Europe EURO 2020 - Group stage, June 11-23

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[spkutano]

Turkey vs Italy Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

Turkey:
Cakir, Celik, Demiral, Soyuncu, Meras, Yazici, Calhanoglu, Yokuslu, Tufan, Karaman, Yilmaz

Italy:
Donnarumma, Florenzi, Bonucci, Chiellini, Spinazzola, Locatelli, Jorginho, Barella, Berardi, Immobile, Insigne

I will start my preview with a funny comparison between the Great October Revolution and Euro 2020. The official Day of the October Socialist Revolution (at the same time a public holiday in the Soviet Union) was 7th of November. Just like that, Euro 2020 is scheduled in 2021. Twenty four nations will participate at the European Championship, first without classic hosts nation. The matches are spread all over the continent. Turkey and Italy are part of Group A that also contains Wales and Switzerland. First two teams from each group go to knock-out stage, as well as four best third-placed national teams.

Turkey could be a surprise package in Group A. They have a solid squad that could upset the big names. Turkey are unbeaten in 2021, winning four of their six matches. Some results have to be respected, like the victories against Netherlands and Norway in the qualifications for the World Cup. The key player in the team is Burak Yilmaz, who had a fantastic season and won the title with Lille in France. The 35-year-old striker has scored 16 goals in Ligue 1 and registered 5 assists. He was equally good for country. Yilmaz has scored a hat-trick in a 4:2 win over the Netherlands in March. His fellow forward Cenk Tosun suffered a knee injury that will keep him out of the championship. His absence is definitely a big handicap. Coach Senol Gunes has solid defense controlled by Leicester City star Caglar Soyuncu and Merih Demiral from Juventus, while Hakan Calhanoglu is the key name in the midfield. The 27-year-old playmaker is in great form this season, registering four goals and 10 assists for AC Milan in Serie A.

Italy have won four World Cups, but they are looking to win the European crown only for a second time. Previously they lifted the trophy on home soil in 1968. The Azzurri do remain solid at the back, with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal and Juventus duo Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci in the heart of the defense. They are doing a fantastic job and kept the net untouched in 2021. Italy have played five matches this year and won all. They beat Northern Ireland, Bulgaria and Lithuania in the World Cup qualifications, plus the friendlies against San Marino and Czech Republic. The attack is efficient, but coach Roberto Mancini has to make some decisions. The experienced Ciro Immobile has been one of the most clinical scorers at club level over the last five years, with 150 goals and a rate of almost 0.7 goals per game. But he isn't equally good when play for the national team, scoring just 8 goals in the same period. Mancini also has Federico Chiesa, one of the most exciting young strikers in Europe who had an excellent season with Juventus.

Turkey vs Italy Prediction:

Italy are nominal guests on this match, but the reality is quite different. The match will be played at Stadio Olimpico in Roma and Azzurri will have big support from their fans. Italy are in excellent form, they are in series of 8 victories in which they scored 25 goals. This is an average of 3 goals per game. Turkey are also in good form, but something else should be mentioned - they registered a 4:2 win over the Netherlands and a 3:0 win over Norway in March. I expect to score here too, despite the fact Italy kept clean sheet on the last 8 occasions. I will suggest Over 2.0 goals in the opening match, meaning Your stake will return in case exactly two goals to be scored.

Turkey vs Italy Pick: Over 2.0 goals @ 1.75 with Pinnacle

 

[ALEXXXXXXX]

England

They are certainly the top team in the Tournament because most of their players are from top Chelsea and Manchester City. And they are in form, which have not suffered any defeat in 2021 yet, even getting 5 clean sheets.


Croatia

They can not be ignored as they were the second in 2018 FIFA World Cup. Mateo Kovacic of Chelsea and Sime Vrsaljko of Atletico Madrid have been in squad this season. They have made great preparation for the Tournament, which can be seen in their recent games.


Verdict:

There is a gap between two teams. England are top teams with high quality. Croatia are full of potential but lack stability. In addition, England have home advantage. They are in high morale with a long winning streak. So England are more likely to win in upcoming game.


Prediction: 1-0, 2-0

 

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Wales vs Switzerland Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

Wales:
Ward, Mepham, Rodon, Davies, Roberts, Ramsey, Morrell, Norrington-Davies, Bale, James, Wilson

Switzerland:
Sommer, Schar, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez, Mbabu, Freuler, Xhaka, Shaqiri, Gavranovic, Seferovic

Wales and Switzerland will face at the Olympic Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan in their opening match of Euro 2020. The two nations were drawn in Group A of the tournament, together with Italy and Turkey. As I already wrote, first two teams from each group go to knock-out stage, as well as four best third-placed national teams. Wales and Switzerland have met four times through-out the history. Switzerland had more success, winning three of them. The first two mutual games were played in 1999, both being Euro 2000 qualifiers and both ending with 2:0 for Switzerland. The next encounter took place in 2010 when the Swiss players trashed Wales 4:1. One year later Wales registered their first victory, winning with the score of 2:0. I expect an interesting match as both national teams will look for positive result.

Wales will try to repeat their previous European campaign. The Dragons went all the way to the semi-finals at Euro 2016, losing out to eventual winners Portugal. Nevertheless, repeating the success is easier said than done. It is clear they are not at the peak of their powers. The big problem is the fact their key players Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey are reserves in Tottenham and Juventus. But that's not the only problem. The change of coach Ryan Giggs is even bigger upset. He was sacked in April after being charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend. The 47-year-old faces an additional charge of coercive and controlling behavior. Robert Page was appointed as new manager and he will be assisted by Albert Stuivenberg. This incident spoiled the atmosphere in the squad, but there is more. His managerial CV suggests limited experience with Port Vale, Northampton Town as well as Wales Under-21 boss. The last friendly tests were not at desired level. Wales were beaten by France and then failed to break down Albania in Cardiff.

