The 2020 UEFA European Football Championship (Euro 2020 for short) is undoubtedly this year’s most exciting soccer competition. The tournament is also one of the most renowned national team events right after the FIFA World Cup.
As we all know, the competition was supposed to take place in 2020 but got rescheduled for 2021 thanks to the ongoing global health crisis. It will start on June 11 and end on July 11. During this time, 24 national teams from Europe will compete for the title. This year, there won’t be a single host country — instead, the competition will take place throughout 12 UEFA countries, and the final match will be held in London.
Even though Canada won’t participate in the tournament, there’s no reason for Canadian bettors to skip the amazing betting opportunities. In case you have no clue about placing bets on European national teams, check out this guide for detailed instructions and expert betting tips. Let’s go!
Euro 2020 — Group A
The first group includes Italy, Turkey, Switzerland, and Wales, and the venues booked for the group A matches are Rome’s Stadio Olimpico and Baku’s Olympic Stadium.
Obviously, the favourite in this group is Italy, as they’ve gone through the qualifying phase without suffering a defeat. However, Turkey has quite an impressive score as well, with only one defeat in ten matches. Wales shouldn’t be far behind either, so you can expect a pretty tight match between them and Turkey, while Switzerland is the group’s underdog, despite being a strong team.
Italy — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
Italy, the group’s host country, is undoubtedly the favourite in Group A due to its perfect score in the qualifiers. While they will most likely get out of the group without any major issues, it’s hard to say how well they will do in the knock-out phase.
Pros:
- Perfect score in the qualifying round
- The host country for the group matches
- Past winner
Cons:
- No recent success in major competitions
Star player: Marco Verratti
Predicted position in the tournament: Quarter-finals
Turkey — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
Although Turkey hasn’t achieved any outstanding results at European championships in the past, things might be different this year. Allegedly, the country spreading on two continents has a killer defence that will make Group A matches more interesting.
Pros:
- Great qualifying round score
- Excellent defence
Cons:
- Poor performance in recent games
Star player: Cenk Tosun
Predicted position in the tournament: Round of 16
Switzerland — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
According to many soccer experts, Switzerland has very little chance to get out of the group stage, let alone win the championship. Nevertheless, the team might put up a good fight as their current coach Vladimir Petkovic has done a great job.
Pros:
- A good score in previous competitions’ group stage phase
- Good coach
Cons:
- The weakest link in a tough group
Star player: Granit Xhaka
Predicted position in the tournament: Group stage elimination
Wales — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
Led by coach Ryan Giggs and captain Gareth Bale, Wales has a good chance of making it through the group stage. However, it’s hard to tell whether this team will be able to outsmart Turkey’s amazing defence, so better think twice about which of the two teams you’ll put money on.
Pros:
- Euro 2016 semi-final finish
- Great results in the past
Cons:
- Strong opponents in the group phase
Star player: Gareth Bale
Predicted position in the tournament: Round of 16
Euro 2020 — Group B
Belgium, Russia, Finland, and Denmark make up Group B of Euro 2020. The games will be held in Saint Petersburg, Krestovsky Stadium, and Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, giving Russia and Denmark a slight advantage.
As you’ve probably noticed, this group’s favourite is Belgium, while the match between Russia and Denmark might provide a lot of excitement and decide the battle for second place. Finally, there’s Finland. Despite this team’s good qualifying form, they are likely to be defeated in all three matches.
Belgium — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
Belgium has a star-studded team that is believed to be one of the top contenders for the title. Most online bookies give Belgium the best betting odds along with England, so you can freely bet on this team in the group phase.
Pros:
- One of the picks for winning the championships
- Finished third in the 2018 World Cup
Cons:
- No particular disadvantages
Star player: Eden Hazard
Predicted position in the tournament: Final
Russia — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
Russia has a great chance of finishing the group phase in second place. Yet, Denmark won’t back down easily, and the match between these two teams will probably be decisive.
Pros:
- Good performance in the qualifying group
- Host nation
Cons:
- Defeated by Belgium two times in the qualifiers
Star player: Artem Dzyuba
Predicted position in the tournament: Round of 16
Finland — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
Finland has finally made it to a major tournament but unfortunately ended up in a group with the potential champion as well as two other strong teams. It’s doubtful they will make it out of the group phase, so betting on this team is not something we’d recommend.
Pros:
- Major tournament first-timers
Cons:
- Unexperienced in high-end competitions
- Facing strong teams in the group phase
Star player: Teemu Pukki
Predicted position in the tournament: Not passing the group stage
Denmark — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
Although Denmark doesn’t pose a threat to Belgium, it most certainly does to Russia. This excellent team could easily end up in second place in this group, and with a bit of luck, they might even climb the ladder in the tournament.
