European Championship: Group F Preview

Euro 2024 Group F is an enticing prospect for football betting fans this summer, as Czech Republic and Turkey compete against each other to finish second behind Portugal.

That’s what the Euro 2024 odds suggest will happen. Cristiano Ronaldo and co. look dead-certs to top the group, while Georgia are on course to lose all three matches.

The big conundrum in this group is who will finish second and earn an automatic route into the last-16? Turkey are priced narrowly ahead of Czech to pinch second spot, yet there’s a very real possibility that third place will guarantee safe passage into the knockouts too.

This Group F Euro 2024 guide will take you through the fixtures, big stars, and key bets to look out for this summer. Get analysis on each team and check out the youngsters who could shine on the big stage.

Euro 2024 Group F

Group F at Euro 2024 features one of the favourites to win the trophy, two outsiders, and the only nation this summer making its European Championship debut.

Portugal

Portugal won the Euros back in 2016 in what some believed would be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final European Championships. Fast-forward eight years and the ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid sensation is still going strong at 39.

He played throughout Portugal's Euro 2024 qualification campaign, scoring 10 goals. Portugal won all 10 of their matches, with Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix, Joao Cancelo, Goncalo Ramos and Bernardo Silva helping them set an average of 3.6 goals per game.

Portugal are dangerous. Look beyond veterans Ronaldo (39), Pepe (41) and Rui Patrício (36) and the majority of this team is peaking between 25 and 29. Young blood in the form of Nuno Mendes (21), Antonio Silva (20) and Joao Neves (19) is also coming through. Head coach Roberto Martinez has one of the best squads to play with this summer. No wonder they are 21/50 to win Group F and 15/2 to win the whole thing.

Czech Republic

Czech Republic enjoyed a steady Euro 2024 qualification campaign and, bar a 3-0 loss at Albania, came through without any trouble. The biggest issue for head coach Ivan Hasek is figuring out their forward line. Midfielders Tomas Soucek and Václav Cerny top scored for the Czechs in qualifying with just three goals each. Another non-striker – Ladislav Krejcí – bagged two. The likes of Jan Kuchta and Tomas Chory managed just one goal over the 10 games.

Hasek sorely missed forward Patrik Schick, who didn't feature in the qualifying campaign through injury. Schick returned to play a bit-part role in Bayer Leverkusen's Bundesliga title triumph this season and should be fairly fresh heading into the Euros.

Schick's Leverkusen teammate Adam Hlozek is certainly one to watch here. At 21, he already has more than 30 caps for his country but only two goals. This could be a breakthrough tournament for the ex-Sparta Prague playmaker.

Czech are 11/2 outsiders to top Group F but well priced at 11/10 to finish in the top two.

Turkey

Turkey beat off Croatia to top their Euro 2024 table in qualifying and also claimed four points off Wales. They are perennial dark horses at major tournaments, with tipsters banking on Turkey to one-day come good. However, they have bombed at the group stage in each of the last two European Championships and there's no guarantee they won't do the same here.

The good thing is boss Vincenzo Montella has an exciting and experienced team to lean on this summer. Captain Hakan Çalhanoglu is one of the oldest in the squad at 30 and posts more than 80 caps. There are also a string of players in their mid-20s who have plenty of international experience: Merih Demiral, Ozan Kabak, Kaan Ayhan and Enes Unal to name but a few.

Then there is the young cohort coming through. Juventus teenager Kenan Yildiz looks the real deal, as does Real Madrid's Arda Guler. Forwards Yunus Akgün and Baris Alper Yilmaz (both 23) are also pushing for more game time.

Turkey are 4/1 to win Group F, which may be beyond them at this stage. If Montella can strike the right balance in his side then they could go far.

Georgia

Georgia earned their right to compete at Euro 2024 after battling through a playoff, which they reached via the Nations League route. They beat Luxembourg 4-2 before edging Greece on penalties in the playoff final. Their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign wasn't great. They finished eighth, above only rock-bottom Cyprus, in a group consisting of Spain, Scotland and Norway. However, they drew with both Scotland and Norway at home and it’s this ability to frustrate opponents that could come in handy this summer.

Napoli's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ajax forward Georges Mikautadze were the standout men in qualifying. Combined they have 24 goals for their country and more than 50 caps. They are both young, exciting prospects who could end up in the shop window this summer.

Saying that, much of Georgia boss Willy Sagnol's focus in Germany will be around Georgia's defensive shape. Guram Kashia (36) and Solomon Kvirkvelia (32) and Otar Kakabadze (28) are experienced international defenders but even they may struggle against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Patrik Schick and Barıs Alper Yilmaz.

At 14/1 Georgia are not going to top Group F. It's highly unlikely they will finish in the top two, at 5/2. Instead, a sure-fire bet looks like the 1/2 price on Georgia finishing bottom.

