A Guide to EURO 2024 Group E

Group E features Belgium, Ukraine, Romania, and Slovakia, and it gets underway on the morning of June 17th.

It gives us a chance to see Belgium and the likes of De Bruyne and Lukaku in action—the last of the Golden Generation. It also raises some interesting questions about Ukraine and Romania, two teams that are very closely matched according to the group stage odds.

Which one of these two teams will advance to the Round of 16? Will either of them trump Belgium and will Slovakia have a say?

Betting on EURO Group Matches: An Intro for Group E

We touched upon this group briefly in our main EURO 2024 betting guide, highlighting the potential for Belgium to run deep, as well as the issues that Slovakia, Ukraine, and Romania could cause them. There were a lot of interesting qualification games to get us to this point, including the Ukrainian path, which was arguably one of the toughest of any team in the EURO 2024 finals.

Belgium Betting Guide

Check any EURO football betting tips for the last few tournaments and you’ll see Belgium listed as one of the likely winners. They were very rarely the favourites, but they were nearly always in the top five. It seemed like they were destined to lift the trophy at some point, and if they couldn’t get their hands on the European Championship title, surely they would lift the World Cup. But that hasn’t been the case. In fact, they have been nowhere near winning a trophy.

Despite consistently fielding one of the best teams in the world, they haven’t made it past the quarter-finals since they finished as the runners-up in 1980. The so-called “Golden Generation” of Belgium football did finish third in the 2018 World Cup, but they dropped out at the group stage after that and struggled to the quarter-finals in 2014.

That Golden Generation is now coming to an end. They will still field a strong team, and there are some great up-and-coming stars in that team, but it could be the last time we see the likes of De Bruyne, Lukaku, and Vertonghen lining up together in a major international tournament. We’ve already seen the last of Eden Hazard and Alderweireld, and following an ACL injury and a clash with the manager, Thibaut Courtois probably won’t make the finals either, even though he has since returned for Madrid.

If you’re betting on EURO 2024, you should definitely consider Belgium, but there are clear questions about their current and future chances.

How They Got Here

Belgium were drawn in the same qualifying group as Austria, Sweden, Azerbaijan, and Estonia. They picked up six wins from eight games and drew the other two, dropping points against Austria and Sweden.

Romelu Lukaku was unstoppable during that campaign, scoring a record 14 goals, including a hat-trick away to Sweden and four goals at home to Azerbaijan. He seemed like a man at the peak of his form, and Belgians will be hoping he can continue that form on the big stage. They were less than impressive during their March 2024 friendlies, though, managing only draws against Ireland and England.

Players to Watch Out For

Courtois has over 100 caps for Belgium and is consistently ranked as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. In his absence, Belgium may struggle. It’s not clear who they will send in his place, but their options are limited. It could be Matz Sels, who has plenty of experience at domestic level, or we may see Koen Casteels from Wolfsburg. Neither are rated as highly as Courtois, though. 

The defence will likely be built around 37-year-old Vertonghen. There are a few young players who could partner him, including De Winter, Siquet, and Al-Dakhil, but they are very inexperienced in comparison.

It’s a similar story in midfield, with the experience of De Bruyne combining with young and promising players. Lavia would have been a good option, but he’s injured. They can rely on some consistency and quality, though, including Tielemans and Onana.

Lukaku should lead the line upfront. Trossard has also had a good season for Arsenal and gives them options. Doku should get a seat on the plane to Germany following an excellent season for Manchester City, and he could be one of their standout players. Doku might be worth keeping in mind if you’re looking at those Top Goalscorer markets, but Lukaku unsurprisingly leads the betting market here for Belgium.

Belgium EURO 2024 Odds

As expected, Belgium have some of the shortest group stage odds and are currently one of the top seven favourites for the whole competition. They also have very short odds for their opening game against group outsiders, Slovakia (subject to change, final match odds may differ). This is where we’ll get to see what Belgium can do. It could be a banana skin that opens the group wide open; it could be a chance for the likes of Lukaku and Doku to get some goals on the board.

Betting on Belgium in EURO 2024

We’ve seen big favourites drop out at the group stage before. It usually happens at least once during every major tournament. But it seems highly unlikely here when you consider the breadth of talent in the Belgium squad, especially as the best of those players (Doku, Lukaku, De Bruyne) are in fantastic form.

It's even more unlikely with the third-place-finishers rule in effect, although the way the tournament is scheduled means that a third-place finish could resign them to a very difficult Round of 16 tie. Make no mistake about it; they will be aiming for a top-place finish, and the odds are in their favour.

Slovakia Betting Guide

The odds don’t favour Slovakia going into this tournament, but don’t write them off just yet. They have qualified for the last three European Championships and made it out of the group in 2016, a year in which they recorded a shock draw with England.

