Sun 10th – Mon 18th: Italy are 6/4 (BetVictor) to bow out of Group C while Croatia are 7/2 to exit at the quarter final stages.
GROUP C
SPAINDefending champions in Europe and also World Cup holders, it’s easy to see why the all-conquering Spaniards are Skybet’s 5/2 to retain the trophy they captured four years ago in Vienna. Vicente del Bosque’s men also qualified for the competition with a hundred percent record, which bodes well but they aren’t without problems. Firstly, influential defender Carles Puyol will miss the tournament through injury while at the other end, David Villa is another huge loss having lost his race to be fit. Given the patchy performances of Fernando Torres, this leaves the Spanish perhaps looking a little lighter than they would like in attack, despite the form of Athletic Bilbao’s Fernando Llorente and although their slick passing will still be dizzying for most teams, it could be that the holders struggle to find an end product in the latter stages of the competition.
Star Man: Xavi
Prediction: Semi-final
Fixtures:
June 10 – Italy
June 14 – Ireland
June 18 – Croatia
Odds: 11/4 (bet365) outright, 8/13 (Betfred) to win group.
Best Bet: Spain to lose in the semi-final – 10/3 (Coral)
Since losing the 2000 final, Italy’s pedigree at the Euros seems to have tailed off and their odds of 14/1 (Betfred) places them at the outside of the top teams at the competition. The Azzurri came through a very straight forward qualifying without losing and indeed they’re just 4/6 progress here (Blue Square) but they must be careful of complacency against fired up opposition in Ireland and Croatia. Andrea Pirlo is the man who needs to be on form to make the team tick but with the attack up for debate (Mario Balotelli’s presence is always a risk) and the defence far less experienced than usual for an Italian side, BetVictor’s 6/4 about group elimination is the call. Bet365 have 5/4 on the Italians notching less than 5 goals.
Star Man: Andrea Pirlo
Prediction: Group stage
Fixtures:
June 10 – Spain
June 14 – Croatia
June 18 – Ireland
Odds: 14/1 (Betfred) outright, 7/2 (Paddy Power) to win group.
Best Bet: Italy to exit at Group stage – 6/4 (BetVictor)
With only their second ever qualification to the European Championships, Ireland would have hoped for a slightly more forgiving draw, Totesport making them 4/1 just to progress. Qualification was only made tricky by Russia and in hindsight anything other than making Poland & Ukraine would have been disappointing but Coral make them 1/5 to bow out at the first hurdle. Robbie Keane’s goals and Aiden McGeady’s midfield runs will make or break their campaign but it will be a tough for them, bet365 rating the Irish at just 8/11 to score 2 or less goals. Robbie Keane is more than likely to score them and so Coral’s 7/2 about him being their top scorer is the best bet in consideration of the short odds about their elimination.
Star Man: Robbie Keane
Prediction: Group Stage
Fixtures:
June 10 – Croatia
June 14 – Spain
June 18 – Italy
Odds: 100/1 (Sportingbet) outright, 18/1 (BetVictor) to win group.
Best Bet: Robbie Keane to top score for Ireland – 7/2 (Coral)
Since their inception in 1990, Croatia have been a respected football team full of talent and 2012 will be no different as they bring, amongst others, Darijo Srna, Luka Modric, Ivica Olic and Nikica Jelavic to the competition. The key to success will be to use all of that attacking talent and target Italy as the giants to topple and if they can beat Ireland in their opening fixture (6/5 with Betfred), they stand every chance of qualifying, 9/5 with Skybet. A potential tie with France awaits in the quarters but it is this stage where the dream may end, as it did in 2008. Paddy Power put 7/2 about them making, but exiting in, the last eight while Coral quote 4/1 on them finishing runners-up to Spain in the groups.
Star Man: Luka Modric
Prediction: Quarter Finals
Fixtures:
June 10 – Ireland
June 14 – Italy
June 18 – Spain
Odds: 60/1 (BetVictor) outright, 8/1 (Skybet) to win group.
Best Bet: Croatia losing in the quarter finals – 7/2 (Paddy Power)
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