Euro 2024 Group F Fixtures

Group F at Euro 2024 climaxes with the big clash between Turkey and Czech Republic on 26 June in Hamburg. By this point Portugal should be safely through and the battle for second place will be on. Here are the Group E fixtures:

Match 1

• 18 June – Turkey vs Georgia | BVB Stadion, Dortmund
• 18 June – Portugal vs Czech Republic | Leipzig Stadium, Leipzig

Match 2

• 22 June – Georgia vs Czech Republic | Volksparkstadion, Hamburg
• 22 June – Turkey vs Portugal | BVB Stadion, Dortmund

Match 3

• 26 June – Georgia vs Portugal | Schalke Arena, Gelsenkirchen
• 26 June – Czech Republic vs Turkey | Volksparkstadion, Hamburg

Best Players in Group F to Watch

Portugal have enough talent to fill an entire XI of 'best players' at Euro 2024 this summer. Cristiano Ronaldo remains the go-to man in attack and now boasts over 200 international appearances for his country. But it's the influx of players in their early 20s that really makes this team exciting. PSG's Nuno Mendes (21) could have a career-defining summer at left-back, while Benfica midfielder João Neves (19) only made his international debut this season.

At 24, Barcelona's Joao Felix is also one of the key members of this Portugal side. The likes of Ronaldo and Pepe can guide this team but its success rests on younger talents.

The Czechs could set out with two up front, meaning the focus will be on two of Patrik Schick, Adam Hlozek, Mojmir Chytil, Tomas Chory and perhaps also Jan Kuchta. Boss Ivan Hašek has plenty of options but needs to settle on a partnership.

These championships, meanwhile, could be the stage for Arda Guler to truly shine. He's been picking up starts at Real Madrid in the second half of this season and has had no trouble finding the net. Keep an eye on the ex-Fenerbahce gem as he could be a star of this tournament, let alone Group F.

As for Georgia, keep an eye on winger Zuriko Davitashvili. The Bordeaux man is a regular in the XI and can come inside to play behind the main striker. His capacity to retain possession in the opposition third will be key if Georgia are to pose a threat in this group.

Euro 2024 Group F Tips

If you’re looking to bet on Group F at Euro 2024 but don’t know where to begin then check out these three top tips:

Portugal to win all three games

Let’s start with a simple one. Portugal are one of the favourites to win Euro 2024 and look very well positioned to steamroller this group. They are as short as 1/2 to beat Czech Republic in their opening match on 18 June and push ahead from there.

Portugal’s mix of experience and young talent makes them a real threat. Realistically they shouldn’t have a problem overcoming the Czechs or Turkey, while Roberto Martinez can rotate and rest players in the final group game against Georgia.

Portugal are 4/9 to top Group F. It seems a sensible option considering the depth of quality across the squad.

Turkey and Czech Republic both progress

Group F should deliver three teams into the knockout stage. Remember, four of the six third-placed teams earn safe passage to the last-16. If we assume Portugal win all three of their matches, and Turkey and Czech both beat Georgia, then that final match on 26 June in Hamburg will be a shootout for second place.

Draw that game and both sides could progress on four points each. A draw would not be a surprising result. Turkey and Czech Republic are well matched. They have experience running through their squads and forwards who are dangerous on their day.

The last match round in Group F is also the last of the entire group stage. That means Turkey and Czech will know if a draw will suffice for both to progress. While both will gun for the win, they may well settle for a draw.

Georgia to fail to score

Ukraine in 2016 are the only team to have crashed out of a European Championships without scoring a single goal since Denmark suffered the same fate back in 2000. Even the worst teams at the Euros usually score at least once. In Euro 2020 three managed a solitary goal: Scotland, Turkey and Finland.

Georgia could join Ukraine and Denmark in suffering the ignominy of drawing blanks in all three of their group matches. After all, they struggled in qualifying and only reached this stage via the Nations League route. They scored in home and away defeats to Spain this season but a major championship is a different stage altogether.

Their best chance of claiming even a point is probably against Turkey on 18 June, where the Double Chance is set at 1/1. Yet even here there's no guarantee of Georgia scoring. The smarter bet in terms of value is to back them not to score in all three matches. They are 5/4 to draw a blank against Turkey.

Euro 2024 Group F Top Scorer

Now, we've just explained the logic behind betting on Georgia to score zero goals this summer, so it may sound a little odd for us to tip Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to top score in Group F. Well, the Napoli star isn't actually our No.1 tip but if you are looking for an outsider and think Georgia will cause an upset in Germany then Kvaratskhelia is your man.

Of course, most eyes will fall on Cristiano Ronaldo to top score in Group F. However, he scored just once at the last World Cup. Portugal have plenty of other options in attack too and focus may instead shift to Bruno Fernandes or Goncalo Ramos here.

The Czechs might end up relying on Patrik Schick for goals but captain Tomas Soucek knows where the net is and could pop up with a couple in this group stage. The same goes for Turkey's Hakan Calhanoglu, although Arda Guler is the youngster everyone is talking about.

Euro 2024 Outside Bet: Group F

If you’re looking for an outside bet then Turkey could be the real deal this summer. They have a well balanced team – much like Portugal, in fact – and there are some exciting prospects who could shine in Germany.

Turkey ease into the tournament against Georgia before attention turns to Portugal. Diogo Jota and co. beat them 3-1 at the World Cup 18 months ago but this Turkey team is in a far better state now. They are a good outside bet at 4/1 to top Group F and secure a last-16 clash against a third-placed team from groups A, B or C. The could be Scotland or maybe Slovenia – two teams Turkey would fancy their chances against.

The Turks are 5/2 to reach the quarter-finals, which isn't a bad shout.