Switzerland are 13th in the FIFA Rankings and could be described as a dark horse for European championship. The squad have collect a valuable experience playing on the final tournaments in the last period. Coach Vladimir Petkovic's side have qualified for eight of the last ten major events. The Swiss destroyed Liechtenstein 7:0 in their last friendly match. Mario Gavranovic scored a hat-trick and Christian Fassnacht added two more in St Gallen on Thursday in their last warm-up international ahead of the championship. Previosuly they beat the United States with 2:1. Ricardo Rodriguez and Steven Zuber were scorers against the Americans. Switzerland are in series of five consecutive victories and the players confidence is very high. They also managed to beat Finland, Lithuania and Bulgaria. The draw with Spain in November 2020 should also be mentioned, as well as two draws with Germany previously. The key names in the squad are Premier League players like Granit Xhaka from Arsenal and Xherdan Shaqiri from Liverpool. Gavranovic enjoyed his most successful season with Dinamo Zagreb, scoring 16 goals in 21 starts for the Croatian champions.

Wales vs Switzerland Prediction:

Giggs lead Wales to the Euro, but his assistant Page will coached them in the final tournament. I think this is a handicap considering his poor experience. The players are lacking experience too. Wales are between the youngest squads at the Euros with the average age being 25 years and 6 months. Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey are the leaders, but they had poor season with Tottenham and Juventus. Both players are lacking fitness. Wales had a spectacular Euro 2016 campaign in France and they reached the semi-finals, though I expect to be much different now. Switzerland are in series of five consecutive victories and the players confidence is high, so I think they are closer to the victory.

Wales vs Switzerland Pick: Switzerland to win @ 2.25 with William Hill

 

[BET-IBC1]

For the opening match of European Championship 2020 Turkey and Italy will be facing each other.

The national teams will play this match on June 11th in Rome. Even though we have a special edition of the tournament with more than 10 host nations, Italy’s draw put them in the first group and that gave them the chance to host this first game.

For Italy, this couldn’t have been better as they will play as local team during the three duels of the Group Stage. Parting as favorites of Group A, they will need to show their superiority in order to conquer a tournament that they haven’t been able to win since 1968. This is the first time they win so many games on the qualifying round and now it is time to show what they are capable of.

Moving to the Turkish national team, the new generation of players looks promising. Surely, they want to repeat the great results they achieved in the Euro 2008 when they got into semifinals. With victories over Russia and Netherlands, plus draws against big teams such as France and Germany, Turkey definitely wants to go big this time.

With more than 20 members, our tipster team is ready to serve you their predictions of this match. You can find it all on our sponsored thread:

EURO 2020 Match Predictions

Match Day 1 Tomorrow we will have the opening match in Rome, Italy! Below you can find the free match previews for Turkey - Italy in your native languages: Turkey vs Italy – EURO 2020 Tipster: BET-IBC’s Tipster Team Stake: 1 up to 10 Odds: ANY Start GMT: 11.06.2021 | 19:00:00 Tournament: UEFA...

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[Score Betting]

Turkey vs Italy - Euro 2020​

Euro 2020 kicks off on Friday and the first game is Turkey vs Italy in Rome, with Italy one of 12 host nations. This game is the first of Group A and the historic stats favour Italy who have not lost to Turkey in ten matches and have won seven of their last eight opening matches at the Euro’s. They have also made the quarter finals at least in their last three Euro appearances.

Wales and Switzerland make up the group and the winner here will put themselves into a great position with four decent teams involved. Wales may well be seen as the weakest team in the group but they reached the semi final in Euro 2016. The bookies rate Italy 1/20 to qualify, with Switzerland and Turkey both 4/7 and Wales 5/6.

The teams’ two most recent games have both been 1-1 friendly draws 2002 and four years later, when Antonio Di Natale’s 39th-minute opener was cancelled out by a Marco Materazzi own goal three minutes later.

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Turkey – PL 10 | Won 7 | GF 18 | GA 3​

You could probably call Turkey underdogs for the tournament given their record of twelve games unbeaten. That includes a 4-2 win against Netherlands and a 1-1 draw with France. They also beat France 2-0 prior to that incredible run and when you look at the possession stats you can see they clearly have a plan. Against France they managed 36 and 37% and against Netherlands 34%. Expect Italy to have more of the ball but Turkey are clearly well drilled and only conceded three goals in ten qualification games. They scored 18 goals and hitting on the counter seems to suit them well. Turkey have averaged 2.6 bookings per game.

Player Bookings:

• Ahyan – 3 bookings in 5 appearances
• Celik – 2 bookings in 6 appearances
• Demiral – 2 bookings in 8 appearances
• Tufan – 2 bookings in 6 appearances

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Italy – PL 10 | Won 10 | GF 37 | GA 4​

Italy have been on a quite incredible run winning 15 games in a row, but if you look at the quality of those teams there isn’t really one good team among them. In their recent friendlies they played San Marino and Czech Republic, winning 7-0 and 4-0 but i think you do have to question that decision as a team that probably could have done with a test. Italy certainly know how to score hitting 37 in their 10 qualification matches. They only conceded 4 goals so there will be two very good defenses on display. Italy have received 1.4 bookings per game and that’s pretty high given the standard of opposition.

Player Bookings:

• Jorginho – 2 bookings in 7 appearances
• Verratti – 2 bookings in 5 appearances

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Betting Tips: I expect Turkey to sit back and look to hit Italy on the counter. I think we may struggle for goals and fancy a tough opening match with plenty of fouls and bookings.

Our Tips:

Over 45 Booking Points @ 5/4 with William Hill

Turkey @ 7/1 with William Hill

Turkey vs Italy Betting Tips & Football Betting Tips

 

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We have our predictions for tomorrow ready as well!
With more than 20 members, our tipster team is ready to serve you their predictions of those matches. You can find it all on our sponsored thread:

EURO 2020 Match Predictions

Match Day 1 Tomorrow we will have the opening match in Rome, Italy! Below you can find the free match previews for Turkey - Italy in your native languages: Turkey vs Italy – EURO 2020 Tipster: BET-IBC’s Tipster Team Stake: 1 up to 10 Odds: ANY Start GMT: 11.06.2021 | 19:00:00 Tournament: UEFA...

