The Euro 2020 favourites' pathways to the final - ranked

France will expect a deep run in the competition
France will expect a deep run in the competition / Alex Pantling/Getty Images
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With the last 16 fixtures confirmed and the paths to the final now finalised, fans from Europe's strongest football nations can really start to dream.

Those 16 teams still in the competition are just four victories away from immortality, but for some, those four matches look to be a lot harder than for others.

Here's a look at each favourite's run to the final.


8. Portugal

Renato Sanches, Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal are in for a tough run / Tibor Illyes - Pool/Getty Images

For Portugal to even get to a round with 'final' in its name, they'll have to beat the top-ranked team on the planet, Belgium.

Fernando Santos' men have struggled in the face of bigger sides so far - they were mauled by Germany and needed two penalties to survive France - but that's the only level of competition left for them.

After Belgium, Portugal could face Italy and then France. That's probably the top three favourites, one after another. Ouch.

7. Belgium

Romelu Lukaku
Belgium are going to have to earn this one / Isosport/MB Media/Getty Images

If Belgium win this tournament, it'll be perhaps the most deserved triumph in the history of the competition.

Assuming there aren't any surprises, Belgium will have to beat defending champions Portugal, Italy and France to get through to the final, where one of England, Germany or the Netherlands could be waiting.

That's very, very tough, but if anyone can do it, it's Belgium.

6. Spain

Ferran Torres
Spain need to keep their form up / Jose Manuel Vidal - Pool/Getty Images

Spain haven't been particularly impressive thus far (their best performance came against a Slovakia side who had given up). They'll definitely need to step it up to make it to the final.

Croatia in the last 16 is a game which could go either way, and there's a good chance that could be their easiest match between now and the final.

France could be in their way in the quarter-final, after which Belgium, Portugal or Italy will be waiting.

5. Italy

Matteo Pessina
Italy have looked great so far / Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Probably the top performers in the group stage, Italy are really going to have to earn this trophy if they want to win it.

Austria shouldn't be much competition in the round of 16, but then things step up to a whole new level. Belgium or Portugal will be waiting in the quarter-final, after which there's a good chance they'll be up against France or Spain.

We're yet to see how Italy will fare against such a high level of opposition, although the early signs suggest they'll be absolutely fine.

4. France

Karim Benzema
France remain favourites to win / Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Pre-tournament favourites France have ended up in the tougher side of the bracket, but fortunately for them, they're in the kindest half.

Switzerland in the round of 16 shouldn't be too tricky, after which Les Bleus will then have to go through either Croatia or Spain - two tough games but, again, two matches which the French should be winning.

However, they'll come across a real heavyweight in the semi-final - Belgium, Italy or Portugal - and if France don't step their game up, their tournament might not go much further than that.

3. England

Raheem Sterling
England have another favourable run / Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Are England a favourite? Well, if you look at their run to the final, you'd have to say they're in with a good shot.

Germany could either get stomped or do the stomping, but if England can survive that, they'll have seen off the biggest threat on their side of the bracket.

Sweden or Ukraine in the quarter-final isn't the scariest thought, and the Netherlands in the semis is alright. If you offered that to England before the tournament started, Gareth Southgate would have bitten your hand off.

It's the 2018 World Cup all over again.

2. Netherlands

Donyell Malen, Georginio Wijnaldum, Memphis Depay
The Netherlands have a good route to the final / BSR Agency/Getty Images

Anything less than a trip to the semi-finals should now be seen as a failure for the Netherlands.

Frank de Boer's side can beat the Czech Republic in the last 16 and they will expect to beat either Wales or Denmark in the quarter-final.

Their first real test will come in the semi-final, where both Germany and England could easily be seen as favourites, but the Netherlands are definitely in with a good chance of reaching the final.

1. Germany

Kevin Volland, Leon Goretzka
Germany will expect to reach the final / Soccrates Images/Getty Images

Germany did their best to embarrass themselves in the group stage, but they're here, and now they'll be feeling good about a deep run this summer.

Joachim Low's side must get past an England team who are yet to really get going, after which they'd face either Sweden or Ukraine in the quarter-final. Victory in that one would see them meet any of the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Wales or Denmark in the semis.

If the right Germany turns up, they could waltz their way through to the final with very little trouble, leaving them with a straight shoot-out against one of the big boys to decide the fate of the trophy.


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