Euro 2024 - Thoughts on Group C

 Group C thoughts;

Slovenia, qualified in what was the qualifying group of death where even the fourth placed team still got 18 points. Finishing second to the Danes with the same points, more goals scored and a better goal difference they can now enjoy the competition and forget about the Denmark.

Players to watch out for:

Benjamin Sesko - when not captaining Deep Space Nine he has had a very good season for RB Leipzig.

Denmark, oh dear look who just walked into the party wearing the same dress as Slovenia... Lets hope they can have a fun time without having a cardiac arrest like last time. Finished top of a crazy group and they have it in them to get out of this group.

Players to watch out for:

Rasmus Hoijlund - a player more suited to international football than club football.

Skov Olsen - one of those Belgian League players who someone should be taking a chance on.

Serbia, qualified second in their group have looked really good recently and have a squad full of familiar names. Also they've got the mix just right with some crusty veterans mixed with some youngsters. A team I really think can do well and have it in them to cause a shock.

Players to watch out for:

Lazar Samardic - a really bright spark in a dull Udinese side.

Dusan Vlahivic - a really smart striker who should be more well known.

England, this group is going to be England plus one other. They walked qualifying and are deservedly one of the favourites. They will go far, they are a team that for a while have been strong up front and are weaker the further back you go. But if they can stick a young central defender in next to Stones to get experience, get through the left back injury issue and hypnotise Pickford to think he plays for Liverpool instead of Everton they can cope with these issues.

Players to watch out for:

Declan Rice - after a move from West Ham to Arsenal he's gone up a level.

Jude Bellingham - an insane season in La Liga after moving to Real Madrid.

Philbert Foden - ended the season as the form player in the EPL.

Bets and trades

England to win the group.

Min stakes on Serbia to qualify.

Overs on Bookings for that final match of Serbia Vs Denmark which I suspect will be for second place.

Euro 2024 - Group B Thoughts

 Group B thoughts;

Spain? Spain?! Spain!!! Wake up Spain!!! I'm trying to do a preview here and not only have you not announced your squad yet your league season hasn't finished! So if Spain aren't going to make an effort neither am I. Spain...

Players to watch out for:

Whichever of them sets their alarm and turns up.

Croatia, a team made up of players who on reading the squad generate such comments as "is he still going" and "oh I forgot he ever existed." Case in point, Mateo Kovacic has played 46 times for Manchester City last season and my most recent memory of him is getting a yellow card for Inter Milam in 2012. They comfortably qualified, played alright but there's something uninspiring about them. Given Spain may have forgot to put the tournament in their calendar, Italy don't look too good and Albania topped their qualifying group they can get out of this group but I don't expect much from them.

Players to watch out for:

Mario Pasalic - had a really good season.

Luca Modric - appreciate him while he's still here.

Italy, as a Serie A viewer its rather depressing to see how poor Italy look at the moment. No strikers, a rather dull midfield and another crop of defenders over 30. Qualifying was brown trousers time and they look pretty bad. My pick to go out early and spend the rest of the tournament writing a strongly worded email about how they should get a bye to the final.

Players to watch out for:

Giacomo Raspadori - had a really good season for Napoli.

Federico Chiesa - every tournament theres a player who will turn on the style because they want a move, this is that player.

Albania, finished top of their qualifying group by winning only half of their games. They will be viewed as the minnows of this group but don't underestimate them. A dangerous floater for those looking to rest players against them or who forget to set their alarm clock.

Players to look out for:

Jasir Asani - played really well during qualifying.

Berat Djimsiti - another very good Atalanta player.

Bets and trades

Lay overall of Italy.

Otherwise theres not a lot of value in this group.

Minimum stakes lay of Italy to qualify.

If you fancy a fun £1.00 on Croatia to qualify as most people apparently I'd wait for their price to go up a bit. 

Euro 2024 - Group A Thoughts

 Thoughts on Group A;

Surely Germany can't screw this group up? Can they? Well lets have a look. Results wise they've been in friendly limbo with some odd results. Squad wise they look in transition, we have a few 30+ players on the verge of international retirement, a few up and comers (notably from Leverkusen and Stuttgart) and dare I say it a few journeymen who I'm looking at while wondering "how are they in the squad?"

I see them getting through the group although not with ease. There is a very good German 15 in here but I don't think they have the depth to get to the final. I see them going out at the quarter or semi final stage.

Players to watch out for:

Florian Wirtz - the star player of this season Bundesliga, so much of how Germany do depends on him.

Deniz Undav - the form German striker this season.

Kai Havertz - a very good season for Arsenal.

Scotland, Steve Clarke has put together a good squad who didn't just eek into the tournament on the back of some 1-0 wins, they nearly won the group, beat Spain and amazingly scored some goals - they never had a 1-0 victory during qualifying. Hopefully they can take this form into the tournament, odds wise their the outsiders for the group but I'm hoping they can cause some more upsets.

Players to watch out for:

Ncuti Gatwa - good start to his career part of a good partnership on his debut with David Tennant, but needs to concentrate more and stop running into minefields.

Hungary, played some really good stuff comfortably won their group, the goals have been spread around the team and like Scotland look quite good. Bar Dominik Szoboszlai no real big names so lets hope to uncover an unknown gem.

Players to watch out for:

Dominik Szoboszlai - everything about this team revolves through him.

Switzerland, they've played some really good football, scored a lot of goals and generally had a fun time in qualifying. They're often about in the early stages of competitions sometimes knocking out a big name only to go out themselves the next round. Checking my notes aside from Granite Chaka Khan and Yann Sommer there isn't a lot to write home about. In Switzerland I find a team I don't want to do well, I want Hungary or Scotland to get through this group and in order for them to do that they need to get something from Switzerland who are the second favourites in this group.

Players to watch out for:

Remo Freuler - a good all round player whose had an outstanding season for Bologna and someone who I find to be unappreciated.

 

Bets and trades;

My big lay of the tournament is Germany, I think they'll win and I think the host factor is lowering their odds. 5/1 is a good lay as even if they do win I think the price will go longer at some stage.

Low level minimum stakes lay of Switzerland to finish top 2 in the group.