Smart-Betting.com

[mariusrec]

So far each team has played once, so the first round of the group stage.
Today the second round of the group stage begins.
Let's take a look at how the group look and what we can expect in the future and what would be some good bets.

Group A

Results:
Switzerland - Czech Republic 0-1
Portugal - Turkey 2-0

Next matches:
Portugal - Czech Republic
Switzerland - Turkey

Portugal is one of the favorites to win the tournament and judging by the way they played in the first match they could go a long way and even win the this edition of the Euro.They were very dominant and if you ask me they didn't even play at their full potential, they got a win and it was ok.Nani and Quaresma were not in the starting 11, and they are two players that can always bring Portugal speed and agility which could be decisive in a match.
In the match against the Czech Republic they will be looking to consolidate their position in the group, so they won't have any worries when the match against Switzerland comes.Still i would not take out the possibility of a draw in this match but i do believe that Portugal has what it takes to win the match.

Switzerland, one of the co-host countries will be in a must win situation, as are their opponents.The team that will lose this match can say goodbye to this edition of the Euro.Judging by what i've seen so far from the two team, during the first Euro 2008 match and the pre-Euro friendlies, i'd say that Switzerland could snatch a win from Turkey, or a draw in a worst case scenario.

Group B

Results:
Austria - Croatia 0-1
Germany - Poland 2-0

Next matches:
Croatia - Germany
Austria - Poland

As the first results in the group suggest, the favorites in the group are Croatia and Germany.Croatia is a powerful team with a lot of potential but i kind of expected a lot more from them.It's true they played against one of the host countries but after all, Austria is a team against you can do much better.
Germany secured their first points in this edition of the Euro against Poland.Before the start of the match Germany were favorites and they confirmed that status on the pitch, they looked well in control, and the match ended with a 2-0 scoreline, with two goal score from Podolski.
Croatia and Germany are two teams that like to score goals and why not try and over 2.5 goals here, as both team are more than capable of scoring plenty of goal.
In the other match, Austria Vs Poland we should be the exact opposite, as both team will have a priority not to concede a goal and scoring a goal comes second on the priority list.I like under 2.5 goals for this match, and as far as the winner for this match goes, you just don't know what to expect.It can go either way, that's how i see it, but we do have to take in consideration that Poland has the more experienced players.

Group C

Results:
Netherlands - Italy 3-0
Romania - France 0-0

Next matches:
Italy - Romania
France - Netherlands

What a Group!The first match from this group Romania Vs France was not worthy of a Euro 2008 label.As far as i understand the players were tired due to the weather.They practiced only on rain and cold weather in the week before the match, and in the day of the match the heat got to them.Few goal chances and quite a painful match to watch.But now both team have one point and will be looking to win the next few matches.
Romania will meet Italy, in a match in which i have to give Italy the first chance.They are a very compact team and although they lost to Netherlands with a 3-0 scoreline, i believe they will win against Romania with no problems.Italy is known as a slow starter and the match with Romania is the perfect rebound after the first match.
France will meet the Netherlands in a match that should produce few goals and which could end with another Netherlands win.If you ask me i rate France as the weakest team in this group and judging by the way the have been playing in the last year, i just can't see how they can stand up to the Netherlands and Italy afterwards.

Group D

Results:
Spain - Russia 4-1
Greece - Sweden 0-2

Next matches:
Sweden - Spain
Greece - Russia

In Group D it seems that Spain and Sweden have taken control and the match that looks decisive is the one between Russia and Greece, two team that are now in a must win situation.It's hard to call this matches, but the match Sweden Vs Spain could produce a draw, as can the Greece Vs Russia match.So, we could have a day this two draws.

[cro84]

Group B with Germany as main favourites . I don't like this . Germany had some luck previous game , as well as Croatia did with an early penalty .
Many times I like to bet on under2.5 goals and this game is likely (just my opinion , nothing else ) to end with few goals scored , but I will stay away for now . Maybe some team news , squad will be welcome .

[cro84]

Germany failed to beat Croatia ( not that big surprise as many people guessed correctly ) .

Romania ended 1-1 with Italy and nothing is decided in this group .

[mariusrec]

Germany failed to beat Croatia ( not that big surprise as many people guessed correctly ) .

Romania ended 1-1 with Italy and nothing is decided in this group .

Yes most people guessed Croatia, but still i can't believe the odds offered, around 6.00 which is incredible, and Germany were favorites to win the tournament, i simply can't understand that, Germany has no chance against teams like the Netherlands or Portugal...

I didn't expect Romania to make a draw or to get anything from the match...at least not before the match, i began with a lay bet on Betfair on Romania and after the 10 minutes sold my bet and got in with a lay bet on Italy ...

France is a disaster i was talking to some punters before the match, and yet again i couldn't believe they gave France a chance, anyone that saw France's last matches (Euro + friendlies) know that they have very little to no chances in this group.