Category: EURO2020 - MR. FOOTY TIPS

EURO 2020 Final Preview (11 July 2021)

7/8/2021

Is football finally coming home, or is it headed for Rome? This Sunday (11 July) sees the final of EURO 2020 between England & Italy.

It will be the Azzurri’s 10th appearance in the final of a major tournament (6x World Cup, 4x EURO) while the Three Lions prepare for their first ever appearance in a European Championship final and their 1st appearance in a major final since 1966.

England are the marginal favourites at 4/5 to lift the trophy while Italy are 1/1 with Bet365.

Sunday evening will be the 28th meeting between Italy & England, the most recent of which was back in 2018 when a late Insigne penalty salvaged a draw after Jamie Vardy had given England the lead.

Lorenzo Insigne notched 19 times for Napoli in Serie A last season and has 2 goals at EURO 2020.

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The diminutive winger has all the potential to be a game winner and England right-back Kyle Walker will need to be at his brilliant best to contain him.

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At the other end of the pitch, Harry Kane’s extra-time winner against Denmark in the semi-final was the Spurs striker's 4th goal at EURO2020, tied 3rd for the Golden Boot behind Patrik Schick & Cristiano Ronaldo who both have 5 goals.

It’s sure to be a tense and tight affair between 2 sides who arrive full of confidence and there’s huge potential it could be decided by just 1-goal.

3 of the last 4 EURO finals in fact having been decided by a 1-0 scoreline.

Back Under 1.5 Goals @ 13/8

EURO 2020 Quarter-Final Preview

6/30/2021

And then there were 8 as the belated 2020 European Championships reaches the quarter-final stage this weekend.

The last-16 was certainly not lacking in drama & excitement with 22 goals scored across the 6 ties with leading contenders Holland, Portugal, France & Germany all departing.

Switzerland v Spain

Switzerland stunned World Champions on penalties to book their place in the quarter-finals. The Swiss produced a remarkable turnaround to come from 3-1 down with 10-minutes left to prevail 5-4 on penalties.

Spain, meanwhile, seem to be finding their rhythm after a slow start to the tournament. Luis Enrique’s men have scored no less than 10 goals in their last 2 outings.

La Roja had to survive a scare in the last-16 when being taken to extra-time by Croatia but goals from Mikel Oyarzabal & the misfiring Alvaro Morata ensured the 3-time European champions progression.

Given the two sides most recent outings, it seems reasonable to expect a goal-filled encounter.

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Back Spain & over 2.5 goals @ 13/8

Belgium v Italy

Friday night produces easily the most fascinating tie of the quarter-finals as no. 1 ranked side Belgium take on a Italy side who have been near enough foot perfect up until now.

Roberto Mancini’s side have won all 4 of their games so far, scoring 9 times with Sasa Kalajdzic’s goal for Austria in the last-16 the only blot on the Azzurri’s copy book.

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Belgium boast a similarly impressive record this Summer also winning their 4 games and the Red Devils showed a determined resolve when repelling Portugal in the last-16.

Roberto Martinez is likely to be without star players Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard but the Belgians aren’t short of squad depth and look good value at odds-against to qualify for the semi-finals.

Back Belgium to qualify @ 11/10

Czech Republic v Denmark

On Saturday, tournament dark horses Czech Republic & Denmark lock horns in Baku in what is a repeat of the 2004 quarter-finals.

A Milan Baros brace helped the Czech’s to the semi-finals in ‘04 and in Patrik Schick Jaroslav Silhavy has a similar striker with an eye for goal. The Bayer Leverkusen forward has 4 goals in as many games at EURO 2020.

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Back Patrik Schick (First Goalscorer) @ 6/1

Ukraine v England

Finally, on Saturday night. Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions leave the home comforts of Wembley to head to Rome where they’ll face Andriy Shevchenko’s Ukraine.

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The Ukranian’s qualified as one of the top 3rd placed teams before Artem Dovbyk’s stoppage time header sealed their place in the quarter-finals at Sweden’s expense on Tuesday evening.

England matched Germany’s record from 2016 in keeping 4 successive clean sheets at a European Championship.

The Germans ultimately exited at the semi-final stage 5-years ago and the nation will be expecting the semi-finals at the bare minimum.

England to Nil @ 21/20

EURO 2020 Last-16 Preview

6/24/2021

The group stage is complete, let the knockout stage begin..

The last-16 of the 2020 European Championships gets underway this weekend with mouthwatering ties whichever way you look!

Ante-post favourites France retain their spot as tournament favourites after coming through unscathed whilst Italy are their nearest pursuers according to the bookmakers with Roberto Mancini’s side being cut into a general 6/1, having been available to back previously at 9/1.

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The Azzurri won Group A without conceding a single goal and their reward is a last-16 tie against Group C runners-up Austria.

Franco Foda’s Austrian side were comfortable winners over North Macedonia & Ukraine but were no match for the Netherlands and it’s difficult to see them progressing any further.

Speaking of the Dutch, Frank de Boer’s Flying Dutchmen take on the Czech Republic in Budapest on Sunday.