How They Got Here

Slovakia lost just two games in qualifying, both against Portugal. They qualified second in a group that included a disappointing Bosnia and Herzegovina, a strong Iceland, and a surprisingly impressive Luxembourg. It was a fairly uneventful campaign for them and while they didn’t blow anyone away, they were solid throughout.

Players to Watch Out For

Following an injury to Pope, Dubravka has been Newcastle’s number one for many 2023/24 Premier League games. He is an excellent and experienced shot-stopper, and we expect his skills will be put to the test in goal for Slovakia.

Milan Skriniar is another star player to watch out for. The PSG defender will lead a defence that should face some stern tests from strikers like Lukaku. Lobotka is also key for Slovakia and will no doubt be a central figure in their midfield.

Upfront, they have a few options, including Bozenik, Polievka, and Haraslin. There are no prolific goal scorers here, though. Slovakia scored 17 goals in qualifying, but their highest scorer, Haraslin, hit just three.

Slovakia EURO 2024 Odds

It seems that most people have written off Slovakia before the tournament even starts. They are the rank outsiders for the group and the tournament, with huge odds available. You can also get very high odds on them beating Belgium in their opener. It’s understandable, but as previous championships have shown, anything can happen.

Betting on Slovakia in EURO 2024

It’s fair to say that the three other teams in Group E will look at their game with Slovakia and expect three points. But they’re not going to roll over. There are some experienced players in this team, and if they hit a good run of form, there’s no reason they can’t upset those teams and make it out of the group. Their EURO knockout stage odds will likely be very high if they do, especially if they finish third and go up against a group stage winner, but they’ll consider the tournament a success if they make it that far.

Romania Betting Guide

Romania didn’t qualify for the 2020 EUROs and haven’t made a World Cup appearance since 1998. This is a huge tournament for them and they’ll be doing all they can to keep it going for as long as possible.

How They Got Here

Romania were excellent in qualifying. They were drawn against Switzerland, Israel, Belarus, Kosovo, and Andorra, and were unbeaten throughout. They picked up wins against Switzerland and Israel during that run, but also had four draws. They averaged just 1.6 goals per game, but only conceded 0.5, and were solid in defence throughout.

Players to Watch Out For

The Romania squad is pieced together with players from many different leagues across Europe. That could help them in major tournaments like this, but the concern is that few players compete at the highest level. They don’t have the sort of Champions League talents that will line up for Belgium, nor are there any super standout players like there are for Ukraine and Slovakia.

Still, the same was said about Greece when they won in 2004.

Despite not getting much of a chance for Atletico Madrid, Moldovan may feature in goal. Romania can also turn to Radu of Bournemouth, but he hasn’t been a consistent starter either.

Radu Dragusin is one of the most promising players. He signed for Tottenham for £21.5 in January 2024—making him the most expensive Romania player in history—and he has a bright future. He has played a few times for Tottenham but has not been a regular starter.

Stanciu and Hagi will likely feature in midfield while Puscas is one of the few proven goal scoring talents in the squad.

Romania EURO 2024 Odds

In qualifying, Romania were tough to break down, and if they repeat those feats during the group stage they could frustrate their opponents. They are the outsiders in their opening game against Ukraine (subject to change, final match odds may differ), and that game will be vital for their hopes of progression. There is very little separating these two in the group stage odds, with Ukraine starting as the second favourites and Romania as the third.

Betting on Romania in EURO 2024

If you’re plotting some EURO 2024 group stage betting, there could be some value in Romania. Their group stage odds suggest they are the third-best team, but their impressive showing in qualifying suggests the margins between them and Ukraine are very slim.

What’s more, they won’t be happy to settle for a third-place finish, even if it could secure them a spot in the next round. Third-place finishers are destined to play group winners in the Round of 16, and in this case, they could end up drawn against England, Spain, or Italy. Even second isn’t all that promising, as it means they’ll likely face France or the Netherlands. A win, however, will pit them against a third-place finisher from another group.

It's a big difference, and it’s for that reason that we don’t think any of these teams will be settling for second or third. They’ll also want the top spot, and while Belgium are clear favourites to get there, Romania will fancy their chances.

Ukraine Betting Guide

Ukraine made it to EURO 2024 via the playoffs. Based on that fact alone, you might be surprised to see that they are the second favourites for this group, ahead of teams that progressed more easily. But if you’re planning some EURO 2024 final betting and have already written them off, it’s time to go back to the drawing board, as there could be more here than you’ve given them credit for.

How They Got Here

Ukraine had an incredibly tough qualifying group. Not only did they go up against North Macedonia, the team that beat Italy in the playoffs for the 2022 World Cup, but they also had England and Italy to contend with. Despite those tough challenges they finished joint second with Italy on 14 points and only finished third because Italy had a better head-to-head score than they did.

They were then allowed to go through the playoffs thanks to their performances in the Nations League. They beat both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland in those playoffs to earn their position at this tournament.

Many of the teams at EURO 2024 don’t have much recent experience against the best in the world, including Romania. But Ukraine’s tough passage means they have plenty, including draws against England, Germany, and Italy in 2023.