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[spkutano]

England vs Croatia Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

England:
Pickford; Walker, Stones, Shaw; Trippier, Rice, Phillips, Chilwell; Mount, Grealish; Kane

Croatia:
Livakovic; Vrsaljko, Vida, Caleta-Car, Barisic; Brozovic, Kovacic; Rebic, Modric, Perisic; Petkovic

England welcome Croatia at Wembley in a repeat of the 2018 World Cup semi-final. As You probably know, Croatia were better in Russia three years ago and secured a 2:1 win in extra-time. They have faced off two times since then. Both games were played in November 2018 as a part of UEFA Nations League, with England winning 2:1 the home fixture and the other ending in a goalless draw. The home advantage should not be underestimated as there will be 22,500 fans, most of them England supporters. The Three Lions were excellent in the qualifications, finishing as first with seven victories and just one defeat, in Czech Republic. England won both of their preparation matches against Austria and Romania by 1:0 margins, but failed to impressed. Bukayo Saka was the scorer on the first match, while Marcus Rashford netted the lone goal against the Romanians. The atmosphere in the squad is very good, while the players confidence is high. But coach Gareth Southgate has one huge injury issue as key defender Harry Maguire is rated as doubtful. There are still serious question marks over whether he will be fit enough to play any part at Wembley. The match is likely to come too soon for midfielder Jordan Henderson. Southgate said it would be a "real bonus" if the Liverpool captain can feature in the opening match, but he has also cast doubt on whether he will be able to play any part in the tournament. Saka has also been struggling with a hip problem but was never expected to start in attack.

Croatia are taking part in their sixth UEFA European Championship, and their fifth in a row. They finished second at the World Cup 2018 in Russia after losing the final from France. But the actual Croatian side are by no means out of the running after that success. There’s no doubting they’re weakened by the loss of quality and tournament experience once offered by the likes of Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic. As You probably know, they both decided to retire from international duty. Maybe that's the key reason for poor results in the UEFA Nations League. Zlatko Dalic's men narrowly avoided relegation to League B in the campaign, finishing level on points with the relegated Sweden, but had better goal difference. In the qualifications for the European Championship they were better and secured five victories from eight games. The current form is mixed, they have two wins, two defeats and one draw on the last five matches across all competitions. First they lost 1:0 to Slovenia in the qualifications for the World Cup, but then secured two victories in the group. Croatia managed to beat Cyprus with 1:0 thanks to a goal scored by Mario Pasalic and then won 3:0 against Malta. Last week Croatia played friendlies against low-ranked Armenia and World No. 1 Belgium. The results weren't good, Armenia remained unbeaten securing an 1:1 draw, while suffered an 1:0 defeat in Brussels. Coach Dalic has all players available for this match after Josip Brekalo, Dejan Lovren and Ante Rebic have recovered from injuries. Luka Modric is the key player in the national team, but Southgate must keep the eyes on Ivan Perisic. The later has been directly involved in 11 goals in major tournaments, scoring seven and assisting four.

England vs Croatia Prediction:

This will be the 11th overall meeting between England and Croatia, and the fourth since July 2018. I think England are closer to the victory. They have the home advantage as this match will be played at Wembley. But most of all, they have player able to make a difference - Harry Kane. Tottenham striker had scored six goals at the World Cup in Russia in 2018 and became the first Englishman to win a World Cup Golden Boot since Gary Linekar in 1986. He was top scorer in the Premier League this season with 23 goals, while scored 33 across all competitions. I don't see a way Vida or Caleta-Car to stop him.

England vs Croatia Pick: England to win @ 1.68 with SBOBET

 

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Austria vs North Macedonia Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

Austria:
Bachmann; Lainer, Dragovic, Hinteregger, Friedl; Grillitsch, Alaba; Lazaro, Sabitzer, Baumgartner; Kalajdzic

North Macedonia:
Dimitrievski; Stefan Ristovski, Musliu, Velkovski, Alioski; Ademi, Nikolov, Bardi; Elmas, Pandev, Trajkovski

Austria and North Macedonia begin their EURO 2020 campaigns looking to write the history by reaching the knock-out stage. They are part of Group C that also contains the Netherlands and Ukraine. This will be third European Championship tournament for Austrians, having been eliminated in the group stages in 2008 and 2012. What is worse, they failed to win a single match on both occasions. So, this is an ideal opportunity for Austria to register a success against debutantes and to put some pressure on the Netherlands and Ukraine. But coach Franco Foda, who succeeded Marcel Koller in 2018, is facing two big problems. First of all, the actual form is far from desired. Austria have failed to win any of their last three international games. They suffered a heavy 4:0 defeat from Denmark in the qualifications for the World Cup 2022. What is worse, the humiliation came at home. In the friendlies played this month Foda's men lost 1:0 to England, but then recorded a goalless draw with Slovakia. As You could see, they failed to score a single goal on the last three occasions. But there is another problem for Foda - three key players are struggling with injuries. Captain Julian Baumgartlinger suffered a cruciate ligament injury playing for Bayer Leverkusen in January. He was able to play just 9 minutes against England and is unlikely to start here. The best striker Marko Arnautovic is rated as doubtful with a thigh strain. He played some 30 minutes against Slovakia, though the Shanghai Port's forward is not likely to play here. Finally, midfielder Christoph Baumgartner seems to overcome an ankle injury, having started both warm-up games. Most probably he will participate in this match from the first minute.