Gini Wijnaldum & co. were impressive in qualifying for the knockout phase, winning all 3 group matches scoring 8 times & conceding just twice. The former Liverpool midfielder has 3 goals to his name at EURO 2020, tied with Romelu Lukaku, Patrick Schick, Emil Forsberg & Robert Lewandowski in the race for the Golden Boot.

Also on Sunday, Belgium & Portugal go head-to-head in Seville.

The Red Devils are the current no. 1 ranked team in the World according to FIFA & Roberto Martinez's men made serene progress to this point with 3 straightforward victories against Russia, Denmark & Finland.

Portugal, meanwhile, emerged as one of the best 3rd placed sides having finished 3rd in Group F which certainly lived up to its pre-tournament billing as the “Group of Death”.

A 3-0 win over surprise package Hungary followed by a hard earned point against France were enough for the defending champions to set up a first ever meeting with Belgium in a major tournament.

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Monday sees Croatia against Spain and France versus Switzerland.

The Spanish were firmly back on song when dismantling Slovakia 5-0 in their final group game and Luis Enrique’s side are an extremely skinny 2/7 to secure a passage to the quarter-finals at Croatia's expense.

Les Bleus meanwhile are an even shorter 2/9 to book their spot in the final-8.

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Last but by no means least, on Tuesday, England & Germany renew rivalries in what promises to be a hotly contested affair at Wembley.

The Three Lions were solid if unspectacular in the group stages with Gareth Southgate’s cautious tactics ensuring England emerged undefeated from their 3 group ties, beating Croatia & Czech Republic in-between a goal-less draw with Scotland.

Germany, on the other hand, blew extremely hot and cold in their 3 matches. Jogi Low will relinquish his role as Germany national manager after 15 years at the helm of Die Mannschaft and the experience manager required an 84th minute Leon Goretzka strike against Hungary to ensure his sides inclusion in the last-16.

The last time England & Germany met at a major tournament was back in 2010 when Frank Lampard scored the ‘goal that never was’ with the Three Lions ultimately humbled 4-1.

Germany seemingly lacks the necessary firepower to trouble England at the moment, however- and if there was a time to face Germany, it could just be this Summer..

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EURO 2020 Betting Preview (11 June 2021 - 11 July 2021)

6/6/2021

A whole 365-days later than it was originally scheduled, EURO 2020 gets underway this Friday (11 June) as Turkey take on Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Unsurprisingly, reigning World Cup winners FRANCE go into the tournament as the ante-post favourites

Les Bleus arguably endured something of a World Cup hangover in Euro qualification with defeat to Turkey and narrow, unconvincing wins over the likes of Iceland, Andorra & Moldova.

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Didier Deschamps' men were runners-up in 2016 and a slot in Group F alongside Germany, Portugal & Hungary could have been kinder.

However with a squad containing quality all over the park and a proven tournament track record it’s easy to make a case for the bookmakers jolly.

Fancy France for la victoire? Add them straight to your bet-slip HERE!

Next in the betting sees Gareth Southgate’s ENGLAND. The Three Lions suffered semi-final heartache at the 2018 World Cup but have barely put a foot wrong since.

Qualifying for the competition with 7 wins & a goal difference of +31.

Southgate came in for criticism following the announcement of his 26-man squad featuring an abundance of full-backs but in Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish & Phil Foden the former England defender still has a glut of attacking options.

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Think football is coming home this Summer? Get England in your bet-slip HERE!

BELGIUM come in as 3rd favourites. Roberto Martinez faces an agonising wait on the fitness of star man Kevin de Bruyne after the midfielder was forced off during Manchester City’s Champions League defeat to Chelsea last month.

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The Red Devils have flattered to deceive in major tournaments though. No less so than when they were knocked out by the plucky Welsh in the 2016 European Championships.

In Romelu Lukaku, however, they have a natural goalscorer. The burly centre-forward banged 24 goals en route to securing the Serie A title with Inter Milan this season and the 28-year old looks a leading contender for the Golden Boot.

Backing Rom for top goalscorer? Add it straight to your bet-slip HERE!

This Summer’s tournament will be long-serving GERMANY manager Joachim Low’s last dance at the helm of Die Mannschaft and the European Championship has thus far eluded the much decorated gaffer with a runners-up medal in 2008 the nearest he’s come.

Germany find themselves in the unusual position of lacking firepower with Low’s squad seemingly looking heavily reliant on a misfiring Timo Werner.

The Chelsea forward scored 6 goals in his debut Premier League season & failed to score in any of his last 4 outings for his country.

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Will Jogi sign off on a high as Germany boss? Add it straight to your bet-slip HERE!

SPAIN & PORTUGAL are the other contenders in single-figures.

Spain were European Champions in 2008 & 2012 before a disappointing display in 2016 saw them crash out in the round of 16 at the hands of Italy.

Luis Enrique took the bold decision to omit Sergio Ramos from his 26-man squad & it remains to be seen whether the former Barcelona manager’s decision will prove to be a wise one.

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Portugal are the defending champions having stunned France in their own backyard 5-years ago.

A Seleção boast an abundance of attacking threat in the form of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernando Silva & Diogo Jota and with Ruben Dias marshalling the defence.
It would be premature to discount Fernando Santos’ men lightly.

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