Euro Cup 2016 – Group E Betting Tips – Italy

Group C went more or else as expected with both Germany and Poland booking themselves a place for the knockouts by finishing 1st & 2nd respectively. Us at Eurocupbetting.org managed to get both of the results correctly but Poland had to settle for a 2nd place finish despite the win.

Group D provided all the surprises with tournament favorites Spain suffering defeat against Croatia and Turkey who had been poor in the previous two games stunned Czech Republic with a 2-0 win and put them into contention for the knockouts. So our scoreline for the Euro’s so far is 4.5/6 as i’m awarding us only half a point for getting the scoreline of the Poland game wrong.

Our previous predictions: –

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group E offers a mouth-watering bunch of fixtures to finish off the 2016 Euro competition with Italy taking on Republic of Ireland & Sweden taking on Belgium in a do or die clash.

All our betting tips will be highlighted*[sc name=”tabla-grupo-e” ]

Remaining Fixtures: –

Match 35

Italy X Republic of Ireland

22nd June 2016

Stade Pierre Mauroy, Villeneuve d’Ascq

Match 36

Sweden X Belgium

22nd June 2016

Allianz Riviera, Nice

Overall Group Summary: –

• Italy has already cemented their place as the Group topper with 2 wins from 2 games.
• Belgium are second in the table with 3 points courtesy of their 3-0 win against Ireland in the previous game.
• Sweden are third in the table with a single point from two games and a GD of -1.
• Republic of Ireland are currently bottom of the pile with a single point but with a GD of -3.

Permutations & Combinations: –

• Italy have already secured their berth in the round of 16’s as the group champions and their result against Republic of Ireland is irrelevant.
• Belgium are second with three points and can cement their place as the group runners-up with a draw against Sweden. However if Belgium are to lose against Sweden and Italy manage to beat or draw against Ireland then they’ll qualify for the knockouts as one of the top 4 3rd placed teams.
• Sweden who has only a single point to their name need a win to qualify for the knockouts the good news however is that if they manage to win their final game against Belgium then they’ll move on as the group runners-up.
• For Ireland the equation is simple – Win against Italy by atleast 2 goals and they’ll qualify for the knockouts as one of the top 4 3rd placed teams. Second place is also possible but that’ll require them to beat the Italians by atleast 3 goals and hope Belgium draw against Sweden.

[sc name=”sportbooks” ]

Group Based Betting Tips: –

• Sweden to qualify – 5.00 (Ladbrokes)
• Ireland to finish bottom of the group – 1.73 (Skybet)
• Top 4 Exact: – 4.50 (Skybet)

1. Italy
2. Sweden
3. Belgium
4. Republic of Ireland

Italy have already qualified so it’s between Belgium, Sweden and Republic of Ireland for the 2nd & 3rd places. Sweden have the toughest job at hand to beat a star-studded Belgium team who had given Ireland a beating in the previous game but it’s not possible and the odds on offer for them to do the near impossible is worth placing my money on them.

Individual Betting Tips: –

Italy

Antoine Conte’s men arrived in France with the unfortunate tag of being the Italian squad ever in European Championships. Most had expected pre-tournament favorites Belgium to over-power the Italians in their opening however last edition’s runners-up had other ideas and ended up beating Belgium 2-0. In their second game against Sweden it was more of the same as they prevented Sweden from producing a single shot on goal and won with late Eder goal.

With 2 Clean Sheets, 3 goals & 6 points not many will argue about the fact that the Italians have the most successful team in the tournament till now. Wednesday seems them taking on perhaps the weakest team of the group, Ireland & will want to put in a good performance before their round of 16’s tie against Spain.

Betting Tips: –

• Top Scorer

1. Graziano Pelle – 3.00 (Paddypower)
2. Eder – 3.50 (Skybet)
3. Emanuele Giaccherini – 7.00 (Skybet)
4. Simone Zaza – 17.00 (Bet 365)

• Overall Finish/Stage of Elimination

Italy had a plan coming into this tournament and it’s safe to say that they’ve executed it to perfection till now, the Italian made of mostly Juventus players is arguably the best defensive unit in the tournament. Despite their performance till now the Italians are ranked behind the likes of England & Croatia as bookies’ favorite to win the competition.

The odds had plummeted yesterday when it became clear that Italy were to meet Spain in the round of 16’s. It’s a mouthwatering contest and a repeat of last editions final and the Italians would desperately want to avenge their humiliation in the 2012 final. Italians will either beat Spain by keeping a clean sheet or will be beaten by the Spaniards through Penalties.  If they progress my best bet would be only till the quarter finals when another heavyweight in Germany will probably their opponent.

1. Round of 16’s – 1.50 (Bet 365)
2. Quarter – 5.00 (Betvictor)
3. Semi’s – 9.00 (888 Sport)
4. Runner-up – 21.00 (Bet 365)
5. Winner – 18.00 (888 Sport)

Will Italy lose on Penalties?

1. Yes – 6.00 (Bet 365) – Consider placing a small bet well worth the odds on offer
2. No – 1.13 (Bet 365)

Sweden

Like Portugal, the Swedish national side is seen as a one man team and that one man being Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The PSG forward who had scored 11 of his teams 19 goals in qualifying has been struggling so far. In their opener against Republic of Ireland they had to chase the game after the Irish had taken the lead though the managed to get a point from the game it was from an own goal which we have to admit Zlatan had a part to play.

