Euro 2020 Matchday 16 Previews and Betting Tips
Euro 2020 Matchday 16: Last 16 Previews
Sunday saw one of the biggest shocks of Euro 2020 so far. The Czech Republic knocked out the Netherlands 2-0 after the Dutch were reduced to 10 men. Schick netted again and he has his eyes firmly set on winning the Golden Boot now. Belgium and Portugal was a dull and dour affair. The only highlight was Thorgan Hazard’s wonder strike that sealed a 1-0 win for the Belgians. The search for a winner goes on tonight and I am recommending three bets at nice odds for Euro 2020 Matchday 16. Check them out below.
Croatia v Spain
Match Odds: Croatia 6/1; Draw 29/10; Spain 4/7.
Venue: Copenhagen, Denmark.
Kick Off Time: 5.00 pm.
Copenhagen is the venue for what could be one of the matches of the Last 16. Croatia finally found their form vs Scotland but they will be without Perisic who has tested positive for Covid. Lovren also misses out through suspension. They have drifted out to as big as 6/1. Spain needed a goalkeeping blunder to break through in their must win game vs Slovakia but they took full advantage and they are 4/7 to win this in 90 minutes. The draw is chalked up at odds of 29/10.
Croatia were bitterly disappointing in their first two games at Euro 2020. A dour 1-0 defeat v England was followed by an uninspiring 1-1 draw vs the Czechs and they needed to win their final game vs Scotland to qualify. They did exactly that, inspired by the brilliant Luka Modric. However, Ivan Perisic has had a hand in three of the four goals scored by Croatia (2 goals, 1 assist) and he is a massive loss.
At least Dalic has decided to give Vlasic a start and he rewarded his manager with the opening goal vs Scotland. Gvardiol has emerged as a real talent at left back and with Modric, Kovacic and Brozovic in the engine room, it would be dangerous to dismiss the Croats.
Pressure All On Spain
This Spanish side looked like they had the weight of the world on their shoulders in their first two games and in the first half hour of their third one. However, a Dubravka brain fart settled their nerves and they went on to fire another four goals past the Slovakians. Are they best judged on that 5-0 victory? I’m not sure.
Slovakia downed tools and that is unlikely to happen vs Croatia. Morata missed a penalty in the last game and he looks bereft of confidence. The return of Busquets has helped and Pedri has impressed too. The Spaniards play pretty, attractive football but whether they are clinical enough in front of goal is another matter.
If Perisic was fit and available I’d be all over Croatia here, but even without him they still make most appeal at the current odds. Modric is still well capable of controlling games, Kovacic had an excellent game vs Scotland and with Vlasic on the pitch, you’d fancy them to score at least one goal.
I haven’t been overly impressed by Spain and if Dubravka didn’t give away that first goal I think the Slovakian game could have turned out very differently. They struggled to break Sweden and Poland down previously and Morata is not a man you would want to be relying upon to score goals right now. At the prices, Croatia have to be worth a punt here. I also think Vlasic to score anytime is worth a flutter at 11/2.
Euro 2020 Matchday 16 Tip: Croatia win @ 6/1; Vlasic to score anytime @ 11/2
Euro 2020 Matchday 16: France v Switzerland
Match Odds: France 4/7; Draw 29/10; Switzerland 13/2.
Venue: Bucharest, Romania.
Kick Off Time: 8.00 pm.
The pre-tournament favourites France kick off the knockout stages against Switzerland. It’s going to be warm in Bucharest and the French are fancied to get the job done at odds of 4/7. Switzerland stuffed Turkey in their final group game to secure their spot in the last 16. They failed to impress when beaten previously by Italy and in their 1-1 draw vs Wales and they are the underdogs tonight at odds of 13/2. If you think this match is destined for extra time, you can get on at odds of 29/10.
France arguably have the deepest squad of any of the remaining sides at Euro 2020. They do have a few injuries at the back but they should still be fine this evening. They have quality in every area of the pitch. Varane at the back, Kante and Pogba in the middle and Mbappe and Benzema up top. The supporting cast isn’t half bad either but they haven’t really hit top gear at this tournament yet. Is that because they haven’t had to? Or is there a reason behind it. We might not find out vs Switzerland, but once the quality of opposition improves it will quickly become apparent.
Swiss Shot To Nothing
This is a shot to nothing for Switzerland. All the pressure is on France and even getting this far will be regarded as a success by the Swiss fans. They had to win their last game vs Turkey to qualify and they did it in style. Shaqiri looks like he fancies it at this tournament and he has scored a couple of cracking goals. Embolo has been a threat too and even Xhaka has looked disciplined in midfield. However, they lack pace at the back and that could prove to be fatal against Kylian Mbappe.
Given all the hype that surrounded Mbappe coming into Euro 2020, he has been pretty disappointing. His highlight of the tournament so far was outrunning Mats Hummels, hardly that big of an achievement. However, big players often deliver when the chips are down and he’ll be licking his lips at the prospect of coming up against this Swiss defence. I think he could finally show his true colours against Switzerland and I am backing him to score 2 or more goals at odds of 10/1.