North Macedonia become the 35th different nation to play at EURO final tournament. They made it through UEFA Nations League after beating Kosovo in the semi-finals and Georgia in a play-off final. The whole nation is in some kind of football euphoria. The players are feeling no pressure and they will look for a surprise. The Macedonians have already made a shock when they beat Germany with 2:1 in a World Cup qualification match in March. Even more, the victory was obtained away from home. Goran Pandev scored the first goal, while Elmas secured the victory in the finish of the match. The result came in a perfect time to increase the players confidence. Coach Igor Angelovski is doing a fantastic job and the fans are pleased. The national team have just two defeats in their last 12 competitive fixtures. Genoa star Goran Pandev, who scored the winning goal against Georgia, is the leader of the team. Most of the players are with international experience: left-back Egzijan Alioski had a solid Premier League season with Leeds United, while midfielders Eljif Elmas and Enis Bardi are also part of Top 5 European leagues with Napoli and Levante respectively. The last preparation match provided an additional boost. The Macedonians outplayed Kazakhstan and won 4:0 in the final warm-up before the tournament. Alioski converted the first-half penalty to make it 1:0, while Trickovski doubled the lead in the 57th minute. Milan Ristovski scored the third goal and Darko Churlinov made it four in the finish of the match. Coach Angelovski will be missing the striker Ilija Nestorovski, who's ruled out of Euro 2020 after suffering a cruciate ligament injury. His absence is a big handicap.

Austria vs North Macedonia Prediction:

Both teams will try to obtain positive result in the opening match. However, I think Austria are closer to the victory. I watched the last mutual games played in the qualifications for the European championship in 2019. Austria won both games, 4:1 in Skopje and 2:1 at home. The quality is on Austrian side, even without Arnautovic. Coach Foda has good replacement in Sasa Kalajdzic who scored 16 goals in the Bundesliga for Stuttgart last season. The Macedonians are debutantes and there will be some confusion, so I expect some individual mistakes in defense, particularly from Musliu and Velkovski

Austria vs North Macedonia Pick: Austria to win @ 1.78 with 1xBet

 

[BET-IBC1]

England - Croatia:

England and Croatia will open the floor in Group D of this EURO 2021 competition, and although England is amongst the favorites of this edition, here’s one interesting stat to consider: both nations have faced each other on 39 official occasions, within which there have been 89 goals scored by England and 63 by Croatia.

Austria - North Macedonia:

Austria vs North Macedonia will be the opening match for Group C in this edition of EURO, initially set for 2020 and pushed to 2021, due to the covid-19 pandemic. Both nations can’t be considered giants when it comes to football, but they will both be keen on making a good start in this tournament.

Netherlands - Ukraine:

This will be the 2nd match for group C, played on the 13th at 19:00 GMT at Johan Cruijff Arena stadium, Amsterdam city, Netherlands. The Dutch have home the advantage in Group C, playing all three of their matches in Amsterdam in front of fans, and have recently announced their squad for the competition and are ready for battle. Ukraine's coach Andriy Shevchenko says that he aims to break through as the coach brimming with potential. Still, the team’s recent performance leaves a little to be desired.

Do you wonder more on these matches? Well, with more than 20 members, our tipster team is ready to serve you their predictions of those matches. You can find it all on our sponsored thread:

EURO 2020 Match Predictions

Match Day 1 Tomorrow we will have the opening match in Rome, Italy! Below you can find the free match previews for Turkey - Italy in your native languages: Turkey vs Italy – EURO 2020 Tipster: BET-IBC’s Tipster Team Stake: 1 up to 10 Odds: ANY Start GMT: 11.06.2021 | 19:00:00 Tournament: UEFA...

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[spkutano]

Spain vs Sweden Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

Spain:
Simon; M. Llorente, Laporte, P. Torres, Alba; Thiago, Rodri, Koke; F. Torres, Morata, G. Moreno

Sweden:
Olsen; Lustig, Lindelof, Danielson, Augustinsson; S. Larsson, Ekdal, Olsson, Forsberg; Isak, Berg

Spain will try to secure a winning start to their Euro 2020 campaign when they welcome Sweden in Seville. La Roja are looking for the fourth trophy after they won the competition in 1964, 2008 and 2012. However, the last major tournaments weren't too successful for the Spanish national team. They exited the 2014 World Cup in the group stage, while failed to secure quarter-finals in Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup. Spain were excellent in the qualifications, winning eight matches and drawing the remaining two. Some of those victories were very high, like 7:0 against Malta and 5:0 against Romania in November 2019. But Spanish coach Luis Enrique faced some unexpected issues in the recent period. The captain Sergio Busquets was tested positive for coronavirus, while hours later defender Diego Llorente also had a positive test. The whole team went in isolation, while U-21 players faced Lithuania on June 8. The young players were fantastic and won 4:0, with Hugo Guillamon, Brahim Diaz, Juan Miranda and Javi Puado on the scoresheet. The victory means Spain are unbeaten in eight games across all competitions, but prevent coach Luis Enrique to use the match as preparation for Euro. His worries are not over as Busquets remain unavailable. On the positive note, Diego Llorente could potentially be available, having now recorded two negative coronavirus tests. Most probably Rodri will replace Busquets, while Thiago Alcantara and Koke should also start in midfield. Alvaro Morata, the leading scorer in the squad with 19 goals, is expected to lead the line.

Sweden will try to secure progress to the knock-out stages, but it won't be easy. Spain are the biggest favorites, while Poland with Levandovski could also be competitive. Even Slovakia should not be underestimated. According to me, the direct clash between Sweden and Poland on June 23 will decide about the second place in Group E. Of course, Sweden will not give up against Spain in this match. The Scandinavians have excellent record in 2021 - five victories on five matches. They managed to beat Georgia and Kosovo in the qualifications for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In addition, coach Janne Andersson's men have registered three victories in three friendlies played as preparations for Euro. The Blue and Yellows beat Estonia with 1:0, Iceland with 2:0 and Armenia with 3:1. I believe those victories have increased the players confidence. Coach Andersson is expected to continue with a 4-4-2 formation, with Marcus Berg and Alexander Isak leading the line. Just to mention, veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was ruled out with an injury long before Andersson announced his squad. Sweden also have "coronavirus issues". Juventus winger Dejan Kulusevski returned a positive test soon after informing the medical team that he had symptoms for a cold. Shortly after that, Bologna midfielder Mattias Svanberg left the field to talk to national team doctor Anders Valentin and then took a test, which also came back positive for the coronavirus. The absence of these two players is a handicap for coach Andersson.

