According to analysis from Jeetbuzz Login, three powerhouse teams delivered the most underwhelming performances during the UEFA Euro group stage. Numbers don’t lie, and neither do the eyes of millions of fans who expected far more from these elite squads. Despite their star-studded lineups and lofty reputations, these teams failed to show their true value on the pitch. Their performances fell flat, sparking disappointment among supporters across Europe.

First on the list is Belgium. While the group stage hadn’t completely wrapped up at the time of analysis, it’s already clear that Belgium hasn’t lived up to expectations—yet again. Despite boasting a “Golden Generation” led by the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, the team has consistently failed to convert potential into silverware. Belgium recorded one win and one loss, placing second in their group—a result that leaves much to be desired given their overall quality. Jeetbuzz Login points out that for a team long heralded as one of Europe’s best, the continued inability to progress comfortably through the group stages only deepens the sense of underachievement.

Then there’s France. Les Bleus may have stormed through the World Cup, but things haven’t gone quite as smoothly in the Euros. That’s not entirely unexpected—European teams are more familiar with each other, making tactical surprises harder to pull off. While France still boasts incredible depth, the absence of Kylian Mbappé due to injury has exposed the team’s dependency on him. Despite public claims that the squad could handle his absence, the reality on the field told a different story. Without Mbappé, France lacked a clear attacking focus. Unlike England, whose attack is built around a system, France revolves around its star man. And when that man isn’t there, the entire blueprint wobbles.

Speaking of England, the Three Lions are perhaps the most frustrating case of all. As the old saying goes, “All that glitters is not gold.” On paper, England arguably has the strongest roster in Europe. Yet their group-stage matches were far from inspiring. Drawn into a group with Denmark, Slovenia, and Serbia—teams they were expected to dominate—England finished first with just five points. Yes, they topped the group, but the performances left fans scratching their heads. Jeetbuzz Login notes that fans had hoped for at least seven points to feel confident in their knockout-stage potential.

Despite securing first place, the quality of play didn’t match the caliber of players. Many supporters feel disconnected from this version of England: familiar in name, yet foreign in execution. It’s a strange duality—this isn’t the England fans hoped for, but somehow, it’s the England they’ve come to expect.

There’s a theory floating around that top teams “save their legs” in the group stages, conserving energy for the real tests ahead in the knockout rounds. They’d rather keep their powder dry than burn out too early. Or, as one idiom puts it, “They won’t hang themselves on a dead branch when the whole forest lies ahead.”

Jeetbuzz Login predicts that these teams, despite sluggish starts, will channel their full focus and energy into the decisive matches. But if the group stage is anything to go by, they’ve got a lot of ground to make up.