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There has been a massive amount of differing reactions to England’s failure to qualify for the European Championships this summer. The majority are distraught at the failings of the national team. Others look forward to a relaxing summer without the heartbreak of late injuries to key players and penalty shootout eliminations. Those interested in sports betting will be looking closely at the tournament and seeing if they can make some money on it.
Euro 2008 has all the potential to be a very exciting tournament, regardless of England’s absence. When it comes to picking out a likely winner, there is no obvious candidate. Germany are the current favourites with Blue Square Sports Betting at 4/1*, but this is a team that finished runner up in its qualifying group, hammered by Czech Republic in the final match, and contains few recognisable stars. Second favourites Spain (13/2*) will need Fernando Torres to light up a major tournament like he never has before, and were by no means convincing in qualifying, while Scotland made Italy and France look relatively ordinary. Portugal’s stars have aged and departed, and Big Phil’s team could only qualify behind Poland. Holland are another side who have failed to impress over the last two years.
So with the big teams low on confidence and the quality gap between Europe’s biggest and smallest footballing nations arguably as small as ever, where is the money to be made this summer? After Greece’s brilliant triumph four years ago, it is highly conceivable that a supposedly lesser nation could pose a challenge. Greece are in the mix, and Croatia, who dismantled England twice, have in Slaven Bilic one of Europe’s most coveted managers. Romania may have been drawn in the ‘Group of Death’, but their performances against Holland in qualifying will give them hope that they have a chance. The stellar performances of the likes of Northern Ireland and Scotland against the big teams in qualifying will no doubt give the less-backed teams hope that they can ‘do a Greece’ and keep the trophy out of the hands of the perennial favourites once more. Those betting on the smaller nations will be hoping one of them can.
*All odds taken from Blue Square Football Betting. Odds subject to change.
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