Spain vs Sweden Prediction:

Spain are favorites against Sweden, particularly because of the home advantage. Coach Andersson will be without Kulusevski and Svanberg, but I believe he has players capable of making this match interesting. Spain are very much in a transitional period and the poor form of Real and Barcelona surely affect the national team. I have no doubt Andersson will put the focus on defense. Sweden have conceded just one goal on the five matches played in 2021. I expect a low scoring game.

Spain vs Sweden Pick: Under 2.5 goals @ 1.83 with Pinnacle

 

[spkutano]

France vs Germany Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

France:
Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Kimpembe, Hernandez; Kante, Pogba, Rabiot; Griezmann; Mbappe, Benzema

Germany:
Neuer; Ginter, Hummels, Rudiger; Kimmich, Kroos, Gundogan, Gosens; Havertz, Muller; Gnabry

France and Germany are part of Group F, also known as "Group of Death." The World powerhouses Portugal, France, and Germany will battle for two automatic berths into the knock-out rounds. Portugal are the reigning European champions, France are the 2018 World Cup champions and Germany are four-time World Cup winners. Hungary are also part of the group, but they have slim chance of advancing. It is possible all three giants to move on as four third-placed teams will also progress. Nevertheless, in a group with a such a high level of quality, it’s possible that one of them will go home after the group stage. That is why this match is very, very important. The eventual defeat will definitely put the losers under enormous pressure. Both coaches, Didier Deschamps from France and Joachim Loew from Germany are well aware of that possibility.

France are in good form, they have four victories in a row. Les Bleus won 2:0 at Kazakhstan and 1:0 against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the qualifications for the 2022 World Cup. France also won the friendlies against Wales and Bulgaria, both with 3:0. Mbappe, Griezmann and Dembele scored against Wales, while Griezmann and Giroud's brace found the back of the net against the Bulgarians. There were some rumors about a rift between Giroud and Mbappe, but it isn't confirmed. I think the atmosphere in the squad is good. Coach Deschamps has some injury issues ahead of this game. Karim Benzema, who returned to the national team, came off early against Bulgaria last weekend. According to the latest news, he managed to shake off the knock and should lead the line. Giroud is unlikely to start despite netting twice against Bulgaria. Antoine Griezmann and Raphael Varane have also shaken off minor knocks, but Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma is rated as doubtful.

Germany are far from their best form. In March they suffered shock defeat to North Macedonia in the World Cup qualifications. Germany lost a WC qualifier for the first time in 20 years. Even worse, the defeat came at home. The Macedonians could have had a penalty for an apparent handball by Emre Can at a corner, but it was not spotted by the referee and there is no video review system for qualifiers. However, the coach Joachim Loew came under big pressure, as well as the players. Die Mannschaft also failed to beat Denmark in the friendly match played in June, but destroyed Latvia with 7:1 in their final warm-up match before the Euro. The coach has some injury worries as Jonas Hofmann is sidelined with a knee injury, while Leon Goretzka is rated as doubtful with a muscle problem. Loew also has some selection dilemmas in attack, but it is expected Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller and Kai Havertz to start here. The problem is none of the players in the current squad has ever scored in a European Championship match.

France vs Germany Prediction:

Usually the games between France and Germany come in the latter stages of European Championships or World Cups. Their last match at a major tournament came in the Euro 2016 semi-finals when France won 2:0 in Marseille. But this time is different as they are in the same group. I think this will be a big tactical battle, but I also think France are closer to the victory.

France vs Germany Pick: France to win @ 2.75 with Pinnacle

 

[spkutano]

Ukraine vs North Macedonia Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

Ukraine:
Bushchan; Karavayev, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Mykolenko; Malinovskyi, Sydorchuk, Zinchenko; Yarmolenko, Yaremchuk, Tsygankov

North Macedonia:
Dimitrievski; S. Ristevski, Velkovski, Musliu; Nikolov, Bardhi, Ademi, Elmas, Alioski; Pandev, Trajkovski

Ukraine and Macedonia will be looking for the first points on EURO when they face at National Arena in Bucharest. Both teams have suffered defeats in their opening matches and another loss will probably mean elimination. It won't be a catastrophe for the Macedonians as they are debutantes, but it is quite different for Ukraine. Shevchenko's players had come back from 2:0 down in Amsterdam, but were unlucky to concede in the 85th minute. The first half ended in peaceful way, but the second brought five goals. Oranje secured two-goal lead thanks to goals scored by Georginio Wijnaldum and Wout Weghorst. It looked the match winners are decided, but Ukraine needed just 4 minutes to equalize the result. Andriy Yarmolenko scored an outstanding goal in the 75th minute, while Roman Yaremchuk silenced the Dutch fans four minutes later. However, Dumfries' excellent 85th minute header resulted with Ukraine's defeat. The atmosphere in the squad isn't at desired level after the opening match. Coach Andriy Shevchenko is feeling a big pressure, as well as his players. He has some additional issues as winger Oleksandr Zubkov, who suffered a foot injury on Sunday, is sidelined. He could be replaced by Marlos or Viktor Tsygankov as one of them could join Yarmolenko and Yaremchuk in a three-man attack. Yarmoleno will be assessed with a slight thigh injury but is expected to be fit. The midfield looks to be the best part of the team, with Serhiy Sydorchuk from Dynamo Kyiv, Atalanta's Ruslan Malinovskyi and Manchester City's Oleksandr Zinchenko.

North Macedonia lost 3:1 to Austria in the first match played at European Championships. It seemed like they could remain unbeaten until the 77th minute, but conceded two gals in the finish of the match. Perhaps the mixture of inexperience and naivety in the team prevent them of winning one point as they were not able to focus enough. Borussia Monchengladbach right-back Lainer had produced a fine finish to give an uninspiring Austria the lead in the 18th minute, leaping to volley in Marcel Sabitzer's excellent pass. The first goal for the Macedonian national team in European Championship was scored by the captain Goran Pandev, being the second oldest goalscorer in the history of Euros. The 37-year-old Genoa striker, canceled out Lainer's strike in the 28th minute. However, substitute Michael Gregoritsch met captain David Alaba's sublime cross and restored the lead in the finish of the match before Arnautovic secured the victory after rounding goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski in the 89th minute. The Macedonian fans, who gave a huge support to their players during the whole 90 minutes despite the rain, left the National Arena heavily disappointed. Of course, they will come again to support their country. Coach Angelovski has no injury or suspension worries ahead of this match and may decide to start with the same eleven. Striker Aleksandar Trajkovski and left-back Ezgjan Alioski have both received yellow cards in the opening match and must be careful to avoid suspension.

