Euro 2016: The guide to the group betting – Group A
Published:
The 2016 European Championships are within touching distance now, and with domestic football all but over for another year, it’s time to get studying to find the best bets for France this summer.
This year’s expanded format sees 24 teams instead of 16 take part, meaning there will be more opportunities to explore than ever before.
All in all it’s shaping up to be a thrilling tournament, but with six groups to contend with, research is required.
So here’s what you need to know about Group A…
The Teams:
France
Hosts and one of the favourites, Les Blues are entering something of a golden generation after a lean few years.
With Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann to name just two, this side should be going very far on home soil, topping Group A along the way.
Romania
Potential trouble-makers in Group A, Romania conceded just twice in qualifying – the lowest of any side.
Well-organised under Anghel Iordanescu, the Tricolori aren’t known for their prolific nature, so expect their fixtures to come in below the 2.5 goal handicap.
Albania
This summer is a first major finals for Albania, coached by former Torino and Udinese boss Gianni De Biasi.
Coming through a five-team qualifying group that included Armenia makes them somewhat hard to gauge, but a win in Portugal plus a friendly draw with France last November means they must be respected.
Switzerland
On paper there’s plenty in this squad – notably Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka – to suggest Switzerland could upset some established sides.
However England had little trouble against them in qualifying, and little has changed since they were hammered 5-2 by France in Brazil two years ago.
Top Theme: Teams stifling France before trying to counter on the break
Best Bet: France really should be topping this group at 4/11, but it’s worth backing the resolute Romanians to beat Switzerland and finish second for a France/Romania Group Straight Forecast at 16/5.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