The second game against Italy however exposed the Swedish side of the one man it is with Zlatan desperately isolated at front and the whole team not managing a single shot on target. They have one more chance to prove themselves against Belgium and they need a win to move on in the competition.

Betting Tips: –

• Top Scorer

1. No Scorer: – 2.38 (Betvictor)
2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 3.25 (Betvictor)
3. Marcus Berg – 13.00 (Betvictor)
4. John Guidetti – 17.00 (Betvictor)

• Overall Finish/Stage of Elimination

Most of the bookies if not all of them are expecting Sweden to exit the tournament with either a draw or a loss against Belgium tonight. As you have probably noticed we have mentioned earlier in this article that we are backing the Swedish side to beat Belgium. The decision was made on the basis of one man Zlatan Ibrahimovic who usually rises to the occasions & the fact that the odds on offer for Sweden is worth the gamble.

As books say Sweden are gonna through the round of 16’s where they’re story will end against either probably Portugal/Hungry.

1. Group Stage – 1.22 (Betfair)
2. Round of 16’s – 6.00 (Betvictor)
3. Quarter – 13.00 (Betvictor)
4. Semi’s – 29.00 (Betway)

Group Points

1. 4 points – 4.20 (Betfair)
2. 2 points – 3.60 (Betfair)
3. 1 points – 1.75 (Betfair)

Belgium

The pre-tournament favorites has sort of become an afterthought in the competition with all that has happened in the last two weeks. Don’t get me wrong they are still reasonably backed by the bookies to win the competition but it’s safe to say that the aura with which they had entered the tournament is gone.

The opening game against Italy brought to light many of Belgium’s troubles the most notable being the feeble defense in the absence of most regulars including captain Vincent Kompany. Belgium however have to be commented on the way they bounced back against the Republic of Ireland however ones has to question their defense and ability to get the results against the stronger teams.

If they are to qualify for the knockouts as one of the top 4 3rd placed teams then they’ll face either Croatia/Germany any of the fixture should be the end of their tournament.

• Top Scorer

1. Romelu Lukaku – 1.50 (Coral)
2. Kevin De Bruyne – 12.00 (Bet 365)
3. Eden Hazard – 13.00 (Coral)

• Overall Finish/Stage of Elimination

This Belgium side isn’t one which gives you confidence and as mentioned we can’t see them surviving a tie against a stronger opponent. If they are to finish as runners-up it will be Germany and if they are 3rd & qualify then it will most probably be Croatia.

We won’t be backing Belgium for anything beyond the Round of 16’s.

1. Group Stage – 10.00 (Betvictor)
2. Round of 16’s – 2.63 (Betvictor)
3. Quarter – 4.50 (Betvictor)

Republic of Ireland

Ireland has shown plenty of fight and passion up until this point but the question is whether they would have suffered from their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Belgium in the last game. Ciaran Clark must be the most devastated person in Ireland as it was his own goal that end up costing his team 2 points in their opener against Sweden. Even though they did manage a resilient performance against Belgium in the 1st half of their second game they Belgian just rolled over them in the 2nd half with ease.

They are still in the tournament with a victory against Italians enough to take them through to the knockouts. Is it possible?

• Top Scorer

1. Wes Hoolahan – 1.91 (Coral)
2. Shane Long – 6.00 (Betvictor)
3. Robbie Keane – 15.00 (Betvictor)

• Overall Finish/Stage of Elimination

As much as we want them to do well against the Italians we just can’t see them beating the Azzuris. The Group Stage will be end of their story.

1. Group Stage – 1.36 (Betfair) – Low odds but a winner
2. Round of 16’s – 3.75 (Betvictor)
3. Quarter – 21.00 (Betvictor)

Facts & Betting Tips from the Final Round of Matches: –

• Sweden X Belgium

1. In the 14 previous meetings between the two sides Sweden have won 5 and Belgium have won 7.
2. The last time these two teams met in a major competition was in Euro 2000 which ironically both of them co-hosted and the game was won by Belgium 2-1.
3. Sweden have failed to go past the group stage in European competitions since Euro 2004 when they made it to the quarter finals.
4. Sweden have failed to register a shot on target in both their games so far.
5. Romelu Lukaku has scored 6 goals in his 6 appearances for the Red Devils.

Prediction: – (2-1) – Sweden Win, Zlatan to score and Sweden to win! Simple

Betting Tips: –

1. Over 2.5 Goals: – 2.25 (Bet 365)
2. Any time Scorer – Zlatan – 3.60 (888 Sport)
3. Any time Scorer – Hazard – 3.60 (Paddypower)
4. Sweden to win – 5.00 (Bet 365)
5. Both Teams to Score – Yes – 2.00 (Bet 365)

• Republic of Ireland X Italy

1. In the 13 previous meetings between these sides Italy have won 8 times and Ireland just twice.
2. These familiar foes had met in the 2012 edition of Euro and Italy won the game 2-0.
3. Italy have never scored more than 2 goals in their 35 European Championship games in history.
4. Ireland have never scored more than 1 goal in their 8 European Championship games till date

Prediction: – (2-0)-Italy Win – Ireland are going to try but ultimately won’t be able to breakdown the Italian Wall.

Betting Tips: –

1. Italy Clean Sheet – 2.30 (Boylesports)
2. Under 2.5 goals – 1.40 (Bet 365)
3. Italy Win – 2.38 (Boylesports)
4. Correct Score – (2-0) – 12.00 (Skybet)