Ukraine vs North Macedonia Prediction:

Both Ukraine and North Macedonia suffered defeats in their opening matches. The question is simple, who will recover sooner. According to me, Ukraine are closer to the victory. The Macedonians are debutantes and that fact means a lot. There were lot of individual mistakes in defense against Austria that resulted with three conceded goals. Although Ukraine lost to Netherlands, they scored twice and that's a good sign. Ukraine should win the match.

Ukraine vs North Macedonia Pick: Ukraine to win @ 1.68 with Pinnacke

 

[spkutano]

England vs Scotland Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

England:
Pickford; Walker, Stones, Mings, Shaw; Phillips, Rice, Mount; Sterling, Harry Kane, Foden

Scotland:
Marshall; Hendry, Hanley, Tierney; O'Donnell, McTominay, Armstrong, McGinn, Robertson; Dykes, Adams

The rivalry between the England and Scotland national football is the oldest in the World. The first match was played in 1872 at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow. The history of the British Isles has led to much rivalry between the nations in many forms, with the Scottish nationalism as an additional factor. The Scots like to beat England above all other rivals, while the Scottish sports journalists are traditionally referring to the English as the "Auld Enemy". BBC, meanwhile, commented that the games "have represented all that is good and all that is bad about football since the fixture began," while The Guardian newspaper once reported that "for millions across both sides of the border the encounter represents a chance for the ultimate victory over the enemy." As of June 2017, the teams have played 114 matches; England have won 48, Scotland 41, and there have been 25 draws.

England started the European championship with a narrow victory over Croatia. The match was very balanced and both teams had the same number of scoring chances created (8) and the same number of shots on target (2). However, the Three Lions managed to score through Raheem Sterling in the 57th minute following a perfect pass from man-of-the-match Kalvin Phillips. Sterling has been directly involved in 19 goals in his last 17 appearances for England, scoring 13 and assisting six. The atmosphere in the squad is excellent, while the players confidence is high. But Southgate has some injury issues ahead of this derby. Key defender Harry Maguire is rated as doubtful with an ankle injury. It is unlikely that the Manchester United captain will be risked here. Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is still sidelined with a groin problem, while Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish, who missed the training session on Tuesday, is expected to be in the squad, but could ultimately start on the bench

As I wrote above, Scotland lost 2:0 to Czech Republic in the first match of Group D. Patrik Schick was the key name on the match after scoring both goals. Around 9,000 fans gave huge support to their players at Hampden Park, though they left the stadium largely disappointed. Steve Clarke's men were not at desired level despite having 58% possession. Scotland have failed to score in five of their seven Euros matches so far. So, this is between the reasons for my pick as they haven't score since a 1:0 win over Switzerland in 1996. Considering the fact that England were defensively impressive against Croatia, the things doesn't look well for the Scottish national team. Coach Clarke has one injury issue as Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney is doubtful with a calf problem. However, it is expected to be a couple of changes from the side that started against Czech Republic. Most probably Che Adams from Southampton will lead the line.

England vs Scotland Prediction:

Wembley had limited number of fans for the England match versus Croatia, but it was noisy enough. It should be even louder now. England have a vastly superior team than Scotland, but this is a match where other factors could decide the winners, like the individual inspiration. Or idividual mistakes, of course. Scotland missed the opportunity to take something from their opening game against the Czech Republic. The players are feeling a huge pressure, another defeat could means elimination. England are in much better position, even a draw is acceptable. I expect a nervous match with lot of fouls, lot of yellow cards, maybe even some red, but I do not expect lot of goals.

England vs Scotland Pick: Under 2.5 goals @ 1.97 with SBOBET

 

[BET-IBC1]

Very exciting match-ups coming up this Saturday!

Hungary vs France
Portugal vs Germany
Spain vs Poland

With more than 15 members, our tipster team is ready to serve you their predictions of these matches. You can find it all on our sponsored thread:

EURO 2020 Match Predictions

Match Day 1 Tomorrow we will have the opening match in Rome, Italy! Below you can find the free match previews for Turkey - Italy in your native languages: Turkey vs Italy – EURO 2020 Tipster: BET-IBC’s Tipster Team Stake: 1 up to 10 Odds: ANY Start GMT: 11.06.2021 | 19:00:00 Tournament: UEFA...

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[spkutano]

Italy vs Wales Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

Italy:
Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Acerbi, Emerson; Verratti, Cristante, Barella; Bernardeschi, Belotti, Chiesa

Wales:
Ward; Roberts, Mepham, Rodon, Gunter, Williams; Morrell, Allen; Bale, Wilson, James

Italy will be looking to win the first position in the group, while Wales will try to secure a place in the knockout stages. The match will be played at Stadio Olimpico in Rome, meaning Italy will enjoy the home advantage. The Azzurri are first with six points, while the Dragons have picked up four points from their opening two games.

Italy are in great form and the players confidence is very high. They are in series of 10 victories in which they scored 31 goals. As usual, the defense is rock-solid, they are yet to concede at Euro. Their experience could be very important. Italy have won four World Cups and one European crown, in 1968. Coach Roberto Mancini is doing an excellent job. His men have played seven matches this year and won all of them. They beat Northern Ireland, Bulgaria and Lithuania in the World Cup qualifications, plus the friendlies against San Marino and Czech Republic. Finally, they beat Turkey and Switzerland with 3:0 each. Mancini arranged a friendly match with Cremonese Primavera in order to give the substitutes some playing time. According to expectations, Italy won 9:1 mostly thanks to Andrea Belotti and Federico Chiesa. They both scored hat-tricks and could earn a starting spot. Defender Giorgio Chiellini suffered an injury against Switzerland and won't be risked here. Mancini has a "sweet problem" in the midfield as Marco Verratti has recovered, but in-form Manuel Locatelli has scored twice on the last match. .

