Yu may or may not have noticed that in the last few weeks all of the main contenders for Euro 2016 honours have been strutting their stuff, working on their tactics and cementing their starting eleven in time for the tournament proper to begin.
These friendlies have thrown up plenty of shock results however, and while a friendly dictates that less than 100% is given – and thus less than 100% should be read into them – defeats will hurt the players and shape the coach’s perception as to who he should field in his side’s first game.
With that in mind, here’s a rundown of the latest pre-tournament action, and some betting tips that have arisen from them:
Germany Find Winning Formula at Just the Right Time
A 2-0 win over Hungary might not seem all that impressive on the face of it, but for Germany it was a crucial result that will surely have instilled in them the confidence that they can go to France and win.
Since November, a torrid run has witnessed the Germans lose to France, England and Slovakia, with just a solitary triumph over Italy sandwiched in there for good measure. Have they lost their air of invincibility?
The win over Hungary was poignant but still not conclusive of an absolute return to form: they could muster just three shots on target against their less prestigious opponents.
It is little wonder then that Germany have gone from bookmakers’ favourite to available at a princely 5.50. Given their proclivity for performing at major tournaments – and these are the reigning world champions remember - we wouldn’t write them off, but their form in friendlies suggests they are vulnerable.
Hosts with the Most
Four wins on the spin – that’s how France are shaping up for Euro 2016. In all of those triumphs (3-2 over Holland, 4-2 against Russia, 3-2 versus Cameroon and 3-0 comfortably against Scotland), they registered three or more goals; a handy trait to have heading into a major tournament.
We know all about France’s ability to win on home soil, as they did in Euro ’84 and World Cup ’98, and it appears as though they are hitting peak form at just the right time now as well.
Their price of 4.33 to win Euro 2016 will look outstanding value in a couple of weeks’ time we’re sure, and how about backing the French to be the tournament’s top goalscorers at 4.33?
Spain on the Wane?
If you were an alien that had just come down to earth this week for the first time, you wouldn’t know whether Spain were the best football team on the planet or merely average.
That’s because just a week ago on June 1 they hammered South Korea 6-1, with some outstanding link-up play between Cesc Fabregas, David Silva and Nolito getting punters rather excited about their chances at Euro 2016.
Fast forward six days, however, and we found the Spaniards in rather less creative mood. Their 0-1 defeat to Georgia, in which they fielded a strong side, was indicative of the inconsistency that has dogged this squad for the past couple of years.
And it was a case of same old, same old: they boasted 71% possession but did little with it, firing 17 shots towards goal but only three on target. And remember, this was a Georgia side that had lost their two previous games 5-1 and 3-1 to Romania and Slovakia respectively.
Suddenly, the odds of 6.00 on Spain to win Euro 2016 don’t look so appetising….
Goal-den Iceland a Team for Punters to Get Excited About
Cynical punters would say that these pre-tournament friendlies are ultimately meaningless; that it’s what the teams do when it counts all that matters.
There may be a semblance of truth in that, but one trend that has continued throughout the programme of friendlies is that Iceland matches are packed with goals.
Their most recent scorelines – 1-2 (Denmark), 3-2 (Greece), 2-3 (Norway) and 4-0 (Liechtenstein) - indicate a team that knows where the goal is….but has their troubles in defending their own.
Their first match in Euro 2016 is against Portugal; themselves no strangers to scoring goals with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo amongst their ranks. That June meeting looks destined for Over 2.5 Goals then, and at 2.40 that is the pick of today’s
betting tips from Bet Advisor.
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