For the next few weeks, we are going to go Euro 2020 (and possibly Copa America) crazy
here at Bonus Code Poker. With two of the biggest international tournaments in the world taking place concurrently across Europe and South America, we’d be crazy not to give them plenty of attention.
After all, that is what a huge number of punters will be doing over the next few weeks.
We reviewed the Copa America last week, so this week we are going to give you the lowdown on the 2020 European Championships. The tournament may have been delayed a year, but it has only whetted the appetite for fans to see their national team go for glory across Europe this summer.
As always, bet365 Sport is a fantastic option for punters seeking plenty of great betting action on Euro 2020. That means not only an extensive range of pre-tournament and pre-match markets, but a huge choice of In Play betting options when the games are in action too. It’s also an ideal opportunity to use up some of your bet365 bet credits if you have any remaining from your starter offer.
There will also be lots of interest in the tournament in Europe in the United States too, with plenty of people from across Europe living in the states and a burgeoning audience for soccer too. Check out BetRivers PA for some fantastic odds and you can also access other BetRivers sites in other states other than Pennsylvania too.
So let’s now take a look at the opening stage of Euro 2020, the Group Stage, where the 24 finalists will compete in six groups of four, with 16 able to progress into the knockout phase of the tournament.
We will go through each group in detail and give you our tips on who we see making it through the Group Stages. Odds shown are for the Group Winner and then for the other teams to qualify from the group.
Euro 2020 Group Stage
Group A
- Italy
- Turkey
- Wales
- Switzerland
Venues – Rome (Italy) & Baku (Azerbaijan)
Fixtures
- June 11 – Turkey v Italy (Rome, 8pm)
- June 12 – Wales v Switzerland (Baku, 2pm)
- June 16 – Turkey v Wales (Baku, 5pm)
- June 16 – Italy v Switzerland (Rome, 8pm)
- June 20 – Italy v Wales (Rome, 5pm)
- June 20 – Switzerland v Turkey (Baku, 5pm)
Group Analysis
With their three games being played in Rome, I think this looks like a group tailor-made for Italy to qualify as the winners. I would expect Roberto Mancini’s men to win all three of their games.
The question is which teams will join them in the next phase. I think Switzerland are the most consistent team and I think they will finish ahead of Turkey and Wales to claim the second spot. The question is whether Wales or Turkey will earn enough points to qualify as one of the best third placed teams.
I am not so sure that will be the case as I can see the game between them finishing as a draw, which may not be enough for either to progress.
Group Winner – Italy (8/15)
Other Round of 16 Qualifier(s) – Switzerland (4/7)
Group B
- Belgium
- Denmark
- Finland
- Russia
Venues – Saint Petersburg (Russia) & Copenhagen (Denmark)
Fixtures
- June 12 – Denmark v Finland (Copenhagen, 5pm)
- June 12 – Belgium v Russia (Saint Petersburg, 8pm)
- June 16 – Finland v Russia (Saint Petersburg, 2pm)
- June 17 – Denmark v Belgium (Copenhagen, 5pm)
- June 21 – Russia v Denmark (Copenhagen, 5pm)
- June 21 – Belgium v Finland (Saint Petersburg, 5pm)
Group Analysis
Top ranked team in the world Belgium face a tricky test with two teams, Denmark and Russia, having home games in this group. However, I still feel that the Belgian side has more than enough quality to get enough points to win this group.
Of the other teams, I can see Denmark and Russia both beating Finland and I think three points should be enough for third place teams to reach the knockout phase, so I think Denmark will finish second and Russia third, but both will progress into the Round of 16.
Group Winner – Belgium (8/11)
Other Round of 16 Qualifier(s) – Denmark (2/9), Russia (4/9)
Group C
- Austria
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Ukraine
Venues – Bucharest (Romania) & Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Fixtures
- June 13 – Austria v North Macedonia (Bucharest, 5pm)
- June 13 – Netherlands v Ukraine (Amsterdam, 8pm)
- June 17 – Ukraine v North Macedonia (Bucharest, 2pm)
- June 17 – Netherlands v Austria (Amsterdam, 8pm)
- June 21 – North Macedonia v Netherlands (Amsterdam, 5pm)
- June 21 – Ukraine v Austria (Bucharest, 5pm)
Group Analysis
Having home advantage over the other three teams in what is one of the weaker groups, should mean a very comfortable progression from the group stage for the Netherlands, even minus their star defender Virgil van Dijk.