Wales have picked up four points from their opening two games. They shared the points with Switzerland in the first match after Kieffer Moore equalized the result, and then beat Turkey with 2:0. Aaron Ramsey scored the opening goal, while Connor Roberts found the back of the net in the stoppage time. Wales will try to repeat their previous European campaign when they went all the way to the semi-finals at Euro 2016. The change of coach Ryan Giggs was a big upset. He was sacked in April after being charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend. But his assistant Robert Page, who was appointed as new manager, is doing an excellent job. He found a way to motivate his players and to obtain one win and one draw so far. It is hard to accurately predict the starting formation Page will choose for this match. He surprised many by going with a back four in the tournament and using Kieffer Moore in attack. But the caretaker boss was successful so far. He need to make some hard decisions, like giving a rest to Moore and Ramsey. Even the captain Gareth Bale need a break. That could mean Neco Williams and Harry Wilson coming into the starting eleven.

Italy vs Wales Prediction:

Italy are first with six points, while Wales are second with four. Both teams will probably secure a spot in the knock-out phase. I expect Mancini to rest some of his key players. However, it won't be easier for Wales players. The Azzurri are yet to concede in 2021. I expect a low scoring match at Stadio Olimpico.

Italy vs Wales Pick: Under 2.5 goals @ 1.73 with Pinnacle

 

[betcatalog]

Although neither team is expected to reach the next stage, there is enough experience for both of them so far. Now liberated from the knowledge that victory - potentially with many goals - is necessary, both can allow their players to have the opportunity to create and attack at will. As a result, I expect an open meeting at a fast pace, where they can find a goal.
SWITZERLAND vs TURKEY @@ Both team to score, odds 1.75

None of the previous nine meetings between these teams has ever ended in a draw, with Italy winning seven over Wales' two wins. Not only that, but the Italians have won 10 games in a row, while keeping their home intact in each of these games, and it is difficult to see the visitors finish this series. Both teams will make a few changes, but we predict a similar result for Italy, with three points and zero in defense to finish in first place. Wales will also play defensively with five in defense, because they want a point, so I do not see goals in the match and I will bet on the few goals.
ITALY vs WALES @@ +2.50 Under, odds 1.65

 

[spkutano]

North Macedonia vs Netherlands Preview:

Possible staring lineups:

North Macedonia:
Dimitrievski; S. Ristovski, Velkovski, Musliu, Nikolov, Alioski, Ademi, Bardi, Spirovski; Pandev, Elmas

Netherlands:
Stekelenburg; De Vrij, De Ligt, Ake; Dumfries, Gravenberch, F. De Jong, Wijnaldum, Wijndal; L. De Jong, Depay

The situation in Group C is pretty clear regarding North Macedonia and Netherlands. The Dutch national team beat Ukraine and Austria, and secured the top regardless of the results in the last round. The Macedonians, meanwhile, lost both games and go home. The only open question is who will finish on the second and third position. It will be decided in the direct clash between Ukraine and Austria.

North Macedonia lost to Austria and Ukraine in the first two matches played at European Championships. They were in the game on both occasions, but were unable to escape the defeat. Perhaps the inexperience is the key reason for the defeats. And, of course, the quality of the Austrians and Ukrainians. According to me, they are better than Macedonians and their victories were deserved. North Macedonia scored on both matches. Captain Goran Pandev found the back of the net in the first game, while Leeds United full-back Ezgjan Alioski scored from the rebound after missing a penalty on the second match. However, five received goals are simply too much. Coach Angelovski has no injury or suspension worries ahead of this match and may decide to start with the same eleven like against Ukraine.

Netherlands have secured the first position in Group C and they will go to Budapest to face one of the third placed-sides. The Dutch national team managed to beat Ukraine and Austria in the first two rounds. The victory over the Ukrainians was very difficult. Oranje secured two-goal lead thanks to goals scored by Georginio Wijnaldum and Wout Weghorst. They thought everything is decided, but Ukraine equalized the result. However, Denzel Dumfries' late header resulted with Netherland's victory. In the second round they beat Austria 2:0. Best striker Memphis Depay converted a first-half penalty, while Dumfries set the final result. The atmosphere in the squad is good, while the players confidence is high. Coach De Boer may look to make lot of changes in order to avoid injuries or suspension ahead of the knock-out stages.

North Macedonia vs Netherlands Prediction:

Netherlands are big favorites on this match and I believe they will win. North Macedonia have lost both matches, but certainly not disgraced themselves. The lack of quality, particularly in defense, was the key reason. But on the other side, Goran Pandev and company showed they are capable of making life uncomfortable for the opponents. I believe the Macedonians are able to score, like on the previous two matches.

North Macedonia vs Netherlands Pick: Both teams to score - Yes @ 2.00 with Bet365

 

[spkutano]

Croatia vs Scotland Preview:


Possible starting lineups:


Croatia:
Livakovic; Vrsaljko, Vida, Lovren, Barisic; Brozovic, Kovacic; Vlasic, Modric, Perisic; Petkovic

Scotland:
Marshall; McTominay, Hanley, Tierney; O'Donnell, McGregor, Armstrong, McGinn, Robertson; Dykes, Adams

Both Croatia and Scotland have a point after two matches, while England and the Czech Republic are on four points prior to their meeting at Wembley. One thing is clear, this is "do or die" match for both countries. Both coaches, Zlatko Dalic and Steve Clarke, are feeling an enormous pressure, as well as the players. Croatia are the actual Vice-champions from the World Cup 2018 in Russia and a poential elimination would be a catastrophe. Yes, they are weakened by the loss of quality and tournament experience players like Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic, but anyway - failing to reach the knock-out stages would be a catastrophe. Croatia lost 1:0 to England in the first round, but managed to escape another failure against Czech Republic on matchday two. They were one-goal down after Dejan Lovren's elbow on Patrik Schick was deemed worthy of a penalty by VAR, but veteran Ivan Perisic equalized the result. Perisic has been directly involved in 12 goals in major tournaments, scoring eight and assisting four. Dalic has no new injury or suspension worries. Even better, left-back Borna Barisic, who missed the first two matches at Euro, rejoined the team for training over the weekend and could start. Marcelo Brozovic was dropped for the Czech Republic draw, but Dalic has confirmed that he will return to the starting lineup here. Coach must choose between Ante Rebic and Bruno Petkovic for No. 9 role.

