Euro 2020 to reach the final odds: Can England book Wembley date?
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Euro 2020 begins on Friday with 24 nations dreaming of glory at Wembley come July 11 – but which two teams will reach the final?
Italy take on Turkey in the opening match of the tournament while highly-fancied Belgium kick off their campaign against Russia on Saturday.
England and the Netherlands are among the European heavyweights playing their openers on Sunday, with Spain in action on Monday and world champions France, 2016 winners Portugal and Germany – who have been drawn together in a ‘group of death’ – getting under way on Tuesday.
While the big names naturally feature high up in the Euro 2020 to reach the final odds, some of the smaller nations will also fancy their chances of going deep in the tournament.
Is football finally coming home?
England are 5/2 favourites to reach the final of Euro 2020, with Belgium and France close behind at 11/4.
Gareth Southgate’s side have home advantage for their group matches against Croatia, Scotland and Czech Republic.
Should England top Group A, they would remain at Wembley for a mouth-watering last-16 clash with the runner-up in France, Germany and Portugal’s group while the semi-finals and final are also being staged at the national stadium.
The Three Lions will not be at home in the last 16 if they fail to win their group while they will also have to travel for any potential quarter-final – with St Petersburg and Rome the likeliest venues.
Southgate has a frightening array of attacking talent at his disposal and the team to score the most goals at a European Championships has reached the final in each of the last three editions.
Portugal look to extend excellent Euros record
Defending champions Portugal have reached two of the last four finals and are 4/1 to do so again.
Fernando Santos’ side have a strong spine to their team, with Wolves’ Rui Patricio in goal and Manchester City’s Ruben Dias marshalling the defence, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes in midfield and Cristiano Ronaldo – who recently netted his 104th international goal – leading the attack.
Despite a difficult group draw, four of the six groups will have three teams progress and Santos’ side have lost only twice in their last 29 games.
Danish defence can bring home the bacon
Denmark were shock winners at Euro 92 and Kasper Hjulmand’s side are 12/1 to make it all the way to the final again 29 years on.
The last four European Championships have been won by the side which kept the most clean sheets and with Kasper Schmeichel in goal and Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen and AC Milan’s Simon Kjaer in front of him, the Danes are likely to be tough to break down.
Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg provides extra cover in the holding midfield role and the presence of Inter’s Christian Eriksen and Barcelona’s Martin Braithwaite should provide enough goals at the other end of the pitch.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
