Belgium are officially the most experienced squad at EURO 2020, closely followed by Portugal and France

Most-Experienced-by-Group

New analysis by William Hill, the world’s biggest bookmaker, has officially stoked the fires of the ‘age vs experience’ debate at EURO 2020.

Through a detailed review of each of the final EURO 2020 squads as they were announced, William Hill have found that Belgium are the most experienced squad at this year’s tournament. With 1,306 total international caps, followed by current holders, Portugal (1,037) and reigning world champions, France (1,003).

However, Belgium are not the favourites to win; they are 3rd favourites, with odds of 6/1, while France (9/2) and England (5/1) claim the top two betting positions.

Outright odds

France – 9/2
England – 5/1
Belgium – 6/1
Portugal – 8/1
Italy – 8/1
Spain – 8/1
Germany – 8/1
Netherlands – 14/1
Denmark – 28/1
Croatia – 33/1

Despite their experience, Belgium are also the oldest squad at the tournament. Doku is by far the youngest Belgian player at 19 years old (the majority of the squad are in their late 20s and early 30s). Belgium’s average age of 28.73 years is 1.53 years older than France’s squad and 4.04 years older than England’s youthful team.

There is also the debate regarding ‘peak age’, however, which is generally between 27-29 years old, which places older and experienced high-ranking teams like Belgium, France, and Portugal in equally strong form.

EURO finalists odds

England/Belgium – 16/1
France/Belgium – 18/1
England/France – 18/1
France/Spain – 20/1
France/Germany – 20/1

Both in terms of goals (237) and strike rate (0.18), the Belgium squad are the most prolific in front of goal at EURO 2020, largely thanks to the combined efforts of Lukaku (Golden Boot odds of 7/1), Hazard (50/1), Batshuayi (100/1), Mertens (100/1) and De Bruyne (66/1).

For individual players, Ronaldo has scored the most international goals (107) and has the most impressive strike rate, averaging 0.595 goals per game and earning himself strong odds of 14/1. He’s still not the Golden Boot favourite, however; Harry Kane, who averages 0.586 goals per game for England, and Lukaku with 0.468 strike rate, share the best odds at 6/1.

Golden Boot odds

Romelu Lukaku – 6/1
Harry Kane – 6/1
Kylian Mbappe – 9/1
Cristiano Ronaldo – 14/1
Karim Benzema – 16/1
Memphis Depay – 18/1
Robert Lewandowski – 20/1
Ciro Immobile – 22/1
Antoine Griezmann – 22/1
Serge Gnabry – 25/1