The second round of Euro 2024 group stage matches gets underway on Wednesday and there are some great bets on offer as the tournament continues in Germany.
Spain look value to beat Italy, Switzerland are fancied to get the jump on Scotland and the France vs Netherlands clash is expected to go with the qualifying formbook.
Euro 2024 Group Stage Round 2 Best Bets
Switzerland to win the first half vs Scotland 6/4
France to beat Netherlands & Over 1.5 goals @ 13/8
Bet on the latest Euro 2024 odds & markets and Betzone
La Roja can make quality gap show against Italy
It’s something of a surprise to see Spain priced up at 23/20 to get the better of Italy in the sides’ second outing in Group B, the tournament’s ‘group of death’.
La Roja brushed aside a decent Croatia side by three goals to nil last time out, whereas Luciano Spalletti’s men scraped past rank outsiders Albania 2-1 in their opener.
The Azzurri are the defending champions, but they’re missing the spine of the side that denied England on home soil in 2021. Centre-halves Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci have retired, while midfield lynchpin Marco Veratti is absent.
Spain on the other hand have the look of a side with the perfect balance of young starlets (Pedri, Yamine Lamal, Nico Williams) and experienced heads (Rodri, Nacho, Alvaro Morata).
Tip: Spain to beat Italy @ 23/20
Swiss value to have their noses in front by half-time
Germany’s talented side ran riot when beating Scotland 5-1 in the curtain raiser, but as good as they looked it was hard not to get the impression that the Die Mannschaft were aided by a miserable showing from Steve Clarke’s side.
Switzerland, fresh from a 3-1 over a Hungary outfit that won their qualifying group, aren’t likely to be any more charitable to the Scots.
The Swiss are a decent price to win at 4/5, but the 6/4 about them winning the first half makes more appeal. They were 2-0 up at the interval against the Hungarians, whereas Scotland were already three down at the midway point of their opener.
Tip: Switzerland to win the first half vs Scotland 6/4
Back France to repeat the dose in clash of qualifying rivals
On the third day of the tournament Slovenia and Denmark offered us a useful reminder that when qualifying group-mates renew hostilities at the finals it’s likely the match will follow a similar path to their previous recent meetings.
The pair drew 1-1 in Slovenia, while the Danes won 2-1 in Copenhagen in Qualifying Group H, so it should have been little surprise to anyone they played out a close 1-1 draw in Germany.
France qualified ahead of the Netherlands from Qualifying Group B thanks in no small part to beating the Oranje 4-0 in France and 2-1 on enemy soil.
A bet on Les Bleus to win and over 1.5 goals would have copped comfortably in both encounters and can be backed again at generous odds.
