We take a look at three UEFA European Championship encounters involving Groups D and E scheduled for Friday, June 21, providing a betting suggestion for each match.
Before doing so, let’s review the latest outright betting markets. England and France remain joint favourites at 4/1 and they are joined at that price by Germany. Portugal are now 6/1, closely followed by Spain at 7/1. The Netherlands and Italy are 16/1, while the rest of the field can be snapped up at 25/1 or better.
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SLOVAKIA v UKRAINE – Click here to bet
Against all odds, Slovakia undoubtedly pulled off the biggest upset at the Euros so far with their stunning 1-0 victory over Belgium. This win places them in a strong position in Group E, knowing they are on the cusp of advancing beyond the group stages for only the fifth time in their history. Currently sitting 2nd in the group standings with a positive goal difference of 1, the Falcons will be brimming with confidence as they prepare to face Ukraine on match day 2 in Düsseldorf. A win in this crucial match would likely secure their place in the next round, marking a significant achievement for Slovakian football.
Ukraine heads into match day 2 knowing that anything less than maximum points against Slovakia will likely result in elimination from the group stages. Their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Romania shocked many, considering their domination in goal attempts and possession. Defensively, the Blue-Yellows were repeatedly found wanting as they had no answer to Romania’s effective counter-attack style, raising questions about how easily they were dismantled at the back. Not having experienced back-to-back defeats since November 2020, Ukraine must draw inspiration from their past resilience. However, it won’t get any easier knowing Belgium awaits in the final round of the group stages, emphasizing once again the critical importance of securing all three points this Friday.
Head-to-Head
These two have met 8 times overall, with Ukraine slightly edging the stats with 3 wins, 3 draws, and 2 defeats. Their most recent encounter resulted in a 4-1 victory for Slovakia in the UEFA Nations League back in November 2018.
Betting
Slovakia 27/10
Draw 23/10
Ukraine 23/20
Prediction
Ukraine will be desperate to bounce back with immediate effect knowing what’s at stake here. Taking nothing away from Slovakia’s historical win over Belgium they themselves will want to prove their worth in this tournament hoping to build on from their recent success. A chance is taken on the Falcons to avoid defeat with both teams finding the net appeals.
Suggested Bet: Double Chance And Both Teams To Score, Slovakia/Draw And Yes at 19/10
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POLAND v AUSTRIA – Click here to bet
Currently sitting third in Group D with a goal difference of minus 1, Poland enter Friday’s crucial encounter at the Olympiastadion in Berlin having come off a narrow 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands. Despite the loss, they can take heart from the fact that for the vast majority of the game, they held their own, eventually succumbing to the Oranje in the 83rd minute. That being said, the Eagles did at times look a little flat upfront and certainly missed the services of star striker Robert Lewandowski. Thankfully for Poland, he is expected to feature in this must-win encounter. His presence alone will give the team additional belief they can get the job done and get their campaign back on track.
Austria finds themselves in a situation reminiscent of Poland’s, having suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to France due to an unfortunate incident where Maximilian Wober accidentally headed the ball into his own net. This defeat was particularly devastating, marking their first loss in eight games. Currently in fourth place with a goal difference of minus 1, Austria will now head to Berlin hoping to bounce back in a positive manner given the significance of the match. There is no doubt that Austrian head coach Ralf Rangnick would have emphasized this game as a must-win encounter, especially considering they conclude their group stage campaign against one of the tournament’s stronger teams, the Netherlands.
Head-to-Head
These two teams have met 11 times in total, with Poland dominating the figures with 6 wins, 2 draws, and 3 defeats. Their most recent encounter resulted in a 0-0 draw in the UEFA European Championship back in September 2019.
Betting
Poland 29/10
Draw 26/10
Austria 1/1
Prediction
A crucial game awaits both teams, with their fate hanging in the balance. A defeat for either side will effectively seal their fate. With so much at stake, this game is expected to be closely contested. Not many goals are anticipated, as their last three encounters featured two goals or fewer, a trend I fancy and is likely to continue.
Suggested Bet: Totals And Both Teams To Score, Under 2.5 And No at 14/10
NETHERLANDS v FRANCE – Click here to bet
An intriguing match awaits as the Netherlands, currently topping Group D, face France at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig this Friday. The Dutch team hopes to capitalize on a somewhat depleted Les Bleus squad, with Kylian Mbappe likely to miss the game as a precautionary measure due to a broken nose. This levels the playing field to some extent, presenting the Oranje with a rare opportunity to exploit their opponent’s misfortune. Coming off a 2-1 victory against Poland, Ronald Koeman’s men understand that a positive result here will firmly place them in control as they aim to progress beyond the group stages and make a deep run in the tournament.
Our tournament favourite, France, suffered a significant setback with Kylian Mbappe’s unfortunate injury. The talismanic forward sustained a broken nose against Austria and is expected to miss Friday’s upcoming match. This situation is far from ideal for France, given Mbappe’s crucial role in the team. Despite starting their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Austria and currently holding the second position in the standings, the French team will need to adjust quickly to maintain their momentum in the tournament. Fortunately, France still boasts a star-studded line up with players like Antoine Griezmann, Adrien Rabiot, and N’Golo Kante anchoring the midfield, supported by attackers such as Marcus Thuram and Ousmane Dembele pushing forward. With such talent at their disposal, France will be hoping to leave the Dutch singing the blues come full time.
Head-to-Head
These two sides have met 30 times with France dominating the figures with 16 wins, 3 draws and 11 defeats. Their most recent encounter resulted in a 2-1 win to France in the UEFA European Championship Qualifiers back in October 2023.
Betting
Netherlands 22/10
Draw 12/5
France 13/10
Prediction
Without the services of Kylian Mbappe, I think France will be content to settle for a point here. It’s a result that would benefit both teams, keeping them ahead of the remaining contenders in their group irrespective of the outcome of the Poland vs. Austria game.
Suggested Bet: Full Time Result, Draw at 12/5
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
