Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney surprisingly snubbed one team that both Alan Shearer and Micah Richards believe can win Euro 2024 in Germany this summer.
Euro 2024 officially began last week after host nation Germany thrashed 10-man Scotland in their opening Group A match at the tournament.
Italy entered the tournament as defending European champions after they beat England on penalties in the final of Euro 2020 at Wembley.
Luciano Spalletti’s men bounced back from a first-minute opener from Albania to secure a 2-1 victory in their Group B opener on Saturday.
Despite entering the tournament as the reigning European Championship holders, Italy are not considered among the favourites to win Euro 2024.
Germany, France, England and Portugal are the four favourite teams that have been widely tipped to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy at this summer’s Euros.
England clinched a 1-0 win over Serbia in Group C on Sunday, while France secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Austria on Monday in Group D.
Portugal will kick off their Euro 2024 campaign on Tuesday evening with their opening Group F clash against the Czech Republic.
Rooney snubs Shearer and Richards’ Euro 2024 pick
Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards were all in agreement that England should likely be reaching the final of Euro 2024 and winning the competition.
However, both Shearer and Richards believe that France are among their favourites to capture the Henri Delaunay trophy if England fail in their bid to win Euro 2024.
“England can go all the way. This is the greatest chance we’ve had in a long time.” Shearer told BBC Sport.
“If it’s not going to be England, then I would have to go with France. With some of the talent and experience they have, they will be really, really tough to beat.”
Richards added: “England are going all the way to the final but if they don’t win it, then you have to look at France.
“You could argue that, individually, we have got the better players but as a team they will be hard to stop, with the way Olivier Giroud leads the line and how Antoine Griezmann plays in the pocket… oh, and they have got Kylian Mbappe.”
Rooney, on the other hand, snubbed France as one of his two picks and threw his backing behind 2016 Euro champions Portugal.
Portugal had an impressive Euro 2024 qualifying campaign under manager Roberto Martinez, having won all 10 of their qualifiers and conceded only twice.
“England have to be looking at winning the competition,” Rooney said.
“I also have a feeling for Portugal, they have got a really good squad, good individuals. They will have a good go.”
Rooney and Shearer on England
England are currently top of Group C after Denmark and Slovenia played out a 1-1 draw on Sunday in Stuttgart.
Rooney believes that the experience that the England team boasts from the likes of Harry Kane and Jordan Pickford will benefit the Three Lions.
Premier League legend Shearer, on the other hand, argued that England potentially have the best front six in the entire world.
“The last two tournaments they have been close, and they can rely on their experience from there,” Rooney said.
“The likes of Harry Kane and Jordan Pickford can help the players who are new to it all, just to settle them, and that will be key to getting them over the line this time.”
Shearer added: “England’s front six is one of the best, if not THE [sic] best, in world football. Some of the players and the talent we have will be a threat for anyone.”