We turn our attention to all three UEFA European Championship encounters involving Groups B and C scheduled for Thursday, June 20, providing a betting suggestion for each match.
Before diving into the matches, let’s review the latest outright betting markets. England and France remain joint favourites at 4/1 after their first match. Hosts Germany have settled at 5/1 for the time being. Portugal and Spain follow closely at 13/2, with the Netherlands next best at 14/1. The remaining teams are priced at 16/1 or better.
Click here for all the latest UEFA EURO Outright Betting
SLOVENIA v SERBIA – Click here to bet
Slovenia, currently in 3rd place in their respective group, enter match day 2 at the Allianz Arena buoyed by the fact that they are still very much in contention for progression, proving many wrong by confirming they won’t be pushovers in this tournament. After coming from behind by securing a crucial 1-1 draw against Denmark, Slovenia will aim to build on from that performance, knowing that a win could potentially secure their advancement, depending on favourable results in Group C.
Serbia will look to bounce back from a narrow 1-0 defeat against England as they prepare to take on Slovenia in a crucial match at Allianz Arena. Currently last in the standings with a -1 goal difference, the Eagles know that a positive result against Slovenia could reinvigorate their chances of progressing, especially after Denmark and Slovenia shared the spoils in their opener, offering Serbia a lifeline. Ranked higher than their opponents this Thursday, it is no surprise that they are favourites to get their campaign back on track.
Head-to-Head
These two sides have met four times in total with both nations securing a win apiece, drawing the remaining two. Their most recent encounter resulted in a 2-2 in the UEFA Nations League back in June 2022.
Betting
Slovenia 15/4
Draw 5/2
Serbia 17/20
Prediction
Despite Serbia going into this game as odds on favourites, Slovenia cannot be underestimated given they have registered a goal in each encounter when facing the Eagles. In a game that looks a tricky game to call, my preference would be for both teams to find the back of the net.
Suggested Bet: Both Teams to score, Yes at 10/11
DENMARK v ENGLAND – Click here to bet
Having drawn their opening match against Slovenia, Denmark goes into this highly anticipated encounter knowing there is work to be done if they are to successfully progress from the group stages. With a point to prove this Thursday, having come agonizingly close in the previous edition by falling just short against England in the semi-finals, the Great Danes hope that Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt will bring better fortune as they look to build on their disappointing start to their Euro 2024 campaign so far.
Despite an unconvincing start, England secured maximum points with a 1-0 victory over Serbia this past weekend. Jude Bellingham’s 13th-minute header proved to be enough, placing them at the top of Group C. The Three Lions will face Denmark on Thursday at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, hoping to replicate their 2-1 success over the Danes from the Euro 2020 semi-finals. With the likes of Phil Foden missing in action for most of the opener, and Harry Kane starved of possession, Gareth Southgate’s men will need to be at their very best to secure the three points that would guarantee their place in the last 16, irrespective of the outcome in the final group match.
Head-to-Head
These two sides have met 22 times, with England dominating the stats with 13 victories, 5 draws, and just 4 defeats. Their most recent encounter resulted in a 2-1 victory for England after extra time in the UEFA European Championship semi-final in July 2021.
Betting
Denmark 5/1
Draw 27/10
England 4/6
Prediction
England failed to impress in their opening game, prompting me to consider alternative avenues to maximize value. The Three Lions have a history of making life difficult for themselves in major tournaments. Southgate’s team is expected to grind out a narrow win, but it won’t be by a large margin.
Suggested Bet: Winning margin, England by 1 at 12/5
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SPAIN v ITALY – Click here to bet
Spain’s 3-0 triumph over Croatia in their opening match not only solidified their position at the top of Group B with a goal difference of +3 but also sets the stage for an intense showdown against Italy at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen this Thursday. The upcoming clash holds significant stakes, as the victor will likely claim the top spot in their group, thereby securing a potentially more favourable draw in the knockout stages. Following their dominant display in the opener, key players such as Pedri and Alvaro Morata were substituted earlier than anticipated in the second half, metaphorically wrapping them in cotton wool as their focus swiftly shifted towards facing the Azzurri on match day 2.
Despite grinding out a respectable 2-1 win against Albania in their Group B opener, Italy acknowledged the need to improve their performance moving forward after conceding the earliest goal in Euro history. Nedim Bajrami scored for the Eagles just 23 seconds into the game due to a defensive lapse at the back. Unlike their upcoming opponents, the Italians couldn’t afford to rest key players for this game due to the high stakes presented by the close score-line against Albania. Currently sitting second in Group B with a goal difference of +1, the Azzurri will aim to shake off their opening match nerves as they seek to overtake group leaders Spain. Bragging rights are also at stake against their perennial rivals as Italy strives to secure a place in the knockout stages.
Head-to-Head
These two sides have met 36 times overall, with Spain having the edge with 14 victories, 12 draws, and 10 defeats. Their most recent encounter resulted in a 2-1 win for Spain in the UEFA Nations League in June 2023.
Betting
Spain 23/20
Draw 23/10
Italy 26/10
Prediction
With so much at stake, there should be precious little separating these two teams, if at all. Each team registered a win in their respective openers, so a draw would not necessarily be a bad result for both. It would effectively keep both teams in control of their fate heading into the final round of the group stages.
Suggested Bet: Full Time Result, Draw at 23/10
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