Just like Croatia, Scotland have only one point from the first two rounds. They started the European Championship with a 2:0 defeat to Czech Republic in the first round, although 9,000 fans gave huge support to their players at Hampden Park. Clarke's men were unable to stop Patrik Schick who scored both goals. Scotland had 58% possession, but were unable to score. They failed to score in the second match too, but collected the first point after the derby with England finished with a goalless draw. Clarke has no fresh injury or suspension concerns, but defender Kieran Tierney is still struggling with a calf injury. The Arsenal man played the whole 90 minutes on Saturday, but need to be assessed again. Chelsea player Billy Gilmour impressed at Wembley and should earned his second start for the national team. But according to the latest news, Gilmour has tested positive for Covid-19 and will miss the match. The Scottish FA confirmed that he will spend the next 10 days in self-isolation. Squad member John Fleck tested positive for coronavirus before the tournament and missed the friendly draw with the Netherlands, along with six players left out as a precaution. Fleck was available against the Czech Republic and England, perhaps too soon.

Croatia vs Scotland Prediction:

I expect a tight match with Under 2.5 goals. None of the previous five meetings between Croatia and Scotland (four in WC Qualifications and one friendly) have produced more than two goals. The Scots haven't scored in the first two matches. Even worse, they haven't scored at the European Championships since a 1:0 win over Switzerland in 1996. Croatia also have problem to score - one goal in two matches isn't good enough. Ante Rebic is out of form, so Dalic has a dilemma between him and Petkovic.

Croatia vs Scotland Pick: Under 2.5 goals @ 1.89 with Pinnacle

 

[spkutano]

Portugal vs France Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

Portugal:
Patricio; Semedo, Dias, Pepe, Guerreiro; Pereira, Sanches, Fernandes; B.Silva, Ronaldo, Jota

France:
Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Kimpembe, Hernandez; Kante, Pogba, Tolisso; Griezmann; Mbappe, Benzema

The current situation in Group F - also known as "Group of Death" - is very interesting. France have 4 points and the results elsewhere means they are guaranteed to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Germany, Portugal and Hungary still hoping to join them in the last-16. Portugal will qualify for the knock-out stages by beating France, or with a draw coupled with a Hungary win. But Portugal could crash out in fourth place if they lose to France and Hungary also beat Germany. As You could see, everything is open and there are many permutations.

Portugal started the European championship with a convincing 3:0 win over Hungary. Nevertheless, it wasn't easy as the final outcome suggests. The result was goalless until the 84th minute and it looked like Hungary will upset the reigning champions, particularly because the match was played in front of more than 60,000 fans in Budapest. The deadlock was broken when Raphael Guerreiro's shot with the outside of the foot took a massive deflection off defender Willi Orban to break Hungary's brave resistance. It was lot easier after that as the Hungarians simply collapsed. Cristiano Ronaldo took advantage from the situation and scored twice in the finish of the match. CR7 also found the back of the net in the next match with Germany. But Ronaldo had little to celebrate after the final whistle on Saturday. Two own first-half goals from Ruben Dias and Raphael Guerreiro, as well as two strikes from Kai Havertz and Robin Gosens in the second half, saw Portugal losing the match in Munich with 4:2. However, Ronaldo became the top scorer in the European Championship history with 12 goals, overtaking France's Michel Platini on nine goals. Coach Santos is surely satisfy with his form, but also has some injury issues ahead of the crucial game. Midfielder Joao Felix and Nuno Mendes remain sidelined with hamstring and thigh injury respectively. Santos is expected to make some rotation after the last defeat, with Rafa Silva and Renato Sanches the most likely candidates for starting spot.

France have collect four points after the opening victory in Munich and second-round's draw in Budapest. Yesterday Ukraine and Finland finished as third in their groups with only three points, so Les Bleus are guaranteed to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. But France are World Champions and they will surely try to top the group. Didier Deschamps’ men started the European championship with a hard 1:0 win over Germany. The match was decided in the first half when Mats Hummels scored an own goal. He diverted Lucas Hernandez's cross into his own net in the 20th minute. Interesting to be mentioned, both France and Germany managed just one shot on target each, the lowest total in a EURO game for the French since 2012, and for the Germans since 2008. Deschamps was satisfied with the victory, but that was a worrying moment. And the problem escalated in the second match of the group. Nobody was expecting problems against the outsiders Hungary, but the match ended with an 1:1 draw. Attila Fiola scored in the finish of first half to send the Puskas Arena crowd into delirium. Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema looked out of focus during the whole 90 minutes, but Antoine Griezmann rescued a point for with a 66th-minute equalizer. Some changes are expecting following the poor display against Hungary. Lucas Hernandez should return at left-back instead of Lucas Digne, while Jules Kounde and Corentin Tolisso are pushing for starting spot. Ousmane Dembele suffered a knee injury on the last match and he will miss the remainder of the tournament.

Portugal vs France Prediction:

As I wrote above, Cristiano Ronaldo became the top scorer in the European Championship history with 12 goals. He also hopes to claim the Golden Boot for the tournament’s top scorer. So far Ronaldo shares the first place with Romelu Lukaku, Patrik Schick and Netherlands midfielder Gini Wijnaldum. But it is worth mentioning that Ronaldo has never scored against France, although played six matches. Nevertheless, I expect goal from Portugal as a team. France are able to score too.

Portugal vs France Pick: Both teams to score - Yes @ 1.98 with Pinnacle