“What do you think of Albania?”

Reporting from Bet Chat HQ, Northern Ireland…

Hi,

Every man and his cockatoo are currently providing a Euro 2024 preview piece and we here at the Bet Chat have been feeling left out, so today we thought we’d give you a rundown of all 24 teams, along with some suggested plays.

Group A

Germany

Josh: The Germans have, in the main, been dreadful since winning the World Cup in 2016, but have shown signs of life recently which makes a penalty shootout win over England at some stage seem painfully inevitable.

Andrea: Always the bad guys.

Scotland

Josh: Qualified in fine fashion, very nearly topping their group ahead of Spain. Results have been poor since however and their record of never qualifying from a Euros or World Cup group stage may continue to weigh them down.

Andrea: They’ll show up late because they’ve been day drinking. 🍻

Hungary

Josh: Have suddenly got good in recent years and have become a bit of a bogey team for Germany. Nailed on to beat Scotland as underdogs.

Andrea: I love goulash.

Switzerland

Josh: Best players are getting on a bit now, but they always seem to get through their group.

Andrea: Neutral 😐.

Fun fact

No host of the Euros has won it since 1984 (sorry Germany), with upsets including England and France going down in finals and Portugal losing to an inspired Greece side. 

Suggested plays

Hungary to beat Scotland. Scotland to finish bottom of the group. Scott McTominay to be top Scotland scorer.

Group B

Spain

Josh: Have flattered to deceive since the glory days ended a decade ago. Will probably top the group but not enough firepower to go all the way.

Andrea: Can only play well in evening games between siesta and tapas.

Croatia

Josh: Consistently overachieve at the World Cup but actually have a very poor record at the Euros.

Andrea: Big fan of Croatia. Croatia have great fans.

Italy

Josh: Somehow won the last Euros and then somehow failed to qualify for the World Cup. Not to be trusted.

Andrea: They prep themselves in olive oil to slip past the opposition defenders.

Albania

Josh: Might nick a draw against someone but that’s about as good as it’s likely to get.

Andrea: I don’t even know where this is.

Fun fact

Both of Spain’s first choice centre backs were born in France.

Suggested plays

Spain to top the group ahead of Italy in a straight forecast.

Group C

Slovenia

Josh: Just two defeats in their last 21 and beat Portugal in a friendly in March. Not impossible they might get out the group.

Andrea: Is this the same place as Slovakia?

Denmark

Josh: Very good at the last Euros. Very underwhelming at the last World Cup. Unlikely to make it further than the second round this time.

Andrea: Bacon.

Serbia

Josh: Lots of potential but the Serbians always seem to find a way to underachieve. Lost two of their group matches from winning positions at the last World Cup.

Andrea: Pass.

England

Josh: If you have a large bet on England to win the tournament at prices of 4/1 or shorter, you want locking up. That said, they do have a genuine chance of glory if they get off to a decent start and keep the fans on side.

Andrea: I hope they lose every game so I can enjoy watching Josh cry 😭.

(un)Fun fact

Bookies’ favourites England have one win in their last five matches.

Suggested plays

England to lose on penalties in any match after the last 16. 

Group D

Poland

Josh: Failed to make a serious impact on any major international tournaments with Robert Lewandowski in his pomp. Set to struggle now that their star man is 105.

Andrea: Kielbasa all round.

Netherlands

Josh: Not a classic Dutch side and second round exits at the last two major tournaments are probably about their level at the moment. Unlikely to go further than the quarters.

Andrea: Celebrating in the Red Light District.

Austria

Josh: Tipped as dark horses by many and, while I’m not overly convinced, I think they’ll get out the group.

Andrea: No.

France

Josh: Sleepwalked their way to defeat against Switzerland in the last Euros but likely to be fully motivated again after that and their subsequent World Cup final heartbreak. Will be difficult to beat.

Andrea: No but while dancing in the Moulin Rouge. 💃

Fun fact

France have lost their last three major tournament penalty shootouts. A slight glimmer of hope for England in a potential semi-final then?

Suggested plays

Poland to finish bottom of the group.

Group E

Belgium

Josh: Belgium’s golden generation largely seems to be a thing of the past although old favourites (very old in the case of the former), Jan Vertonghen and Romelu Lukaku remain. They were poor at the World Cup and might struggle again.

Andrea: Yes, winners. Moules-frites, fricassee, waffles, chocolate, speculoos, and beer. And that’s just my half time snack.

Slovakia

Josh: With their best player Marek Hamsik now retired, Slovakia look unlikely to finish any higher than third in this group. Their warm up friendly results have seen them lose to Austria, draw with Norway, and beat San Marino and Wales (who only managed a draw with Gibraltar in their previous match). Not exactly inspiring.

Andrea: See Slovenia.

Romania

Josh: Romania last qualified for a major tournament in 2014 when they picked up just one point and were knocked out after a 1-0 defeat to Albania. They were unbeaten in qualification for this tournament but benefitted from a weak group and I’m not expecting a great deal from them.

Andrea: Really great folk music.

Ukraine

Josh: Unfortunate not to qualify for the competition directly, drawing with both Italy and England in a tough group. The Ukrainians will be bang up for this tournament for obvious reasons and could do very well.

Andrea: Super Taranta!

Fun fact

Romania’s last victory in a major finals was when knocking Kevin Keegan’s England out of Euro 2000 with a last gasp penalty conceded by Phil Neville.

Suggested plays

Ukraine to win the group. Ukraine to qualify from the group.

Group F

Turkey

Josh: Perennial dark horses, Turkey were deeply disappointing at the last Euros, losing all three group games. They come into this year’s event without a win in five, which doesn’t bode overly well either.

Andrea: With ham, cauliflower and broccoli cheese, carrots, stuffing, gravy, Yorkshire puddings.

Portugal

Josh: After years of largely uninspiring football and heavy reliance on Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal have turned to vibes manager Roberto Martinez and have suddenly become exciting. Only France outscored them in qualifying and they might just go close to winning the whole thing.

Andrea: Unlikely.

Georgia

Josh: After qualifying for their first ever major international tournament finals, Georgia will be delighted just to be here. A surprise result isn’t beyond them, but it’s unlikely they’ll make it out of the group.

Andrea: No chance.

Czech Republic

Josh: The Czechs have an excellent record at the Euros and usually get out the group at the very least. I expect the same again, with Georgia limited and Turkey flaky.

Andrea: Would rather go to a Czech spa than watch football.

Fun fact

At the last Euros, the Czech’s Patrik Schick finished joint top scorer, continuing a remarkable run of big odds winners in major tournament top scorer markets. Since 1994, 42% of the players to win (or dead-heat) in the market across the World Cup and European Championships have been priced at 50/1 or larger. 

Suggested plays

Portugal to be the highest scoring team of the tournament. Czech Republic to be eliminated in the last 16.

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So, there you have it…

Whether you’re more of a Josh or an Andrea, we wish you the very best of luck with your Euros bets and hope that you get at least some enjoyment out of the next month of football.

Good Luck!