Goalkeepers that will make you buy tickets for Euro 2024

Euro 2024 will hand European players a fresh chance to showcase what they can do for their countries and how good they are on the European stage.

The competition comes every four years, and it means some players never get more than one chance to represent their nation in it.

Because of these, most footballers on the continent are working very hard to be on the plane to Germany if their countries qualify for the Euros.

The last edition in 2021 was played in several countries because of the COVID-19 pandemic and Italy emerged as unlikely champions.

The Azzurri had missed the World Cup in 2018 and would miss out on qualifying for the 2022 edition in Qatar as well.

As things stand, Italy could still miss out on a place at Euro 2024 as their national team struggles in a qualifying campaign again.

One of their heroes at Euro 2020 was their goalkeeper Gigi Donnarumma. His performance in the entire competition and that final against England shows why that position is among the most important in any team.

Strikers, midfielders and defenders get a lot of praise for their contribution in matches, but without a good goalkeeper, it will be difficult for any team to succeed.

Fans who buy UEFA EURO 2024 tickets expect their national team to win the competition, and their confidence will increase or decrease depending on who is in goal for their national team.

Several countries will be installed as favourites to win the competition and each of them will have a good man between the posts for them.

In this article, We look at the nations already qualified and discuss the top goalkeepers we expect to see in the competition.

Manuel Neuer, Germany

Neuer missed almost a year's worth of action after suffering an injury in a ski incident and returned to playing at the end of October 2023.

In his absence, Bayern had Yann Sommer as their first choice last season, but the Swiss goalie knows Neuer will be the first choice again on his return to the team and left in the summer.

Neuer has been in the Germany team since 2009 and has been the country's first choice for much of the time he has been in their team.

The Bayern Munich man is one of the best goalkeepers the game has ever had, and at 37, he knows this is his last chance to win a major trophy.

Germany has been dismal in the last few tournaments since they won the World Cup in 2014, and his form will be pivotal in helping them to become champions of Europe again.

Mike Maignan, France

Following the retirement of Hugo Lloris at the end of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Maignan has become the latest first choice for France.

Like many top European countries, Les Bleus has been blessed with goalkeeping talents for decades, and Maignan is one of the best goalkeepers in Serie A.

He helped AC Milan win Serie A in 2022 and has consistently been one of the world's top goalkeepers for several seasons.

Lloris' shoe is a big one to fill after he won the World Cup with France in 2018 and reached the final of the last edition. He also reached the final of Euro 2016, and his spell in goal is one of the most successful for the country.

France has some of the best attackers in the world on their team, and their midfield is also packed with quality players.

If Maignan and the other goalkeepers in the group do not play well, the team will fall short and we believe the Milan man knows how many goalies will jump at the chance to replace him if he fails to meet expectations.

Unai Simon, Spain

Another European country with one of the best goalkeepers is Spain, and Unai Simon has surprisingly been their first choice for some time.

Since Iker Casillas left the scene, Spain has not had a consistent number one until Simons came around.

The 26-year-old Athletic Bilbao man was in goal even when they had David de Gea to choose and deserved his chance.

Spain has some of the finest goalies in the Premier League now, including David Raya of Arsenal and Chelsea's Robert Sanchez.

However, Simon seems to be the best and has earned 37 Spain caps since he debuted in 2020, meaning he has had the support of at least two managers at the helm.

The Spanish side cruised through the qualifying stage of Euro 2024 partly because of his fine form in goal.

In the competition proper next year, Spain will be one of the favourites to win, and Simon will be pivotal to their success.

Mert Gunok, Turkiye

Turkiye surprisingly missed out on a place at the last FIFA World Cup, but with Vincenzo Montella as their manager, they are back at a major tournament.

The Turks have some of the finest talents in European football and have had some legendary goalkeepers like Rüştü Reçber, who was terrific for them at the 2002 World Cup.

They have lacked a top-quality goalkeeper for some time, but Gunok has been superb in goal for them.

The 34-year-old debuted in 2012 but had not played so much until recent times after proving his worth at Besiktas.

He is in line to start for them at the Euros and knows it will be his last competition for them, so he will give his best.

Diogo Costa, Portugal

Portugal cruised through the qualification for the Euros by winning every single game and conceding no goals.

This is a ridiculous piece of record for any European side to achieve in a qualifying series.

Fans will consider the impact of Cristiano Ronaldo and the other top attackers and midfielders in the Portugal national team and think they are the reason this record has stood.

However, keeping a clean sheet must be attributed to the defence and some incredible performance from Diogo Costa in the Portuguese goal.

The FC Porto man has been linked with a move to different Premier League clubs in the last few transfer windows because of his terrific performances for club and country.

Since he debuted for Portugal in 2021, two years after he won the UEFA Youth League, it has been difficult for any other goalkeeper to take his place in the Portugal team.

Ronaldo is looking to win another European crown after winning the 2016 edition. Costa will have to be at his best for the Portuguese team to achieve its goals despite their fine form during the qualifiers.

Jordan Pickford, England

England is easily one of the favourites to win Euro 2024, thanks to the fantastic group of players that they have.

The Three Lions have always been fantastic in qualifying series and there was little doubt they will qualify for the Euros in 2024.

A key part of their squad is Jordan Pickford, who has been England's first choice for almost a decade.

The Everton goalie has faced challenges from several goalies over the years, but he always finds a way to remain the number one.

Gareth Southgate does not even consider another goalie to be close to his first choice in terms of quality, and we expect him to remain in goal during the Euros next year.

If England wins the competition, the performance of Pickford will be essential and he already showed he can be trusted in a big competition.

At the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, he was in superb form and that was the case at Euro 2020, so we can trust him to do well in Germany next year as well.

Europe has some of the best goalies in the world and these players are the individuals that we believe will do well between the sticks for their different countries.