Let’s look at my Euro 2024 soccer best bets for Game 2 of the Group Stage.
Scotland vs. Switzerland
Wednesday, 3:00 p.m. ET
Shellshocked Scotland return to action after their 5-1 thrashing to Germany in the opening game of Euro 2024. Normally I would look to support a soccer side who had just taken a heavy beating but not on this occasion against Switzerland who impressed me in beating a dangerous Hungary side 3-1 in their opening fixture.
The Tartan Army have only beaten one side in their last 10 internationals and that was Gibraltar who are ranked 203 in the World by FIFA with only San Marino below them in Europe. They had one weak attempt at goal against Germany and that was in the 86th minute with Antonio Rudiger deflecting that past his own goalkeeper.
The Swiss have only lost once since the beginning of 2023 and score plenty of goals – 22 in 10 qualifying games for this tournament. Their top scorer across those fixtures Zeki Amdouni started the game on the bench as did the man who netted the third goal, Monaco striker Breel Embolo, who has just returned from a serious knee injury. Talisman Xherdan Shaqiri and AC Milan’s Noah Okafor didn’t even feature.
That highlights the strength in depth, especially in attacking areas, Murat Yakin has at his disposal, something Steve Clarke can only dream about. Even with money coming for them, Switzerland look value on the moneyline.
Euro 2024 Best Bet: Switzerland Moneyline at -115.
Slovenia vs. Serbia
Thursday, 9:00 a.m. ET
There is plenty on the line in Munich as the two outsiders of the group meet. Slovenia were average at best in their opener against Denmark as they picked up a surprise point following a 1-1 draw. A win here could all but guarantee them at least a Round of 16 place, but I don’t see it.
Serbia, who only conceded nine goals in eight qualifying games, showed what a good defense they have by restricting tournament favorites England to just five shots on Sunday. Despite losing 1-0, their second-half showing meant they could argue to have been deserving of a point.
It was a surprise to see the Serbs veteran captain and most creative player Dusan Tadic start on the bench against the Three Lions, but maybe that was with one eye on the two more winnable upcoming group fixtures. His side certainly looked more threatening once he came on to the field on the hour, and front two Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic will certainly benefit from his playmaking ability. There aren’t many more prolific goal scorers in this tournament than the pair.
These two nations met in 2022 in the Nations League with Serbia undefeated across the two fixtures and winning by a 6-3 margin overall. I expect them to get their campaign up and running here by taking all three points.
Euro 2024 Best Bet: Serbia Moneyline at -118.
Denmark vs. England
Thursday, 12:00 p.m. ET
I mentioned last week that this is my sixth major tournament following England and this one opened in familiar style to the previous five. A win, but after a promising start, the Three Lions supporters were left to sweat out a nervy second half.
Manager Gareth Southgate used the word “resilience” to describe his team’s performance, and that kind of description has been the norm over his time in charge. Despite the host of exciting talent at his disposal, it very rarely seems to gel once the action gets underway, and I am expecting a similar performance here in Frankfurt.
A total of five shots is simply not good enough for tournament favorites. Expect the hard-working, well-organised Danes to make it tough for England’s flair players to get going again. Kasper Hjulmand will be disappointed to have dropped points against Slovenia in a match they dominated but there are few easier games to get his side up for than this one.
The two nations have met four times in the last decade with all meetings cashing for under 2.5 goals bettors. The most recent of which being the semi-final meeting in the last European Championships a match that ended 1-1 after 90 minutes despite England enjoying home advantage.
Euro 2024 Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at -139.
Spain vs. Italy
Thursday, 3:00 p.m. ET
On paper, this is a mouth-watering clash between two of Europe’s most decorated soccer nations. Spain caught the eye in the opening round with a 3-0 defeat of Croatia while Italy bounced back from conceding the earliest goal in tournament history to beat Albania 2-1.
Quite often, though, ties that look Box Office tend to disappoint. Certainly, for those looking for end-to-end action and plenty of goalmouth excitement. Luckily, I am not one of those people, and instead, I am drawn to under 2.5 goals here at what looks a nice price.
These two have played each other in all the last four European Championships including twice in the tournament hosted by Poland and Ukraine. Four of those five meetings cashed for those holding tickets for under 2.5 goals.
The focus for both head coaches is to navigate their way out of this “Group of Death” and into the Round of 16. There is no need to be expansive here or rack up the goals; simply get a win or, arguably more importantly, not lose. Four of their last seven meetings in Euros finals have ended all square so expect another contest of fine margins again.
Pick: Spain vs Italy – Under 2.5 goals at -137.
Poland vs. Austria
Friday, 12:00 p.m. ET
I like the set-up of this match. Both nations lost their opening fixture of the tournament, so they need to win this one.
To be fair to Poland they were better than I expected against the Netherlands. Taking the lead but ultimately having conceded 21 shots two found their way past Wojciech Szczesny, and they fell to a 2-1 defeat.
Austria had the more difficult contest of the two having to face the much-fancied French. But the confidence built by the aggressive front foot and high-pressing tactics of Ralf Rangnick wouldn’t have been dented too much.
The game swung after Christoph Baumgartner burst through with only the keeper to beat only to be denied by a top-class Mike Maignan save. Incredibly a corner wasn’t given, France went down the other end and a Kylian Mbappe cross was turned into his own net by Max Wöber for the only goal of the game.
That was only Austria’s second defeat in the last 17 internationals, and they had won six of the previous seven. Expect their incredible levels of fitness and energy to overwhelm the Poles and secure that vital win to keep progress to the knockout stage in their own hands.
Euro 2024 Best Bet: Austria Moneyline at -103.
