Group D at the Euros looks one of the most exciting on paper, and also one of the most difficult to predict. While there is a clear favourite in the form of current European champions Spain, the other three sides – Czech Republic, Turkey and Croatia – are fairly well matched and any one of them could rise to the challenge and finish in at least second in the group. But which sides will emerge from this difficult – but potentially very entertaining – group to go through to the knockout stages? Read on for our analysis, odds comparison, betting tips and predictions to find out what we think.
It is fair to say that Spain didn’t exactly live up to expectation at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Going into the tournament as world and European champions, many expected them to make it to the semis at least, if not the final. But it all went awry for Vicente del Bosque’s men: they were hammered 5-1 by the Netherlands and lost 2-0 to Chile and were dumped out at the group stage.
To their credit, the Spanish FA kept the faith in Del Bosque – which, to be fair, he earned when leading his side to the Euros in 2012 and the World Cup in 2010 – and his troops have responded well since. While they weren’t flawless in qualifying, they weren’t far off, winning nine of their 10 matches in Group C and conceding just three goals while banging in 23. Spain are the rightful odds-on favourites to finish top of Group D and are available at best betting odds of 8/11 with Sky Bet.
The question is, which nation will finish second? Well, it should be noted that Czech Republic were the only side of the three to finish at the top of their qualifying group – a group that included Turkey, as well as Netherlands and Iceland. Interestingly, though, while the Czechs beat Turkey in Turkey, it was Fatih Terim’s men who won the return match. Turkey are the outsiders to win Group D, but they won their last three matches in qualifying (against Netherlands, Czech Republic and Iceland) to qualify for the Euros as the best third placed side, and so they are clearly on good form. Backing Turkey to qualify for the knockout stages looks a very nice bet at 10/11 with BetVictor, while a bet on them to finish second might well bring home the bacon at nice betting odds of 16/5 with Boylesports.
Croatia, meanwhile – who came second in qualifying behind Italy but ahead of Norway and Bulgaria – will be battling hard for enough points to sneak through to the knockout stage of the tournament, but we think they will struggle in this group. They don’t have the quality they enjoyed in the late 1990s when they finished third in the 1998 World Cup and made it to the quarter finals of Euro 96, and though they have Juventus man Mario Mandzukic up top to lead the line, they are thin on cover for the former Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid player. Of course, anything could happen in the melting pot of a European Championship, but our betting tip here is to back Croatia to finish bottom of Group D, available at very attractive betting odds of 5/1 with BetVictor.
So, based on our predictions above that leaves Czech Republic to claim third spot, an outcome you can back at odds of 2/1 with Sky Bet. We’re not overly confident they’ll claim one of the four best third-place spots for the knockout stages, however, so we’ll avoid backing them to qualify from the group.
Those looking for another option that could bring in a tasty profit when betting on Group D at the Euros might be interested in our betting tip for the straight forecast (that is, picking the teams that finish first and second in the group). Backing Spain to finish top with Turkey ending up in second could be the way to go at betting odds of 9/2 with Paddy Power, while the brave might even be tempted to reverse that with Turkey to finish top and Spain second at a very nice price of 16/1 with Boylesports.
Of course, Spain are favourites for a reason and it would be a real surprise if they didn’t top the group, but whatever bets you place, make sure you use our odds comparison to ensure you get the best possible odds for every Euro 2016 bet you place this summer!