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Euro 2028 Power Rankings: Spain Leads, Portugal Moves On from Ronaldo Saga, Norway Faces Reality Check

The Euro 2028 tournament is still over two years away, but recent international matches have given hints about how teams are shaping up as the competition approaches. Hosted across the UK and Ireland, with games in England, Scotland, Wales, and Dublin, none of the co-host nations automatically qualify, leaving 24 spots open for qualification.

Although qualifying will start in March, the recent Nations League matches have influenced seedings and shown early team form. Here are the rankings of the 20 highest-ranked UEFA teams based on provisional FIFA rankings after the international break.

20. Ukraine

  • Performance: Started strong with a win in Hungary thanks to Danylo Sikan, but followed with only a draw against Georgia and home losses to Northern Ireland and Hungary.
  • Outlook: War challenges persist but the return of Oleksandr Zinchenko post-injury may boost their chances.

19. Poland

  • Highlight: Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Romania.
  • Struggles: Managed only one other point from three matches; concerns over attacking support around Lewandowski.
  • Note: Lewandowski intends to continue for one more tournament cycle despite previous retirement hints.

18. Hungary

  • Results: Mixed start with losses and draws but ended with wins against Georgia and Ukraine.
  • Manager: Marco Rossi remains under pressure but likely to stay through November qualifiers.

17. Wales

  • Best Moment: Victory over World Cup quarter-finalists Norway at home.
  • Concerns: No goals or points in other matches; a painful loss to Denmark due to goalkeeper error hurt seeding hopes.

16. Turkiye

  • Form: Four straight defeats against top teams France, Italy, and Belgium.
  • Issues: Scored just twice while conceding 11; coach Vincenzo Montella expected to be replaced.

15. Austria

  • Results: Unbeaten during the break, securing eight points from four games.
  • Key Points: Missing key players like Arnautovic and Alaba, the team showed resilience by scoring late winners and comeback draws.

14. Sweden

  • Standout: Viktor Gyokeres scored in every match despite losing strike partner Alexander Isak to injury.
  • Record: Ten points from four matches with hopes to top their group in upcoming games.

13. Croatia

  • Recent Form: A win in Czechia but heavy defeats to Spain and England, including conceding seven goals to England.
  • Concerns: The role of veteran Luka Modric remains debated as the team transitions.

12. Greece

  • Progress: Unbeaten in Nations League, including a notable win in Germany.
  • Rising Stars: Christos Tzolis, Konstantinos Karetsas, and Charalampos Kostoulas show promise for a new generation.

11. Denmark

  • Mixed Results: Lost to Portugal and Norway but beat Wales twice.
  • Bright Spot: Rasmus Hojlund scored in three games, signaling hope for Euro qualification.

10. Italy

  • Comeback: After a home loss to Belgium, Italy won convincingly against Turkiye and earned a draw in France.
  • New Generation: Players like Michael Kayode and Alessandro Romano caught attention under Roberto Mancini’s return.

9. Belgium

  • Transition: New coach Mark van Bommel began with wins and losses; Kevin De Bruyne delivered a standout performance.
  • Challenges: Two late defeats to France dampened momentum despite new talents like Mika Godts emerging.

8. Norway

  • Post-World Cup Dip: Erling Haaland scored twice in a win over Denmark but the team lost three subsequent matches, including to Portugal and Wales.
  • Outlook: Recovering now is better than during qualifiers; aiming for only their second European Championship appearance since 2000.

7. Switzerland

  • Strong Performance: Perfect record with four wins, scoring 11 goals and conceding just once.
  • Context: Despite controversy over player omissions, Switzerland built solid momentum under Murat Yakin.

6. Netherlands

  • Unbeaten Start: Two wins and two draws including victories over Serbia and late equalizers against Germany and Greece.
  • Key Players: Virgil van Dijk leads alongside newcomers Mexx Meerdink and Ruben van Bommel.

5. Germany

  • New Coach: Jurgen Klopp’s debut involved a large squad split into groups, producing mixed results.
  • Outcomes: One win, one shock loss to Greece, one draw, and a late equalizer prevented defeat to the Netherlands.

4. Portugal

  • Perfect Break: Four wins with Joao Felix and Goncalo Ramos each scoring three goals.
  • Drama: Cristiano Ronaldo left camp after being an unused substitute, but the team looks stronger without him.

3. England

  • Impressive Attack: Wins over Czechia and a 7-0 thrashing of Croatia highlighted offensive strength despite a loss to Spain.
  • Stars: Harry Kane scored six goals; young talents like Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon shone.

2. France

  • Changing Era: With Zinedine Zidane as coach, France started strong despite Kylian Mbappe’s injury.
  • Standout Player: Michael Olise scored four goals and provided two assists, becoming a key figure.

1. Spain

  • Dominant Form: Reigning European and world champions won all their Nations League games.
  • Key Contributors: Lamine Yamal scored in the first three matches; Pedri rebounded after World Cup disappointment.
  • Outlook: Spain appears the team to beat heading toward Euro 2028.

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