Players to Watch Out For

Andriy Lunin has been the man between the posts for Real Madrid this season. He was the one who stepped in when Courtois was injured and he has been excellent for them. He matched Courtois’s Champions League record when he made nine saves against RB Leipzig in a group stage match and he impressed again with eight saves in the second leg of their quarter-final match against Manchester City. Benfica’s Trubin would have provided tough competition for that number 1 jersey and he’ll still be in with a chance, but it’s hard to imagine them looking past Lunin.

Ukraine have some excellent options in defence, including a few that regular Premier League viewers will watch. Everton’s Mykolenko has been solid for his club this season and will look to carry that form into EURO 2024. The same is true for Zinchenko, who will provide them with some much-needed world class experience. He also adds versatility, as he can play in the full-back position or adopt a more attacking role.

Chelsea’s Mudryk is another name we expect to see in the final squad. He cost the London club a lot of money and didn’t have the explosive start that many expected. But he seems to have found his feet in recent months and will be an asset to the team. Mudryk has also been great of late in a Ukraine shirt. He has a couple of goals to his name, including the winning goal against Iceland in the EURO 2024 Qualifying Playoff which sent Ukraine to the finals.

Ukraine-based Shaparenko and Yarmolenko may also feature. Yarmolenko is nearing his fifth goal for his country and has close to 120 caps, making him one of the most experienced players in the team. As for Shaparenko, he has nearly 30 caps from midfield and has also played over 100 times for Dynamo Kyiv. He is not as experienced at the highest level as some of the others in this squad, but he is a valuable asset, nonetheless.

Dovbyk will likely feature in the forward line. He has been integral to Girona’s surprise showing in La Liga, a season in which they have matched the top teams kick for kick and will likely secure a top-three finish. Dovbyk has bagged 20 La Liga goals at the time of writing, putting him at the top of the La Liga scoring charts ahead of Bellingham and Lewandowski, both of whom will also feature at EURO 2024.

Ukraine EURO 2024 Odds

Ukraine enter EURO 2024 as the second favourites to win their group, but with high outright odds. In fact, you can get a higher price for a Ukraine win than a Scotland one, even though Scotland are the outsiders to win their group. The odds suggest that Ukraine have the best chance of finishing second but a slim chance of progressing beyond that. 

The scheduling could play a role in this because if they get that second-place finish, they will face the runners-up in Group D, the Group of Death. The odds suggest it could be Italy, but it’s a tough group that could go either way, so it could just as easily be Spain, Croatia, or Albania.

Betting on Ukraine in EURO 2024

Considering the above, it’s easy to see why Ukraine are the second favourites for Group E despite qualifying via the playoffs. They could be the most likely candidates to beat Belgium to the top of the group. At the very least, they should be fighting for that second spot and automatic qualification.

They may need to lean heavily on their most experienced players, as well as the goals of Dovbyk, but luckily for them, they are all in form and seemingly ready to impress on the big stage.

Group E Group Stage Odds

Football tournament betting strategies usually focus on the tournament favourites and the so-called Group of Death. This is where we typically see the biggest shocks and the fiercest clashes. It’s also where we usually see the eventual winners in action for the first time. But oftentimes in the history of the European Championships, the winners come from the groups that bettors initially overlook, and that could be the case with Group E.

We saw it in EURO 2016 when Portugal scraped out of a seemingly uneventful group via the third-place-finishers rule and then won the competition. We also saw it in EURO 2004 when Greece shocked the continent and lifted the trophy.

Belgium should have a fairly easy time of it, and that could set them up for the knockout rounds. So, if you’re plotting your EURO betting strategies and hoping for some big winning EURO bets, don’t overlook this group, and definitely don’t overlook Belgium, Romania, and Ukraine, three teams that all have a great chance of running deep. Slovakia’s chances might not be as great on paper, but they have the potential to pick up points in the group, and that could upset the apple cart.

Either way, it’s going to be a good one.

Summary: The Best Odds When Betting on EURO Group Matches

Whether you’re saving your money for betting on EURO knockout rounds, keeping an eye on those group stage odds, saving everything for betting on the EURO final, or doing all three, Casumo has your back! We have competitive odds for every stage of EURO 2024, along with extensive guides and top knockout betting tips to help you with each stage.

Check out our promotions section to collect the latest offers, and remember to gamble responsibly! Our support team can help you if you have any issues in this regard and need support, guidance, or assistance using our responsible gambling tools.

Index: The Euro 2024 Betting Guide

1. EURO 2024 Betting Guide
2. The Stages of EURO 2024 Explained
3. EURO 2024: Strategies and Tips
4. The Groups: Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, Group E and Group F
5. EURO 2024 Betting Guide: Round of 16
6. EURO 2024 Betting Guide: Quarter-Finals
7. EURO 2024 Betting Guide: Semi-Finals