UEFA Euro 2024 is just around the corner and the continent’s finest are all gearing up to ensure that they walk away with the trophy in Berlin on July 14th. England and France head into the tournament as the favourites, while the hosts Germany are a distant third in the outright odds list. But in recent years, it hasn’t been a favourite that has gone on to become champion.
italy were priced as long as 16/1 with some outlets three years ago but they managed to stun everyone including the Three Lions en route to the trophy. Four years before that, it was Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal that downed the hosts France in Paris thanks to Eder’s late screamer.
Amdouni’s Burnley Struggle
There are plenty of big names that have still not punched their ticket to UEFA Euro 2024. 2004 champions Greece, whom former Chelsea star Gus Poyet now manages, will have to make it through the playoffs. So will both Poland and Ukraine. However, one team that has already qualified is Switzerland and Burnley striker Zeki Amdouni has developed into a key man for Murat Yakin’s side.
To say the Clarets have disappointed in the Premer League this season would be an understatement. They secured promotion to the top flight as champions last season following a blockbuster campaign that saw a revitalised playing style under Vincent Kompany lead them to a mighty haul of 101 points, ten clear of second place Sheffield United and a whopping 21 clear of third place Luton Town. However, this season it has been the Hatters that have shone, while both the Blades and last season’s champions have faltered.
Welcome International Distraction
Burnley currently sit second bottom of the table with a paltry 17 points, five adrift of safety. For their Swiss striker Amdouni, he too hasn’t shone as he did last term, netting just five times in all competitions compared to the 22 goals he managed last term for FC Basel. His lack of goalscoring output has hindered the Clarets all year long and has recently seen him lose his place in the starting lineup to Chelsea loanee David Datro Fofana. However, he still remains a key man for the Swiss.
He netted six goals in the European qualifying campaign, good enough for a runners-up spot behind the impressive Romania. Now, he will be hoping that his side can repeat their exploits of three years ago when they eliminated France en route to reaching the quarterfinals. In recent instalments of the tournament, the likes of Denmark, Wales, and Iceland have all impressed by reaching the latter stages. Could Amdouni and Co. follow in their footsteps this summer?
