Euro 2020 kicks off this week folks and we’re all set for a month of fantastic football, as Europe’s finest national teams come face to face.
We can guarantee thrills, controversy and, above all, some brilliant match action; but what else can we look forward to? Here are my top ten predictions for the tournament, and I’ll take a look on July 11th to see how many I get right!
1: Les Bleus to win the tournament
The Euro 2020 betting odds have installed Didier Deschamps’ World Champions as favourites to win the competition at odds of 5.50, and when you look at the players at his disposal you can see just why. From Hugo Lloris in the nets to Kylian Mbappe up front the France team is dripping with world-class quality. Manchester United’s Paul Pogba reserves his best performances for his country while Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane remains one of the best defenders in the business.
This team knows how to perform on the biggest stage and they’re sure to do just that over the next four weeks or so.
2: Mbappe to win the Golden Boot
There are a few useful candidates for the Euro 2020 Golden Boot including England’s Harry Kane, who picked up that prize at Russia 2018. And then, of course there’s Kylian Mbappe. The PSG man is third-favourite at 8.50 behind Kane and Romelu Lukaku and he’s second favourite to be Player of the Tournament at 10.00, behind another Red Devil, Kevin de Bruyne.
Still only 22 years old he’s scored 78 goals in 80 games for PSG and 17 in 43 for France. He wowed in Russia three years ago and he can dominate Europe this time.
3: Another early exit for Germany
Joachim Low’s side are at 1.65 to reach the quarter-finals but I’m not so sure they’ll make it that far. I think the Germans may do one better than their group exit at Russia 2018, but if they emerge from the Group of Death in second or third there’s a good chance they will meet either Belgium or England in the Round of 16, and this misfiring team is at odds of 2.50 to go out at that stage.
4: Azzurri will beat Turkey 2-0
The tournament’s curtain-raiser pits Roberto Mancini’s resurgent Italy against Turkey, ranked 29th in the world. Senol Gunes’ side has a great chance of qualifying for the knockout phase but I can’t see them getting much change from the Azzurri who will have the defensive rocks Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini at the back.
The Azzurri had a 100 per cent record and scored 37 goals in qualifying, so I reckon they’ll win this game 2-0 at odds of 6.20.
5: Three Lions to crash out at the semi-final phase
At SBOTOP odds of 2.30 to reach the semi-final and 3.50 to reach the final England
fans will hope this is their year, but there is so much competition from the likes of Italy and France that I think Gareth Southgate’s men are likely to fall short.
At Russia 2018, the Three Lions led for much of the semi-final after Kieran Trippier scored an early free-kick against Croatia, but they went out in extra time and I can see a similar story of heartbreak again.
6: Red Devils to make a final
Roberto Martinez’ Belgium also went out of Russia 2018 at the semi-final stage, losing to eventual winners France, and the Red Devils are at odds of 4.00 to make the final this time around. They are the best-ranked team in world football and they have more strength in-depth than most of their rivals, and with Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament candidates in their ranks they can be a match for any team.
But I think France’s know-how may be just too much for them in the end.
7: Lewandowski will score at least twice against Slovakia
He’s as big as 20.00 to win the Golden Boot, mainly because Poland are unlikely to go deep into the competition, but Robert Lewandowski scored 41 goals in the 2020/21 Bundesliga, 13 more than second-placed Andre Silva, and he’ll be keen to improve on his record of two games in 11 tournament matches. I think he can double his tally against the Group E minnows.
8: Jack Grealish will win a penalty
There is bound to be VAR controversy at some point and the Premier League’s most fouled player could easily be involved. Grealish wins a lot of free kicks for Aston Villa and he’s said he’ll be happy to take the kicks for his country.
When the Three Lions play Scotland on 18th June he could run rings around the Scots’ defence and I can see him going down in the box at some stage.
9: CR7 will look stunning
The fifth favourite at odds of 18.00 to be best player and fourth favourite at 11.00 to be top scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo is destined to have another spectacular tournament at the ripe old age of 36. But one thing is nailed on…if this was a race meeting CR7 would definitely win the ‘best turned out’ award!
10: Scotland fans will have a party
The Tartan Army has legendary status for travelling in numbers and painting whichever city they visit deep a shade of deep blue, despite their team’s traditionally woeful efforts on the pitch. But the Scots have, at long last, qualified for their first finals tournament this century, and I suspect the party has already started north of the border.
So that’s it for now. We’ll be busy at SBOTOP this week with the latest Euro 2020 news and updates as they happen, and all the best action the moment it kicks off.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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