Euro 2008 Betting
Today I am looking at the three remaining qualifying groups for Euro 2008
and predicting the likely qualifiers.
Group E as everyone will probably know is the one involving England. They
are I a three way fight with Croatia and Russia for the two qualifying
places.
Croatia need one point from their 2 games away to Macedonia and England to
qualify and that should be done by Saturday night after the Macedonian
game.
England need results to go their way starting with Israel taking at least
a point from Russia on Saturday as the Russians remaining game is in
Andorra on the following Wednesday when they will surely pick up 3 points.
If the Israeli's can hold the Russian England have to beat Croatia in
their final group match at Wembley on the 21st and if the game in Israel
ends all square a draw for England will see them through.
Firstly I expect Israel to get at least a draw against Russia. This is a
side that are very hard to beat at home and that went through the last
World Cup qualifying campaign unbeaten in a group that contained France,
Switzerland and the Republic of Ireland.
Russia were fortunate to beat England in my opinion as the first goal came
from a penalty that should never have been awarded and the second from
some woeful defending, their performance when England beat them 3-0 at
Wembley earlier in the season proves they are not the best travellers.
I also expect England to beat Croatia and before anyone thinks this is the
ramblings of a typical patriotic Englishman I must state that I am half
Irish and half Italian so could not be more neutral!
Croatia provided they beat Macedonia will I believe have problems
motivating themselves for the England match. Slaven Bilic has always
stated qualification is the most important thing and if that is achieved
anything against England is a bonus.
So for me I expect England and Croatia to progress from the group.
Group F contains Northern Ireland and they for me have been one of the big
surprises in the qualifiers, how they must rue the 3-0 lose inflicted on
them by Iceland at home early in qualifying as those 3 points would have
brought them a lot closer to qualifying.
As it is Sweden and Spain are in the driving seat with 2 games to go and
a win each will see both teams progress whilst N.Ireland have to win both
their games home to Denmark and away to Spain and then hope Sweden lose
both their games to Spain and Latvia away to qualify.
Denmark also have a mathematical chance of progression but have to beat
N.Ireland away and Iceland at home and hope Spain lose both their two
matches which again seem unlikely.
So for me Sweden and Spain to advance.
The final group is Group G in which Romania has already gone through
leaving Holland and Bulgaria fighting it out for the remaining place.
Holland are in the driving seat with a 4 point gap over their rivals with
each team having to more games to play. They need one win to progress and
with a home game against Luxembourg and an away trip to Belarus it would
be one of the shocks of the century should they not join Romania at the
finals next summer.
So the final to group qualifiers for me are Romania and Holland.
Looking forward to the finals themselves there could be one or two good
prices to be had anti post.
Germany are favourites at 11/2 which to me is no value for a team that
though rises to the occasion at major tournaments do not have for me the
strength in depth to go all the way. Italy are 7/1 2nd favourites but I
cannot see them repeating their World Cup heroics come June 2008. The
squad has changed and there is less quality available to Donadoni in my
opinion.
I will be taking the 8/1 at present available for France, as they are
building a good squad with the likes of Henry, Anelka, and Vieira still in
their prime supported by the likes of Ribery, Malouda and the young guns
from Lyon Ben Arfa and Benzema. If they can hit form they will be very
difficult to beat.
As for a potential surprise team Croatia at 20/1 is not a bad option, when
you consider Greece won Euro 2004 with what was probably one of the most
negative displays ever in a major event I feel the Croatians who for so
long have flattered to deceive at major tournaments have the right blend
of a solid defence creative midfield and strong attack to make an impact
at last.
My one concern is the strength of depth of the squad but if their first 11
can be kept fit and healthy they will pose more then a few headaches for
whoever they come up against.
So there you have it my review of the Euro 2008 Qualifiers and my tips for
the tournament itself, lets hope that come July 2008 I can sit with a smug
smile on my face rather then egg!!!!
Good Luck
Silverfox.
