There are just four days’ worth of matches left to be played in the group stages of Euro 2012, and here at CappersMall, we are taking yet another look at the soccer betting lines and how they are panning out thus far in the Ukraine and in Poland for the 14 teams that are still fighting for eight spots in the second round of this tournament.
All Euro 2012 betting lines courtesy of Bookmaker Sportsbook.
In Group A, the team that is in the catbird seat is Russia (+1200). The Russians are a -1000 favorite to advance out of Group A, and for good reason. If the match between Poland (+5000) and the Czech Republic (+7000) ends in a draw, they are going to be into the second round of this tournament as long as they don’t end up losing their fixture by six goals or more. Poland and the Czech Republic both have a relatively easy formula that they have to follow. The Poles are in the second round of this tournament with a win, but they are out with a loss or a draw. The Czech Republic needs a win to advance for sure, and a draw will get the job done unless the Greeks beat the Russian by at least five goals. For Greece (+10000), it is even more crystal clear. A win and the Greeks are into the second round. A loss or a draw, and they are eliminated.
Germany (+250) is still the favorite on the Euro 2012 gambling lines, knowing that they are the only team in the Group of Death that has two victories to show for their work. They aren’t quite in the second round yet, but it would take an act of the God for the Germans to fall out of the tournament. A point or more would lock up Group B for sure, but if by chance and they lose by more than a goal and the Portuguese win. Got all that? Denmark (+6000) has to be feeling good about itself right now. A win and the Danes are into the second round of this tournament in shocking fashion. A draw won’t be good enough unless the Portuguese don’t lose. The Danes are out of the fold if they lose to the Germans. It is amazing that the Netherlands (+3500) is still around in this tournament in spite of the fact that it doesn’t have a point to show for its work here in Poland and Ukraine yet. If they win by at least two goals and Denmark drops to Germany, the Dutch are through with just three points from the Group of Death. Portugal (+1500) figures to have the easiest of the three roads to get into the second round. The Portuguese need one of a few things to happen. If Denmark loses and Portugal is beaten by a one-goal margin, it will get into the second round. Or, Portugal can get a draw and have Denmark either draw or lose. Or, Portugal can win. However, if the Portuguese do end up winning, they will still be out of the tournament if Denmark beats Germany by a one-goal margin of 3-2 or greater.
Group C is a heck of a lot more cut and dry. Spain (+250) knows that it should have no trouble getting through to the second round, while the team that it will be playing again, Croatia (+3000) should be okay as well. A 2-2 draw (or any higher scoring draw) would put both teams into the knockout round of this tournament for sure, a problem that is all too familiar for Italy (+1200). The Italians were knocked out of this tournament four years ago when they fell victim to this exact same situation. The good news though, is that they draw the Republic of Ireland in the third match of Group C, one of the two teams that have been eliminated from this tournament to date. Italy will get into the knockout rounds with a win. Still, as long as Spain and Croatia do what is figured of them, ending in a 2-2 draw, it won’t matter if Italy wins by 20 goals. It will still be sent packing.
It is basically all said and done that Group D’s representatives are going to be England (+1200) and France (+750). Sure, if the Ukraine (+5000) beats the Three Lions on Tuesday, it will be into the knockout rounds, but anything less, and it will be England and France in some order. England will have back Wayne Rooney for the fixture against the host nation, and it was clear on Friday that Ukraine just doesn’t have the horses to be able to play with the best in the world. Sweden is the other team that has been knocked out of this field, and it can only play spoiler against Les Bleus, who need just a point to ensure that they are going to get into the second round of this tournament.
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