Manchester United stars set to light up Euro 2024

The curtain has only just closed on a topsy-turvy 2024 season for Manchester United, yet focus has now turned to Europe’s premier international continental competition, the European Football Championship Finals. To be held in Germany across June and July, the Finals are the 17^th edition of the event, and there are plenty of United players who will be looking to make their mark with their respective national teams over the course of the summer. Here we take a look at some of the players who will surely have a big say in the outcome of events.

England

As one of the biggest clubs in England, it’s no surprise that, yet again, United players will be contributing heavily to the prospects of the national side. There has been plenty of focus on the players left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad – Marcus Rashford because of poor form and Harry Maguire because of injury – but there is excitement over who has been included. None more so that young revelation Kobbie Mainoo, the young midfielder who left an indelible mark on the 2023/24 season and has been one of the undoubted positives in an otherwise lacklustre campaign, FA Cup win aside. Mainoo’s performances for both club and country may well have been enough to play himself into contention for a spot in Southgate’s starting eleven, and that’s some accomplishment for an 19-year-old. The only other United player in the England squad is left-back Luke Shaw. Shaw’s season was severely disrupted by injury, but with Southgate lacking another option to cover the left side of his defence, many hopes will rest on the United man getting (and staying) fit for the tournament.

Scotland

Just the one United man in Scotland’s Euro 2024 squad in the shape of stalwart Scott McTominay. The midfielder has been a key man yet again for United this season, and Scotland’s hopes will rest heavily on his shoulders. A popular player at Old Trafford, plenty of Old Trafford regulars will be hoping for a strong tournament for the Scot, who always gives his all to the United cause.

Portugal

Another nation heavily reliant on United talent is top contender Portugal. United skipper Bruno Fernandes is a key cog in the Portuguese machine, while Diego Dalot has made the right-back berth his own. Expect these two players to be central to Portuguese hopes in Germany.

Denmark

Yet another side who will have a distinct Old Trafford flavour to their team at Euro 2024 is Denmark. Semi-finalists from four years ago (losing narrowly to England), coach Kasper Hjulmand has called up two Red Devils to help spearhead the Danish charge this time around. Experienced midfielder Christian Eriksen will play a pivotal role in the centre of the park as usual, but many Danish hopes will be placed on young United striker Rasmus Højlund, who had a solid first season at Old Trafford after his big money move from Atalanta.

Notable absences

As well as the missing Rashford and Maguire from the England squad, there are other United representatives who will either count themselves unfortunate or will just be plain disappointed not to be joining their teammates at the football fiesta in Germany. Aaron Wan-Bissaka had a good season at right back, but is unfortunate in that he plies his trade in a position that England are well stocked in. Mason Mount was never a contender after a season hit by injury and poor form, while Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood were never really viable options for a number of reasons. Victor Lindelöf’s Sweden were unable to qualify, as were Jonny Evans’ Northern Ireland. Donny van de Beek is well out of the Dutch picture after enduring a miserable spell in a United shirt and on loan, while Tyrell Malacia has been out for the season with a serious knee injury. Outgoing Frenchmen Raphaël Varane, who has retired from French duty, and Anthony Martial, who is well out of the international frame, also won’t feature.

What the bookmakers are saying

England and Portugal are among two of the favourites for the Euro 2024 crown with the online sportsbooks. In terms of top goalscorer at the event, United legend Cristiano Ronaldo is still among the favourites, incredibly, at the age of 39. Rasmus Højlund and Bruno Fernandes are the only current United players among the odds here, but are way down the list. It’s worth checking out the betting offers to get even better returns should those realities ring true. If you fancy a punt on player of the tournament, again it’s Fernandes who is the most viable option, although United fans might be more attracted to the young player of the tournament award, where both Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Højlund are among the leading contenders. Plenty of interest then from a United perspective.