Who said the football season was over?! It just started! So if you thought your money was safe, think again because just around the corner is the Euro 2008.
Here is my thought on how the group stage will finish after the playoffs, who will top the groups, and some additional options to bet on along the way. Feel free to comment of course, the more opinions we have the better it is for us to bet.
GROUP A
PORTUGAL 7Pts
Czech Republic 7Pts
Turkey 1 Pts
Switzerland 1 Pts
Last Euro's finalists, Portugal, will look to repeat that feat. In order to do so, they have to overcome step 1 which wont be that easy, but imo they have the quality and players to top the group, but breathing down their neck will be the solid hard-fighting Czechs. Who knows, they might even surprise and take top spot them selves. Leading them will be Chelsea's star goal keeper Petr Cech. Third place will be a battle. Both Turkey and Switzerland are good teams but lack that " umpf " in a team that produces higher results. I think Turkey is a better and complete team than the Swiss, but it's gonna be home crowd against them...we'll see.
Underdogs : Switzerland It's the home team, and with last european results, you never know what surprises lie ahead.
Possible top scorers in group : Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal); Hugo Almeida (Portugal); Jan Koller (Czech R.)
Total goals in Group A : Under 12,5
Odds @ bet365 : 1st - Portugal 2nd - Czech Republic @ 5.00
GROUP B
GERMANY 7Pts
Croatia 7Pts
Poland 3Pts
Austria 0Pts
Luckily for Croatia, their first match is against Austria and not Poland. Why!? Well, mainly because even though Austria is the host country, they are somewhat friends and therefore wont be too booed by the home crowd nor influenced by them. The other reason is because Poland is my underdog in this group. Their football has improved tremendously over the past few years. They topped the qualifier group above Portugal and Serbia. Everyone knows that the first matches are the toughest ones. Unfortunately for Poland, they start their campaign against the always mentally strong and prepared Germany. Second round will be great to watch between Germany and Croatia, two possible finalists. The Croats will be without naturalized Brazilian star Silva, who they will dearly miss. Even so, both teams are in great form and could easily lift the cup.
Underdogs : Poland Toping a very strong qualifier group to get here, Poland have showed true team work. They don't have any "flashy" players, and this is what makes them more dangerous.
Possible Top scorer in group : Miroslav Klose (Germany); Lukas Podolski (Germany); Mladen Petric (Croatia)
Total Goals in Group B: Over 12,5
Odds @ Bet365 : 1st - Germany 2nd - Croatia @ 2.87
GROUP C
FRANCE 5Pts
Romania 5Pts
Italy 2Pts
Netherlands 2Pts
Every competition has that one group that everyone's buzzing about. THE group. The one where literally anyone can win and most hard to predict. Just the fact that 3 out of the 4 in this group have lifted the European Cup at least once. Something the other groups can't be proud of. To complicate matters even more; Italy and France are coming from the same group in the qualifying round, and Romania and Netherlands were also in the same group in the qualifiers. How messed up is that! With this in mind, I think a lot of games will end in draw here and the wins would be a repeat of the qualifying rounds. France was better than Italy and Romania took the points away from the Netherlands. Look out for June the 17th because that's when this group will reveal who goes through and personally this will be the day of 2 great matches.
I know a lot of people will disagree on my Group C prediction positions, due to Romania, but hey, if you're so sure of another outcome put your life's money on it! "wink"
Underdogs : Italy No one can really pick an underdog here as no one can be a true favorite in this group. But since i put France and Romania to go through, look out for the World Champions going for a double like France did. I'm not too keen on this fact, but certainly they can make it through the group stage.
Possible top scorers in group : Thierry Henry (France); Sidney Govou (France)
Total goals in Group C: Under 12,5
Odds @ Bet365 : 1st - France 2nd - Romania @ 15.00
GROUP D
SPAIN 9Pts
Ru
ssia 6Pts
Sweden 3Pts
Greece 0Pts
Defending champions in this group along with 3 very tough teams. Everyone will want to beat Greece and say they defeated the defending Euro champs. Hey, who wouldn't!? It would be a huge boost of morale. Spain not clearly the favorites here but almost so. This year should see them top group D but I think that's as far as they'll go. A lot of good players that unfortunately for them play -switch on-switch off- mode football. With them in the group is Sweden. Finished right behind Spain in their group qualifier and both took 3 points from each other. Not too enthusiastic about the Swede's, some good individuals but they lack that team spirit. Unlike Russia who is the underdog here but so much so that I think they will make it through the group stage and thus making the Swede's the underdogs. With Hiddink as the first man, Russia can do big this year. Greece was top in their group but only to a very poor group imo. Turkey was their biggest rival, not something you can boast about...
Underdogs : Sweden Pushed down by the Russians, Sweden might actually concentrate for once and do what is expected of them.
Possible top scorer in group : Fernando Torres (Spain)
Total goals in Group D: Under 12,5
Odds @ Bet365 : 1st - Spain 2nd - Russia @ 5.00
I hope this gives some insight to next weeks Euro 2008. If you guys agree and like most of what I posted here, vote on the poll and let me know whether to post predictions for goal odds for each group and players.
EURO 2008 Group Stage Predictions
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