Pros:
- Christian Eriksen on fire
Cons:
- A difficult match against Russia
Star player: Christian Eriksen
Predicted position in the tournament: Quarter-finals
Euro 2020 — Group C
Compared to the first two groups, Group C is a bit more interesting. It consists of the Netherlands, Ukraine, Austria, and North Macedonia. While the bookmakers favour the Dutch team, we shouldn’t forget about Ukraine, a team that’s been showing great potential lately. However, since most matches will take place in Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, the Netherlands are the clear-cut favourites in this group.
Austria and North Macedonia are unlikely to make it out of the group stage.
Netherlands — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
The Netherlands is the favourite in Group C on most sports betting sites in Canada. The team is strong and has all it takes to make it up to the top of the tournament.
Pros:
- Great rating according to betting experts
- Excellent squad
Cons:
- Missed Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018
Star player: Memphis Depay
Predicted position in the tournament: Semi-finals
Ukraine — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
Ukraine might have an easy path to the knock-out phase if we are to judge by the team’s spectacular performance in the qualifying round. The most difficult match for this team will be against the Netherlands, while the other two are most likely to be a piece of cake for the Ukrainians.
Pros:
- Unbeaten in the qualifying round
Cons:
- Lacking star-power
Star player: Andriy Yarmolenko
Predicted position in the tournament: Round of 16
Austria — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
Austria has displayed great potential in the qualifying rounds and already got the better of North Macedonia — a team they will face again in the group phase. While they will probably defeat the Macedonians again, the matches against the Netherlands and Ukraine are not as promising.
Pros:
- Motivated to do their best
Cons:
- The Netherlands and Ukraine will likely progress
Star player: Marko Arnautović
Predicted position in the tournament: Round of 16
North Macedonia — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
North Macedonia should consider themselves lucky getting this far, as the path is about to get really rough. The team’s chances to beat any of the teams in the group are close to zero, so your money will be safe if you decide to bet against them.
Pros:
- Determined to put in a great performance in their first major tournament
Cons:
- The country with the lowest chances of winning the tournament
Star player: Goran Pandev
Predicted position in the tournament: Not passing group stage
Euro 2020 — Group D
London’s Wembley Stadium and Hampden Park in Glasgow will be the venues where England, Croatia, Scotland, and the Czech Republic will decide group D’s destiny.
When it comes to the group winner, one could guess it will be England even without watching a single match. Sportsbooks worldwide see England as one of the main contenders for the trophy, along with a few notable mentions.
Still, England and Croatia have a history, meaning we can expect a tough fight between these two national teams. The Czech Republic might also show determination to pass the group stage, so make sure that you invest your money carefully when betting on them.
England — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
What is there to say about the team that’s been seen as the strongest contender to the throne? The entire team is fantastic, including the coach, who’s determined to show what he’s capable of. Along with Belgium, pundits claim England is the favourite to win Euro 2020.
Pros:
- The team has all it takes to win the championship this year
Cons:
- None
Star player: Raheem Sterling
Predicted position in the tournament: Finals
Croatia — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
Croatia was a great surprise at the 2018 World Cup and ended up third in the 2019/20 Nations League. The team also has a good score against England, so they should definitely get out of the group stage if you ask us.
Pros:
- 2018 World Cup runner-up
- Amazing team overall
Cons:
- No particular disadvantages
Star player: Luka Modrić
Predicted position in the tournament: Quarter-finals
Czech Republic — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
It will be hard for the Czech Republic to find their game against soccer giants such as England and Croatia. Nevertheless, they managed to beat England in the qualifying rounds, so they are hoping to get another shot.
Pros:
- Displayed potential in the qualifiers
Cons:
- Don’t have a lot of experience outside the group phase
Star player: Vladimír Darida
Predicted position in the tournament: Round of 16
Scotland — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
Putting your money on Scotland wouldn’t be a great move even in the group stage of the Euro 2020. They have even less chance than the Czechs to reach the first two spots, and they are probably doomed to drop out of the competition at the very beginning.
Pros:
- Host country
Cons:
- Unlikely to beat any of the teams from their group
Star player: Andrew Robertson
Predicted position in the tournament: Not passing group stage
Euro 2020 — Group E
Group E consists of Spain, Poland, Sweden, and Slovakia and is one of the most interesting groups. At first glance, Spain is about to dominate the matches, especially those played at San Mames in Bilbao.
Even though Spain is known worldwide as a soccer kingdom, it might find matches against Poland and Sweden rather difficult thanks to a few outstanding individuals representing these countries.
The bookies believe that Spain is going to be the winner of the group. However, this group definitely features other great teams, and betting on matches between them should be exciting. It’s tough to predict who will take second place, as both Sweden and Poland could do it.
Spain — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
Spain has always been a threat in major competitions, but weak results in the 2018 World Cup and Nations League made us think they lost their grip for this year’s European Championship. Nevertheless, we believe they will go through the group phase and try their best to get back to the soccer elite.
