, which also includes Germany and Portugal. These two national teams are also more likely to win the competition than England, with Germany at 9.8% and Portugal at 9.6%.
England has a difficult task ahead after the group stage. They will play against the second Group F team if they finish first. This is most likely to be either Germany or Portugal. If England takes second place in Group D, the most likely adversary in the knockout phase is Spain.
If you haven’t made any bets yet on the outcomes of these Euro 2020 fixtures, you’ll find the best odds at reliable UK sportsbooks. And now that you’re armed with the AI forecasts, you’re sure to pick winners.
