Big Guns Can Coast to Euro 2016 Group Qualification

The European Championships begin on Friday and we’ll be covering the whole tournament match by match to find the best bets throughout June and July. Before the competition starts we’re looking at each group in turn to assess each nations chances of qualifying for the knockout stage.

For more tips, previews and free bets check the following links:

Euro 16 Outright Winner tips

Group winner bets and tips

Euro 16 Top Goalscorer tips

Group A

France head group A and it would be a big surprise if they don’t come out on top against Switzerland, Romania and Albania. There’s little value in backing the hosts, but 2nd place is up for grabs and Romania look slightly overpriced in this section. The Swiss are rated a best price of 1.33Bet €100 to win €13333/100Bet £100 to win £133-303Bet $100 to win $1330.33Bet HK$100 to win HK$133-3.03Bet Rp100 to win Rp1330.3300Bet RM100 to win RM133  to qualify from the group, but the Romanians are 1.83Bet €100 to win €18383/100Bet £100 to win £183-120Bet $100 to win $1830.83Bet HK$100 to win HK$183-1.20Bet Rp100 to win Rp1830.8300Bet RM100 to win RM183  with William Hill.

Switzerland eased through in second place behind England in what was one of the better qualifying groups, but lost both games to the Three Lions as well as the away match in Slovenia. Romania were second place behind Northern Ireland in group F in another of the ‘easy on paper’ groups, and they were unbeaten in qualification with five wins and five draws. Romania have lost just once in 20 internationals, while Switzerland have been beaten in four of the last six. There appears to be little to separate the two teams and Romania represent value at the respective prices.

Group B

England, Russia, Wales and Slovakia make up group B, and while we fancy England to win the group, it’s a close call for 2nd and 3rd places. It’s one we’re going to leave alone in terms of group qualification.

Group C

Group C features Germany, Poland, Ukraine and Northern Ireland. It’s a tough first European Championships for Northern Ireland, and although they go there with a long unbeaten record, qualification may rest on whether they can pip Ukraine for third spot and get through as one of the four best third-placed sides.

Germany and Poland – if they play to their potential – should take the first two places in group C, and odds of 2.25Bet €100 to win €2255/4Bet £100 to win £225+125Bet $100 to win $2251.25Bet HK$100 to win HK$2251.25Bet Rp100 to win Rp225-0.8000Bet RM100 to win RM225  with Ladbrokes on the dual forecast (1st and 2nd in either order) are worth taking.

Group D

Spain will be everyone’s winner in group D but again the odds are prohibitive. Croatia, Czech Republic and Turkey make up a tricky section, and there is no ‘weak’ team among the four of them. However, with the likes of Mandzukic, Rakitic and Modric in their ranks, Croatia have three truly world class players who can make the difference. They’ve been in fine form leading up to the Euros winning 6 of the last 7 internationals, including a 10-0 rout of San Marino just the other day.

Czech Republic and Turkey will both fancy their chances of scoring an upset, but a dual forecast on Spain and Croatia to make the top two in the group pays a respectable 2.50Bet €100 to win €2503/2Bet £100 to win £250+150Bet $100 to win $2501.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$2501.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp250-0.6667Bet RM100 to win RM250  with William Hill.

Group E

Another dual forecast which appeals is Belgium and Italy to finish in the first two places in group E at 2.25Bet €100 to win €2255/4Bet £100 to win £225+125Bet $100 to win $2251.25Bet HK$100 to win HK$2251.25Bet Rp100 to win Rp225-0.8000Bet RM100 to win RM225  with Betfair and BoyleSports.

Sweden and Republic of Ireland present the opposition but the former two should be much stronger in terms of the first eleven and the squad. Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be desperate to have a good tournament with Sweden as time begins to run out on his distinguished career, but like Ronaldo with Portugal he is hamstrung by the lack of quality around him. Man for man Italy and Belgium have by far the better overall teams and that should come to the fore at the top level of international football.

Belgium are among the favourites to win the competition with a golden generation of players including the likes of Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne. Italy have less top name players than they’ve had at many a tournament and the legendary Pirlo is no longer available after retirement from internationals. They still have a very strong base of players to choose from though, and went through qualification unbeaten as they won the group.

Republic of Ireland may just fall short at this level, and it could be a battle for third place with Sweden once all the matches have been played.

Group F

It’s equally hard to look past Portugal and Austria in group F with the dual forecast a stand out 2.25Bet €100 to win €2255/4Bet £100 to win £225+125Bet $100 to win $2251.25Bet HK$100 to win HK$2251.25Bet Rp100 to win Rp225-0.8000Bet RM100 to win RM225  with Coral

Ronaldo will lead Portugal again in this summers tournament, and like Ibrahimovic he’ll be desperate to have a positive campaign with his country. He is good enough to lead them through this group against the likes of Hungary and Iceland – who with respect, are two of the poorer teams in the competition. Iceland qualified in style to make their first appearance in the Euros, coming from group A in which the Netherlands so badly underachieved. Hungary finished third in group F behind Northern Ireland and Romania before beating Norway over two legs in the play off round.

Austria have been underestimated slightly leading up to the tournament, after an excellent qualifying campaign in which they won 9 and drew 1 game to finish with 28 points. That put them clear top of group G ahead of Russia and Sweden, and their team ethic could see them make a an impact in France this summer. They may not find themselves in the semi finals or even the quarter finals, but they’re certainly good enough to qualify from this group as one of the top two.

Tips Summary

Romania to qualify from group A
Euro 2016 – 10th June to 1oth July
Odds: 1.83Bet €100 to win €18383/100Bet £100 to win £183-120Bet $100 to win $1830.83Bet HK$100 to win HK$183-1.20Bet Rp100 to win Rp1830.8300Bet RM100 to win RM183

Germany and Poland dual forecast group C
Euro 2016 – 10th June to 1oth July
Odds: 2.25Bet €100 to win €2255/4Bet £100 to win £225+125Bet $100 to win $2251.25Bet HK$100 to win HK$2251.25Bet Rp100 to win Rp225-0.8000Bet RM100 to win RM225

Spain and Croatia dual forecast group D
Euro 2016 – 10th June to 1oth July
Odds: 2.50Bet €100 to win €2503/2Bet £100 to win £250+150Bet $100 to win $2501.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$2501.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp250-0.6667Bet RM100 to win RM250

Belgium and Italy dual forecast group E
Euro 2016 – 10th June to 1oth July
Odds: 2.25Bet €100 to win €2255/4Bet £100 to win £225+125Bet $100 to win $2251.25Bet HK$100 to win HK$2251.25Bet Rp100 to win Rp225-0.8000Bet RM100 to win RM225

Portugal and Austria dual forecast group F
Euro 2016 – 10th June to 1oth July
Odds: 2.25Bet €100 to win €2255/4Bet £100 to win £225+125Bet $100 to win $2251.25Bet HK$100 to win HK$2251.25Bet Rp100 to win Rp225-0.8000Bet RM100 to win RM225