Pros:
- Experienced star-studded team
Cons:
- Major fail in both 2018 World Cup and Nations League
Star player: Sergio Ramos
Predicted position in the tournament: Quarter-finals
Poland — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
Knowing what Robert Lewandowski can do on the field makes us believe Poland has great chances to end up second in the group. Still, the match against Sweden might not be that easy, even with the world’s best striker in the team.
Pros:
- Great results in the qualifying rounds
Cons:
- The match with Sweden might pose a threat
Star player: Robert Lewandowski
Predicted position in the tournament: Round of 16
Sweden — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
Sweden will definitely give us a great show in all group matches as these guys are known to be tough opponents. Yet, the bookies don’t believe Sweden will be able to beat Spain or Poland.
Pros:
- Motivated to put in a great performance
Cons:
- Facing some of the world’s best players in the group stage
Star player: Robin Olsen
Predicted position in the tournament: Round of 16
Slovakia — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
Slovakia is probably not a good team to bet on in this tournament. Getting out of the group would require a tremendous stroke of luck, and Marek Hamšík and the boys will probably have a tough time in this group.
Pros:
- No particular advantages to help them pass the group
Cons:
- Ending up in a group with tough teams
Star player: Marek Hamšík
Predicted position in the tournament: Not getting out of the group stage
Euro 2020 — Group F
If you don’t know what the term group of death means, just take a look at group F of the Euro 2020. The first in line is Portugal, led by soccer superstar Christiano Ronaldo. Portugal is the defending champion and will certainly do whatever it takes to retain the European soccer crown.
Then there’s France, the Euro 2016 runner-up and the current world champion, ready to show the world they are still up to the task. Right after France comes Germany — a soccer nation and the 2014 World Cup winner with a reputation to maintain.
Along with these three soccer powers, group F also includes Hungary — a team that’s so far away from winning even a single match in the tournament.
When it comes to placing bets, there’s no right or wrong prediction here. Simply put, this is a group in which anything can happen, excluding the matches featuring Hungary. However, soccer specialists consider France and Germany great contenders this year, while Portugal will have lots of trouble defending the trophy against these teams.
Portugal — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
Portugal will have to work hard to keep the trophy this year since they are officially a part of the most challenging group. They have Christiano Ronaldo, who is still in great shape, but that might not be enough to overcome the difficulties posed by France and Germany. Some bookmakers even believe that Portugal won’t make it to the Round of 16, but we believe it’s too soon to tell. Whether they manage to get out of the group or not, you can bet there will be goals with CR7 on the field.
Pros:
- Defending champions
Cons:
- The group of death
Star player: Christiano Ronaldo
Predicted position in the tournament: Round of 16
France — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
There’s no doubt the current world champion and the Euro 2016 runner-up will play impressive soccer and get out of the hardest of all six groups. They are already seen in the semi-finals by professional bettors, but once again, it’s hard to tell what your betting slip should look like when it comes to the French.
Pros:
- Current world champions
- Euro 2016 runner-up
Cons:
- No particular disadvantages
Star player: Antoine Griezmann
Predicted position in the tournament: Semi-finals
Germany — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
According to some, one of the world’s top-rated national teams should reach the very end of the competition. Nevertheless, we can’t say that for sure just yet, as this outcome mainly depends on Germany’s opponents in the knock-out phase. The group stage won’t be child’s play either, as they have to show their best against France and Portugal, which will definitely be a daunting task.
Pros:
- Disciplined team
- The same coach that led the team to victory in the 2014 World Cup
Cons:
- No particular disadvantages
Star player: Toni Kroos
Predicted position in the tournament: Quarter-finals
Hungary — Betting Odds to Win Euro 2020
Hungary is facing an even worse fate than North Macedonia simply for being unlucky enough to end up in the group of death. However, even though we know they don’t stand a chance against any other team in the group, we can also guarantee that the odds on the favourite against Hungary will be remarkably low on most Canadian betting sites. On the other hand, if you are up for a more interesting gaming experience, you can use Hungary to build up accumulator bets and increase a potential profit.
Pros:
- Nothing that could help them pass the group stage
Cons:
- Being a part of the most difficult group
Star player: Ádám Szalai
Predicted position in the tournament: Not passing group stage
Our Euro 2020 Predictions — Top Teams
After carefully examining all the teams participating in Euro 2020, as well as odds on a plethora of sportsbook sites, we concluded that Belgium and England seem most likely to be in the finals of the championship. Apart from these two nations, France and Germany, also seem to be good betting options. These teams are the best soccer picks for futures betting, as this bet type comes with enhanced odds on the majority of online betting platforms.
Euro 2020 — Betting Outsiders
If you went through our guide, you must have noticed that some groups are easier than others, meaning that some teams might have an easier path to the finals. Our predictions for Euro 2020 include more than one betting outsider, and those teams are Croatia and the Netherlands. These teams have players known for great performances in the Champions League, Premier League, and other renowned soccer competitions. Considering that their groups are rather easy, we should see these two teams reach the quarter-finals.
