EURO 2020 semi-finals - What to bet
2021-07-05 News
It is down to the last 3 games of the EURO 2020. Italy, Spain, England and Denmark will fight it out for a spot in Sunday's final at Wembley. But before Wembley, there 2 hot semi-final clashes to determine who will be in the final - Italy V Spain, and England V Denmark.
Many would recall the Euro 2012 final when Spain with the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Ramos, Torres, David Silva, Fabregas, and the likes beat Italy 4-0 to win the trophy back-to-back. But this is a completely different ball game. The only member of that classic team still playing in the squad is Sergio Busquets. Spain have so far been inconsistent - drawing their first two matches 0-0, scoring 5 in the last group match and in the knockout V Croatia, and escaping through the quarter-finals by the whiskers against 10-man Switzerland.
Italy comes into this match having won their last 13 matches and are unbeaten in the last 32 (W27, D5). They also handed the number one FIFA-ranked nation Belgium, an early exit last time out. Besides, Italy have won all their games so far, the only team to have done so. This Italian side will be a very tough nut to crack, and are the likely favourites.
Player to watch: Lorenzo Insigne
He scored the winner against Belgium in the quarter-finals and was a bright spot for Italy going forward in attack. He should be able to give this shaky Spanish backline problems with his ability to cut inside from the left, create goals with both feet, and whipping the ball to the far or near post. He's dangerous.
Likely Line-ups:
Italy: Donnarumma; Florenzi, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson; Barella, Joringho, Veratti; Chiesa, Immobile, InsigneDenmark
Spain: De Gea; Azpilicueta, García, Laporte, Alba; Koke, Busquets, Pedri; Moreno, Morata, Olmo
After a slow start to EURO 2020 England finally looked a strong side with the 4-0 win over Ukraine. England will have a full squad available for selection and should continue in the same formation. The back-four and midfield pairing of Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice are yet to concede a goal at this year’s tournament. With Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane sitting at 3 goals each, they will be hoping to get the Golden Boot ahead of Christiano Ronaldo who sit on top with 5 goals.
Denmark has been the story of this tournament. The Danes lost their first two matches, but have played well recently and have only had one bad match. They held off a second-half scare from the Czech Republic to book a match-up with England at Wembley. Thomas Delaney and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg control possession and create most opportunities for Braithwaite and Damsgaard to break on the counter from the flanks. That is why the likelihood of Denmark scoring at any point is high at 55%.
England took a quick trip to Rome to dispatch Ukraine and book their place in the semi-finals. Denmark continued to look dominant in their 2-1 win over the Czech Republic. but England will have home advantage in London.
Player to Watch: Harry Kane & Raheem Sterling
Coming off a brace in his last match, Harry Kane has three in his last two and looks to finally hit his goal-scoring form in the knockout rounds. Kane had a spectacular left-footed shot from outside the box saved by the Ukraine keeper. It prevented Kane from a hat-trick and will motivate him for more goals next time out. Sterling has been stellar so far with energetic displays helping both the attack and defence. Kane to score anytime is 44% likely to happen, while Sterling to score anytime is at a generous 3.40 odds.
Predicted line-ups:
England: Pickford; Shaw, Stones, Maguire, Walker; Phillips, Rice; Sterling, Grealish, Saka; Kane
Denmark: Schmiechel; Vestergaard, Kjær, Christensen; Mæhle, Delaney, Hojbjerg, Larsen; Braithwaite, Damsgaard, Dolberg