Euro 2016 isn’t just about backing the Golden Boot winner; you can also pick out the leading scorer for every team. So roll up for Euro 2016! The bookmakers are putting together lots of betting markets for what should be an exciting tournament.
We’ve already taken a look at how to back the Golden Boot winner although it’s not a particularly easy market to get right, with some punters preferring to back the top goalscorer for a particular country.
In order to profit, you simply need to pick out the player that will bag the most goals for their country at Euro 2016. In some cases, one goal is enough to win a top team scorer market and there’s also the option to back no goalscorer which will certainly apply to some teams!
AUSTRIA
Austria players littered the top of the scoring charts during Group G qualifying, with Marc Janko managing seven goals and he was followed home by David Alaba (4) and Marko Arnautovic (3). Indeed, Alaba will be on penalty duties for his country and perhaps he represents a striking alternative to Janko who might be snuffed out by Portugal, Iceland and Hungary during the group stage.
ENGLAND
There will be plenty of interest in top England scorer, with Harry Kane a worthy favourite at 7/4 with William Hill. The Tottenham forward will almost certainly lead the line against Russia and Wales, although the likely absence of Danny Welbeck means that Jamie Vardy could earn a starting berth and the Leicester man could make appeal at 6/1 if that’s the case. Kane and Vardy against the field would seem like the bet. Wayne Rooney is unlikely to start and Daniel Sturridge will be another option off the bench.
FRANCE
Antoine Griezmann’s form for Atletico has been explosive and he’s another favourite that is hard to knock, with Didier Deschamps likely to play the striker in place of Karim Benzema. The forward should also be on penalty duties, although Dimitri Payet could be an option at 12/1 too. The West Ham midfielder is excellent from set pieces and looks set to get the nod after a recent call-up.
GERMANY
Thomas Muller is the predictable favourite here, although Germany’s fluid way of playing means that it’s worth considering Marco Reus at odds of 10/1. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder loves to rove forward and will want to make amends for his absence at the 2014 World Cup.
ITALY
Hard to work out whom Antonio Conte will field at Euro 2016, although Graziano Pelle might lead the line despite a modest season for Southampton. Inter’s Eder is a different option and Lorenzo Insigne has a reasonable return of 13 goals from 37 Napoli appearances this term.
We know that the Azzurri are not high scorers when it comes to major tournaments so you might well get a dead heat situation here.
NORTHERN IRELAND
With Germany, Ukraine and Poland lying in wait, it’s plausible that Northern Ireland won’t score at Euro 2016 and that option is available at 5/1. Kyle Lafferty scored seven in qualifying but will find it tougher to get chances here and it might be worth considering a defender who comes up for set pieces. Gareth McAuley has seven international goals and the West Brom man could be worth an interest at 14/1, while captain Steven Davis recently scored a brace for Southampton at White Hart Lane.
PORTUGAL
Cristiano Ronaldo is the short price favourite and will once again carry the attacking can for a Portugal side who rely heavily on their superstar to make things happen for them. Nani is the only other player in the squad who has scored more than ten goals for his country, although the Fenerbahce winger is unlikely to play centre stage when the Portuguese rove forward looking for goals.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
The Republic might not last more than three matches and they are unlikely to score a lot of goals during the group stage. William Hill offer 12/1 that Ireland don’t score in their three matches although that seems unlikely even if they are facing Belgium and Italy. Shane Long is a 9/2 chance and perhaps he might edge things, with the Southampton forward having finished the season strongly for his club.
SPAIN
It’s not completely clear whom Vicente Del Bosque will select in attack, although Fernando Torres could be an interesting price should the Atletico Madrid player be brought in from the cold. Torres has been there, done that for his country and that included finishing joint-top scorer at Euro 2012 before disappearing off the radar in a Chelsea and AC Milan shirt. However, Spain have lots of attacking midfielders and Cesc Fabregas at 14/1 could be really interesting if Del Bosque decides to employ the Chelsea midfielder in the false nine role.
SWEDEN
Similarly to Portugal, the Swedes have a huge reliance on Zlatan Ibrahimovic and it could be worth putting the PSG forward in multiple bets with Portugal’s Ronaldo and any other player that you think might top score for their country. Zlatan is at the heart of everything that Sweden do going forward and he will be massively motivated for what could be his final major tournament in a yellow shirt.
| TOP 5 Bookmakers | ||
|---|---|---|
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Bet365 | £200 bonus |
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William Hill | £20 free bet |
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Ladbrokes | £50 free bet |
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Paddy Power | £30 free bet |
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Betvictor | £25 free bet |
SWITZERLAND
Josip Drmic is the bright young striker for Switzerland and the Hamburger forward has managed eight goals in twenty-five games for his country, although he might be usurped by a man plying his trade for Stoke City. Xherdan Shaqiri was the stand-out Swiss performer at the 2014 World Cup and the winger is worth chancing on this market considering he has a one-in-three hit rate for his country.
WALES
Wales are not the whipping boys of Group B and could yet finish second behind England depending on their results against Russia and Slovakia. However, they are likely to be defensive-minded and rely on the attacking flair of Gareth Bale. Indeed, Bale looks like a decent shout at 11/8 considering he has little in the way of opposition. He will be on penalty and free-kick duties, with Aaron Ramsey hardly setting things alight for Arsenal this season.
