Who Should Canadians Support at UEFA Euro 2024?

Last Updated on June 10, 2024 by YGK News Staff

Canada’s passion for sports knows no bounds. At present, the country is gripped by Connor McDavid and his Edmonton Oilers, who have reached the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since the days of Wayne Gretzky and now have the chance to become the Great White North’s first champions in over three decades. Their recent 2-1 victory against the Dallas Stars secured a 4-2 series victory in the conference semifinals, setting up a date with the Florida Panthers with the biggest prize in ice hockey on the line. 

However, in recent years, another sport that has grabbed the attention is soccer. 18 months ago, the Maple Leafs made history as they headed to the FIFA World Cup for just the second time in history and the first time in 36 years. Canada’s finest won’t be in action this summer, but international soccer will be front and centre as UEFA Euro 2024 takes place in Germany. And if you don’t currently have any affiliation with any of the 24 teams in action, here is a guide as to who you should support throughout the next six weeks. 

England

Whenever a major international tournament rolls around, the bookies are out in force with plenty of promotions on offer to ensure that you can make the most of the action. UEFA Euro 2024 is no different, and Canadian bookmakers are rolling out their sportsbook bonus offers as we speak. Not only are they doing that, but they are also installing England as the early +300 favourites for glory. Should they be able to live up to the billing, then the Three Lions will lift their first piece of major silverware since 1966. 

For many Canadians of British descent, supporting England is an easy choice. The Three Lions have a dedicated following in the country, thanks to historical ties and the popularity of the Premier League. Their quest for glory is often filled with high drama, with their penalty shootout defeat to Italy in the final three years ago and their heartbreaking extra-time defeat to Croatia in the World Cup semifinal in 2018 immediately springing to mind. One thing that is for certain is that if you throw your support behind Gareth Southgate’s team it certainly won’t be a boring summer. 

Denmark

Canadians have a soft spot for underdogs, and Denmark fits the bill perfectly. Add to that the shared connection to the Danes through Greenland, and many may feel that it’s the Danes who they should support this summer. 

This small Scandinavian country has a history of punching above its weight in international tournaments. Their victory at Euro 1992 remains one of the greatest underdog stories in history, while their inspiring run to the semi-finals at Euro 2020 was similarly impressive. De Rød-Hvide had to overcome plenty of adversity last time around, losing their first two games and also suffering a harrowing incident involving Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen. Despite that, they managed to persevere and reach the final four, where they were knocked out by the aforementioned England. 

This summer, they will be aiming for revenge after being in the same group as their previous conquerors. Should they manage to secure that, who knows how far they will go?