EURO 2016 – Tournament Preview

Posted on June 8, 2016June 14, 2016 | Posted by Sportsbettingmax.com

Tournament Preview

As we approach the opening match of Euro 2016 the home team is set and ready to go for their opening match against Romania on Friday evening at 8pm local time.

The French are good at winning tournaments they host, having success in the European Championships in 1984 and the World Cup in 1998.  So it will be paramount they get away to positive start against the defensive minded Romania in this Group A match.

From there the ball will really start to roll with between two and three matches per day through the Group Stages until the Quarter Finals commence on Saturday June 25.

The Group winners that look easiest to pick are France (Group A), Germany (Group C), Spain (Group D), and Portugal (Group F).  England in Group B are favourites to win through to the Final 16 in front of Russia and Belgium hold the call in Group E from Italy.

The convoluted system used to determine the remaining teams to make up the Final 16 outside of the top two rated teams from each group, makes it difficult to be confident at this stage of the Final 16.  However look for Croatia, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden, Romania, Wales and Austria to make it through to this stage.

Looking for rough hopes to advance from the Final 16 through to the Quarter Finals?  We fancy Poland, Croatia, Austria and Russia. Of this Group the roughie with a chance to make the Semi-Finals is Poland who could well meet Spain in Quarter Final 1.

Sportsbettingmax.com are predicting a Spain v Germany Final at Saint Denis on July 10 with Germany to win the Tournament.

Euro 2016 Championship Winner

France as the tournament host are justified as favourites.

They have added to a quality outfit with the inclusions of Dimitri Payet and N’Gola Kante bolstering a team which bristles with talent the likes of Griezmann, Martial and Pogba. The concern with France is down back. Raphael Varane has been ruled out of the tournament leaving an ageing back half led by Bacray Sagna (33) and Patrice Evra (35).  Adil Rami will be expected to step up but he has to find some form to be a like for like replacement for Varane.

So will the attacking flare of the midfield and strikers be enough to get France across the line in Euro 2016?  At $4 to win the Tournament on TABTouch the price is short enough but if they make the final you will be taking around $2 on the day.

Sportsbettingmax are keen to stay with the reigning World Cup winners in Germany. (Quoted $5)

The German’s won the World Cup in Brazil defeating the host nation 7-1 in the Semi Finals to get there.  They appear to have great balance throughout the squad with many players called to line up in unfamiliar positions, compared to their club matches such is the depth across all lines in this team.

Led by the accurate Thomas Muller who scored in Germany’s recent 2-0 friendly win over Hungary which also featured a return by legend midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.  Watch for Gomez to make the goal sheets regularly and their real surprise packet could be Schalke sharp-shooter Leroy Sane who scored eight goals in the Bundesliga this season.

Defensively they appear to be stronger than France with the likes of Boateng, Hummels and Hector providing experience and strength down back even though the latest news from the German training camp that experienced defender Antonio Rudiger has suffered a tear to a cruciate ligament and has been ruled out of the Tournament.

The Germans appear to have a very strong spine and at $5 are our pre-tournament Winners selection.

Players to Watch

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Club – Real Madrid
International Caps – 125
International Goals – 56
2015/16 Club Goals – 52

Ronaldo has scored 6 goals in the past 3 European Championships – 2004 Greece, Netherlands 2008 Czech Republic 2012 Netherlands (2) Czech Republic. He’s the games superstar and fresh off Real Madrid’s European Championship win.

$10 Top Goal scorer and $13 Player of the Tournament

Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden)
Club – Paris Saint-Germain
International Caps – 112
Goals -62
2015/16 Club Goals – 42

Ibrahimović has also scored 6 goals in the past 3 European Championships – 2004 Bulgaria and Italy 2008 Greece and Spain 2012 Ukraine, France.  This towering forward (195cm) has just agreed to terms to join Manchester United for 220,000 pounds per week.  In 2016 he scored a personal best 42 gaols for PSG and looks in great touch.

$29 Top goal scorer and $51 Player of the Tournament

 

Paul Pogba (France)
Club-Juventus
International Caps – 31
International goals – 5
2015/16 Club Goals – 10

Pogba has emerged as one of the most dominant young midfielders in the world since making his international debut against Georgia in 2013.  With France sure to go deep into the tournament watch for Pogba to be the talk of Euro 2016.

$9.75 Player of the Tournament – $81 Top Scorer

 

Dimitri Payet (France)
Club – West Ham
International Caps – 9
International Goals – 3
2015/16 Club goals – 9

An attacking midfielder, who has had an outstanding season with West Ham and will form part of a dazzling French midfield he can consistently find the back of the net and is part of the future of International Football.

Player of Tournament $34 Top Goal Scorer $51

 

Thomas Muller (Germany)
Club-Bayern Munich
International Caps – 71
International Goals – 32
2015/16 Club Goals – 20 in 31 Bundesliga matches

Scored a hat-trick in the 2014 World Cup against Portugal earning Man of the Match honours.  Muller can use his attacking all round game in a variety of roles.  Germany are sure to be there right to the finish so he will get plenty of opportunity to score.

Top Goal Scorer $10 Player of the Tournament $15

 

Antoine Griezmann (France)
Club -Atletico Madrid
International Caps – 26
Internationals Goals – 7
2015/16 Club Goals – 22 from 38 Liga matches

Griezman is a big game player who has the ability to score when most needed.  Will be at home in this classy French team and will get plenty of opportunity to score.

Top Goal Scorer $12 and Player of the Tournament $17

 

Harry Kane (England)
Club – Tottenham Hotspur
International Caps – 10
International Goals – 4
2015/16 Club goals – 25 in 37 Premier League matches

Described as an old fashioned traditional Centre Forward with a powerful accurate boot.  Is a goal scorer and if England can advance past the Quarter Final stage Kane is a realistic chance for the leading goal scorer.

Top Goal Scorer $15 Player of the Tournament $29

 

Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Club-Bayern Munich
International Caps – 75
International Goals – 34
2015/16 Club goals –  29 from 31 Bundesliga matches

He has been an experienced international since 2008.  In 2015 he scored 5 goals in 9 minutes against Wolfsburg.  If Poland can get going and get to the Semi Final stage, Lewandowski is a real good outside chance for the leading goal scorer.

Top goal scorer $17

 

Jamie Vardy (England)
Club – Leicester City
International Caps – 6
International Goals – 3
2015/16 Club goals – 24 in 36 Premier League matches
Vardy is a goal scorer who scored in his first international against Germany and then again against the Netherlands in his next match at Wembley 2016.  He is full of confidence and has the speed to cause defenders big headaches.

Top goal scorer $34

 

Kevin de Bruyne (Belgium)
Club – Manchester City
International Caps – 39
International Goals – 13
2015/16 Club goals – 7 in 25 Premier League matches

The star man of this strong Belgium team that could advance deep into this tournament.  De Bruyne is an experienced international whose attacking style through the midfield will attract plenty of attention during Euro 2016.

Player of Tournament $17

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