I think North Macedonia are going to find out how tough this level of competition is here and I can’t see them landing any points in the tournament, which means that both Ukraine and Austria should do enough to go through to the next phase.
I think the Ukraine may pip Austria to the second placed spot, but it may be decided by goal difference.
Group Winner – Netherlands (2/5)
Other Round of 16 Qualifier(s) – Ukraine (2/7), Austria (2/5)
Group D
- Czech Republic
- Croatia
- England
- Scotland
Venues – London (England), Glasgow (Scotland)
Fixtures
- June 13 – England v Croatia (London, 8pm)
- June 14 – Scotland v Czech Republic (Glasgow, 2pm)
- June 18 – Croatia v Czech Republic (Glasgow, 5pm)
- June 18 – England v Scotland (London, 8pm)
- June 22 – Croatia v Scotland (Glasgow, 8pm)
- June 22 – England v Czech Republic (London, 8pm)
Group Analysis
Both England and Scotland are hosting games in this group, with England playing all of their games at home at Wembley Stadium, including that derby game with the Scots. That does make life tough for Croatia and the Czech Republic in particular.
England are very tough to beat at home so I do feel Gareth Southgate’s men will top the group. I can see Croatia beating Scotland and the Czech’s to finish second, but I also feel that the Scots and Czech’s may battle it out to a draw in Glasgow, which may not be enough for either to make it into the next round of the competition.
Group Winner – England (2/5)
Other Round of 16 Qualifier(s) – Croatia (3/10)
Group E
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Spain
- Sweden
Venues – Seville (Spain) & Saint Petersburg (Russia)
Fixtures
- June 14 – Poland v Slovakia (Saint Petersburg, 5pm)
- June 14 – Spain v Sweden (Seville, 8pm)
- June 18 – Sweden v Slovakia (Saint Petersburg, 2pm)
- June 19 – Spain v Poland (Seville, 8pm)
- June 23 – Sweden v Poland (Saint Petersburg, 5pm)
- June 23 – Spain v Slovakia (Seville, 5pm)
Group Analysis
Spain will play their games in their fortress of Seville and their record there is excellent, which means I would expect them to win this group, winning all three of their games.
There should be a real battle for the other qualifying spots in this group and it could well be an evenly matched contest. I think Poland and Sweden’s extra quality in attack should be just enough for them to clinch a spot in the next round ahead of the Slovakians,
Group Winner – Spain (1/3)
Other Round of 16 Qualifier(s) – Poland (2/5), Sweden (4/9)
Group F
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Portugal
Venues – Munich (Germany) & Budapest (Hungary)
Fixtures
- June 15 – Hungary v Portugal (Budapest, 5pm)
- June 15 – France v Germany (Munich, 8pm)
- June 19 – Hungary v France (Budapest, 2pm)
- June 19 – Portugal v Germany (Munich, 5pm)
- June 23 – Portugal v France (Budapest, 8pm)
- June 23 – Germany v Hungary (Munich, 8pm)
Group Analysis
The so-called Group of Death sees the 2014 World Cup Winners, 2016 European Champions and the 2018 World Cup winners face off against Hungary in what should give us the first massive games of the tournament.
Having two host teams in this group in Germany and Hungary does make this tricky for France and Portugal, but I do expect the French to win the group, although it may be by goal difference ahead of Germany with Portugal not too far behind. I can’t see much hope for Hungary here despite two home games and I think they finish bottom of this group.
Group Winner – France (11/8)
Other Round of 16 Qualifier(s) – Germany (1/12), Portugal (2/7)
Tune in from Friday to enjoy a month-long festival of football across Europe in what should be one of the biggest sporting and betting events of the year.
*All odds shown were correct with bet365 Sport as of 12.40pm on Tuesday 8th June 2020.
Tags: bet365 Sport football
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