Euro 2016 Update – Football Betting

Northern Ireland heading to Euro 2016 full of confidence

Euro Betting

It may still be 10 weeks until the start of Euro 2016 but national coaches have to confirm their 23-man squads by the end of May and the last few days has seen the participants having their final warm-up matches before decisions are made regarding personnel.

Northern Ireland stretched their unbeaten run to 10 matches with a narrow victory over Slovenia just days after coming with 90 seconds of beating Wales in Cardiff. Manager Michael O’Neill expects his players’ unity will ensure they are far from disgraced in France this summer in what looks a very competitive group. But Northern Ireland are 33/1 with Coral to win Group C and a best 15/4 to qualify for the knockout stages.

Germany are only a best 2/5 to top a section that also includes Poland, whom they also met in qualifying, and the Ukraine. The world champions scored four times against Italy on Tuesday but threw away a two-goal lead against England in Berlin at the weekend. They remain 7/2 joint favourites with France to win Euro 2016 with the hosts beating Russia in their latest friendly and scoring four times in the process.

Russia are one of England’s opponents in Group B and second favourites for the section behind Roy Hodgson’s men at a general 7/2. Paddy Power still have England at 10/11 to win Group B, despite that impressive Berlin success which has seen their odds tumble to win Euro 2016 to a best  9/1.

A subsequent defeat for the second string at Wembley by an equally understrength Netherlands wasn’t ideal but was more than partly down to some eccentric decision-making by the Spanish officials. Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart and Raheem Sterling should be fit again by the time critical preparations begin, though England will be will be without number two goalkeeper Jack Butland.

What we learned from Wales’ draw with Northern Ireland and a subsequent defeat in Ukraine is, without Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, they will struggle to compete in France. The fitness of the Real Madrid forward and the Arsenal midfielder will be paramount if they are to get beyond the group stages but Chris Coleman will have to accept that opponents will target the pair. Wales are a best 11/2 with Coral to win Group B but only a best 19/20 to qualify for the last 16 – they are a general 80/1 to win Euro 2016.

The Republic Of Ireland are a best 150/1 to win the competition and 12/1 to top Group E ahead of Belgium, Italy and Sweden but the injury problems are mounting up for Martin O’Neill, who had only one fit striker when they drew 2-2 with Slovakia on Tuesday.

Euro 2016 Latest Best Odds

France and Germany (7/2), Spain (11/2), England (9/1), Belgium (12/1). Italy (18/1), Portugal (25/1), Croatia (33/1), Austria (40/1), Poland and Switzerland (66/1), Russia and Wales (80/1), Sweden and Turkey (100/1), Czech Republic and Ukraine (125/1), Iceland, Republic Of Ireland and Slovakia (150/1), Romania (250/1), Hungary (400/1), Albania and Northern Ireland (500/1)