Euro 2020 Group C odds: Dutch favourites to reach last 16
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The European Championship is finally under way as 24 teams begin their quest to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy and we’re taking a look at all six groups.
Netherlands are the 2/5 favourites to top a group comprising Ukraine, Austria and North Macedonia, who sprang a shock victory against Germany recently.
We’re taking a look at all four teams and their Euro 2020 Group C odds.
Netherlands
Coach: Frank de Boer
Key player: Memphis Depay
The Dutch are back in the big time after failing to qualify for Euro 2016 and the World Cup in Russia and they are 11/1 to repeat their 1988 success.
De Boer’s side qualified for the finals as runners-up behind Germany, a team they beat 4-2 in Hamburg, but a goalless draw in Northern Ireland cost them the chance of finishing top.
Netherlands narrowly missed out on the Nations League finals after finishing a point behind Italy but their World Cup qualifying campaign got off to a worrying start with a 4-2 defeat in Turkey, so top spot in Group C is not guaranteed.
Ukraine
Coach: Andriy Shevchenko
Key player: Roman Yaremchuk
Ukraine came through qualifying unbeaten with six wins and two draws to finish three points clear of defending champions Portugal, so they should not be taken lightly.
The eastern Europeans have made it to the finals three times and have never progressed beyond the group stage but this tournament represents their best chance to get to the knockout phase.
They were relegated from Group A in the Nations League recently but they beat Spain along the way and took a point off France in World Cup qualifying in March, the first of three 1-1 draws that month on the road to Qatar.
Austria
Coach: Franco Foda
Key player: Marko Arnautovic
Arnautovic scored six goals as Austria comfortably qualified for the finals as runners-up to Poland, five points clear of third-placed North Macedonia, and they were also promoted to the top tier in the Nations League after winning a weak group.
However, they were nine minutes away from losing at home to Northern Ireland in the Nations League and it took a stoppage-time equaliser to rescue a point against Norway while they were crushed 4-0 by Denmark in a World Cup qualifier in Vienna at the end of March.
Austria were woeful at Euro 2016 when they finished bottom of their group but there is hope they can make it to the knockout phase this time.
North Macedonia
Coach: Igor Angelovski
Key player: Eljif Elmas
North Macedonia finished third in their group so had to take the play-off route to reach the finals which they accomplished with wins against Kosovo and Georgia, the latter coming via a winner from veteran striker Goran Pandev.
Angelovski’s men failed to get out of League C in the Nations League recently, so hopes were not high of a successful Euro 2020 campaign until they stunned Germany 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier.
Genoa forward Pandev, now 37, opened the scoring and although Ilkay Gundogan levelled from the spot, Napoli midfielder Elmas steered in the winner from close range, so they head to the finals full of confidence.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
