The continental showcase is the standard-bearer for high-quality football – and it’s a sports betting goldmine.
A year later than expected due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s time for Euro 2020. Deprived for so long, fans worldwide will finally be able to witness the cream of European talent in action over a month of footballing fantasia.
The 24-team, six-group tournament is big on quality. There are 10 former champions in the mix, if you include Russia and Ukraine as part of the former Soviet Union, and five World Cup winners, along with seven of the top 10 teams on the Fifa world rankings.
The top two in each group plus the four best third-placed teams go through to the round of 16, so there’ll be plenty of opportunity for betting on your favourites and a good chance of seeing them in the knockout phases.
This edition features a format twist. Instead of one host nation, 11 cities across Europe will be staging the 51 fixtures, with London hosting the final on 11 July. It’s something you need to consider when assessing your betting options.
So who’s gonna take it?
In a high-profile tournament full of stars, you can’t look past reigning World Cup champions France. With a power-packed squad featuring the likes of Manchester United pivot Paul Pogba, PSG hitman Kylian Mbappe, and the mercurial Karim Benzema, who is returning to international action after a five-year hiatus, the 2016 runners-up could go one better this time around.
England and Belgium are similarly well-endowed in player riches and have played some fantastic football over the past few seasons. The top-ranked Belgians, and the Three Lions, who hold the number four spot, have a great opportunity to nab their first continental trophy. Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Buyne, Harry Kane, and wunderkind Bukayo Saka are all expected to shine.
Looking further down the list, you’ll get good value for betting on title-holders Portugal, who have Premier League trio Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and Diogo Jota supporting talisman Cristiano Ronaldo in attack.
Four-time World Cup champions Italy have been resurgent under Roberto Mancini after many years in the footballing wilderness and play all their first-round games in Rome.
And if you’re in the mood for a rank outsider, Turkey – conquerors of France in qualifying – are a defensively stoic outfit that could cause an upset and go all the way, like Greece in 2004.
Look out for the opening game between Italy and Turkey on 11 June and a 2018 World Cup semifinal rematch between England and Croatia two days later.
France, Germany, and Portugal are all in the “Group of Death” and will be serving up the meatiest first-round fixtures. France v Portugal on 23 June is sure to be the tastiest – a grudge match after the Portuguese edged France in extra time in the 2016 final in Paris.
Even if football isn’t your sports drink of choice, it’s easy to fake it till you make it in the company of fans and get in on the betting action. Pay close attention to the favourites and form in the early rounds of the tournament, complain about VAR and insult the referee at every opportunity, and say something about the “central midfield clicking”. Oh, and please resist the urge to say: “The Brazilians are gonna take it again – that Neymar is crazy!”
SunBet will be with you every step of the way during Euro 2020, as you ramp up the excitement with an array of bets, including a simple three-way punt, double chance, and live in-play betting to reduce your risk. Whatever you need, we’ll make it happen. SunBet is your sports betting partner for Euro 2020 and other football competitions – and a host of other sports.
