The UEFA European Championship kicks off tomorrow June 14th, and NBS Sport will broadcast live coverage of the competition. Twelve Euro 2024 matches, right from group stage clashes, Round of 16, Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and the highly anticipated Final will be live on your screens.
Solomon Ssaka, Fifi Phionah Pinky, Hakim Kazibwe, Stuart Kimera and John Vianney Nsimbe are the team of celebrated commentators who will be behind the live commentary of the matches on NBS Sport.
With a wealth of experience in commentary, and great knowledge about the Euros, football and sports in general, expect nothing but the best from the team. We caught up with them to tell us who they’re backing to win this year’s competition and why:
Solomon Ssaka
I predict France will win this year’s Euro competition. Based on their performance during the 2022 World Cup, although Argentina edged them to the crown, they put up a very spirited performance.
France still have most of the players who shone at the World Cup, led by their captain Kylian Mbappe. Mbappe has had great form at PSG and will have a point to prove to his new employers, Real Madrid.
They’ll lack a bit of leadership because I don’t think Mbappe will make a good captain. His characteristics of leadership are very different from past Fench captains like Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram, Patrick Viera and Hugo Lloris.
However, I think players like Presnel Kimpembe and Kingsley Coman will step up for the team and that won’t be a problem. France have the highest chance to win the Euros.
Fifi Phionah Pinky
There are two things. What the heart and what the head think. My heart would love Portugal to win. I’m a great fan of Christiano Ronaldo. They won it in 2016 against France, and I think it’s time they win it again.
I believe Portugal have a golden era. When you have Ruben Diaz in defence, Bruno Fernandez, Ronaldo ageing, but ageing like fine wine, Goncalo Ramos and Bernardo Silva, you have some of the players that can stir great wins. It is one team that I want to win.
But then if I’m to be objective and not a fan, there are teams most likely to win, that’s France and England.
France have Kylian Mbappe, he is the captain and will put up a great performance in Germany. But if you push me to the wall, I’d say that it’s time for the Three Lions – England to finally take it home.
Hakim Kazibwe
I think England are taking the trophy this time round because they have a better team of players who have been giants in their respective leagues.
For example, Jude Bellingham was awarded the 2023/24 La Liga Player of the Season after scoring 19 goals in the league. He also had 4 Champions League goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions.
Harry Edward Kane, the Three Lions captain also won the European Golden Boot last season with 44 goals in his 1st season in the Bundesliga.
Philip Walter Foden also had a fantastic season scoring 25 goals in all competitions. According to the above-mentioned reasons, I think the Three Lions will be crowned champions.
Stuart Kimera
The top 3 favourites are England, Germany, and Portugal. However, according to me, France will win the competition, because of Mbappe who is the strength of their squad. France will also be looking to cure the heartbreak of losing the 2022 World Cup final to Argentina.
They will be extra-keen to make amends for that at this year’s Euros, and they have a coach in Deschamps who has been almost on the edge of winning the last big trophy – the World Cup and, of course, the Euros. Having familiar faces in the tournament gives them a big chance of winning the trophy.
John Vianney Nsimbe
My bet is on Portugal, France, and England. They are the favourites for me because if you look at their squads, they are solid and balanced.
On top of that, they have many options in different field positions. France, for example, has Mbappe, Griezmann, Thuram, and Dembele. That is a sharp attack. Their defence and midfield are good, too.
For Portugal, with Jota, Leao, Ronaldo, Bruno, and Bernado, they have potency in attack and midfield. Their defence, too, of Pepe and Ruben Dias, they have experience.
England has so many attackers, too. Even their midfield is quite competitive. Maybe the weakness may be in defence, where there are too many new players. Getting the balance right may affect them.
