Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has warned the elite European teams not to underestimate one “really underrated” side at Euro 2024 in Germany this summer.
The UEFA tournament officially begins on Friday when Euro 2024 hosts Germany face Scotland in their Group A opener at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Italy were crowned champions at the last European Championship tournament after they defeated England on penalties at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final.
The defending European Championship holders are in Group B alongside Spain, Croatia and Albania, with Italy facing the latter in their opening Euro 2024 match.
Gareth Southgate, who has been linked with Manchester United, will take charge of England for what could be his final tournament as Three Lions boss.
The 53-year-old England manager is out of contract in December and has failed to capture any silverware at his last three major international tournaments.
Gareth Southgate’s England side are among the favourites to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy this summer alongside the likes of France, Germany and Portugal.
Evra spotlights ‘underrated’ team at Euro 2024
Patrice Evra has offered his two cents on the forthcoming UEFA competition and warned the top teams at Euro 2024 to not overlook one side.
The Manchester United legend admitted that he would not want to play against a side like Croatia if he were still representing France at Euro 2024.
Croatia have impressed under manager Zlatko Dalic, who led his country to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup and the final of the 2018 World Cup.
Zlatko Dalic’s men fell short of the World Cup trophy in 2018 after suffering a defeat to France in Russia before Argentina knocked them out in the semi-finals in 2022.
However, Croatia underwhelmed at Euro 2020 and were dumped out of the last 16 at the hands of Spain after a 5-3 defeat at the Parken in Copenhagen.
Evra suggested that Real Madrid star Luka Modric is likely to play in his last tournament for his country, which could rally his Croatia teammates to deliver for him.
“If you ask which team I don’t want to play in a tournament, it’s Croatia, because they always create a surprise,” he said, as per the Deccan Herald.
“[Luka] Modric will be playing his last tournament and maybe his teammates can give everything for him. I think Croatia is really underrated.”
Evra reveals his Euro 2024 favourites
Evra admitted that it is hard to overlook France as the favourites for Euro 2024 after he spotlighted their strength in the starting XI and on the bench.
Didier Deschamps’ men fell short of retaining the World Cup trophy in 2022 after a thrilling penalty shootout defeat to Argentina in the final in Qatar.
The 2018 World Cup champions failed to impress at Euro 2020 and were stunned in the last 16 after a penalty shootout defeat to Switzerland.
Speaking on France, Evra said: “Even if you see FIFA rankings, they are down but every major tournament they are doing well.
“They are looking for more respect and that’s why they will do their best to win the tournament.
“I don’t think any country has a better squad – starting XI and bench – than France.
“The problem is sometimes we are too good, sometimes arrogant and sometimes too confident.
“I give the example of last Euro when we lost against Switzerland despite leading 2-0. You know, after a goal, we started dancing and got too confident we got eliminated in penalties.
“So, we need to be careful… because if you’re too confident, or sometimes too arrogant, that’s when you get a surprise.
“But I trust Didier Deschamps, he’s someone who is really humble. And I think this is the thing he worries the most.”