Under 21 European Championship Betting Preview
The 2013 championship will be the 19th staging of the Under-21 tournement and will take place in Israel between the 5th and 18th of June.
The competition will consist of eight teams battling it out from two groups and then on to the Semi’s and Finals.
Group A:
Israel : The Israelis have never fared well in the Championships and I can’t see a lot changing this time around. They host the competition and may have the comforts of home on and off the pitch but with this crop of players I can’t see them getting past the group stage.
England : The English squad looks like they have chances at the tournament this time around. Boasting the likes of Wilfred Zaha, Nathan Delfouneso and Jordan Henderson within its ranks, I think this team is certainly good enough to reach the semi-final and get out of a poor group. I can’t see them going much further than that.
Norway : This team doesn’t have much going for it. They are the total outsiders for a reason at 40/1 and I wouldn’t touch them at anything smaller than triple figures. Mark this lot off and make the group easier for yourself to pick the winner.
Italy : The Italians have done well in this competition over the years and I fully expect the same again from this crop of youngsters. They have won the competition more than any other country with 5 cups in the bag already. I am expecting Manolo Gabbiadini to continue his great run of scoring a goal every two games and he is my tip for player of the tournament.
Group B:
Spain : Spain come into the competition as current champions and I get the feeling that it is in the price a little too much. There is no doubt the Spanish have a talented team with the likes of wonder striker Rodrigo Moreno and goalkeeper David de Gea on board, but I cant see how they can be a bet at 2/1 outright coming from a much harder group than Italy and England.
Holland : The Dutch usually have a good crop of youngsters and are world-renowned for bringing through young talent but I don’t see a lot in this bunch. Don’t be expecting to see the likes of R.V.P or Arjen Robben coming from this group just yet.
Russia : Simply not good enough to get out of the group. May have had a better chance if they had been drawn in group A but going up against Spain, Holland and Germany, I can seem the finishing bottom.
Germany : Don’t sleep on ‘Ze Germans’. I am really interested to see how Germany get on the 9th when they face Spain. I am going to be backing them to win this group and hopefully face my other cheer, Italy, in the finals.
Fixed Odds Bets
Group A Winner: Italy 5/4 1pt Win
Group B Winner: Germany 12/5 1pt Win
Outright: Italy 13/2 0.5pt Win
Germany 9/2 1.5pt Win
Spread Bets
Sell Spain on the 100/50/25 Index at 48.
Buy Germany on the 100/50/25 Index at 35.
