Euro 2024 Daily Betting Briefing: Saturday, June 15

Tournament fever will fully set in for football lovers on Saturday as Euro 2024 serves up its first triple-header of group stage matches.

Check out our analysis and best bets for all three contests in our latest Daily Betting Briefing.You can also catch our analysis over on the Odds Now YouTube channel.

Euro 2024 fixtures for June 15, 2024

There are three Euro 2024 matches taking place on Saturday, June 15:

2pm BST: Group A – Hungary vs Switzerland (Cologne Stadium, Cologne)

5pm BST: Group B – Spain vs Croatia (Olympiastadion, Berlin)

8pm BST: Group B – Italy vs Albania (BVB Stadion, Dortmund)

Betting odds for Friday's EURO 2024 fixtures

The match betting odds for Saturday's three matches are as follows:

Hungary 11/4 Draw 23/10, Switzerland 6/5

Spain EVS, Draw 5/2, Croatia 10/3

Italy 2/5, Draw 4/1, Albania 10/1

*UK best prices as of 10PM on 14/06/24

OddsNow's Betting Preview - Hungary vs Switzerland

Team news

Hungary suffered a scare in their final friendly against Israel last Saturday when captain Dominik Szoboszlai was withdrawn holding his hamstring, though it has since emerged the Liverpool midfielder’s exit was merely precautionary.

Aside from that, they have no injury concerns and can be expected to line-up in a similar fashion to their 3-0 win last time out, perhaps with one or two shuffles of personnel in midfield.

Switzerland have been sweating over the trio of Breel Embolo, Denis Zakaria and Steven Zuber and while the latter two have returned to full training, Zuber remains on an individual programme at time of writing.

Star names Manuel Akanji, Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri will all start, while line-leading responsibilities will lie with Burnley youngster Zeki Amdouni.

The state of play

This opener could prove a pivotal clash for both sides, who will hold legitimate ambitions of finishing second to tournament hosts and third-favourites Germany in Group A.

Three points here would be a huge step towards the knockout stages and though Switzerland boast the greater tournament pedigree, it is the Hungarians who arrive in Cologne in better form.

The Magyars are now ranked 26th in the FIFA rankings but even that number may be an underestimate of their progression, having comfortably topped their qualifying group thanks to an unbeaten campaign.

Meanwhile, Murat Yakin’s Swiss side limped through their wak-looking group with five draws in their 10 outings. Uninspiring performances led to calls for Yakin to be replaced midway through qualifying but national chiefs stood by their man.

Encouraging friendly performances against Estonia and Austria suggest they may be in a better place now but the pressure would be firmly on with anything less than a perfect start.

Analysis and best bets for Hungary vs Switzerland

Hungary are a side I strongly fancy to outrun their odds at Euro 2024 this summer but there is every chance this opening encounter with Switzerland will be a nervy affair.

Both sides know three points would represent a huge stride towards a top-two finish in Group A, while a defeat heaps huge pressure onto their two remaining clashes with Germany and Scotland respectively.

There’s no doubt who the form team is. In their last 17 competitive matches, the Hungarians have lost just twice — both times to Italy in the Nations League — and boast wins over England (twice), Germany, Serbia (twice) and Poland.

In contrast, Switzerland have won just one of their last seven competitive matches, 3-0 against lowly Andorra, while struggling to overcome the likes of Kosovo, Romania and Belarus.

In their four recent friendlies, Yakin’s side have gone back to basics. Games have been played in fine margins with just one strike conceded, so clearly he’s trying to tighten them up ahead of some tricky group stage clashes.

As a result, a game of fine margins can be expected here. Under 1.5 goals does appeal at 2/1 but all things considered, I still can’t get away from Hungary being the best bet at 5/2.

Though they lack the star names of their opposition, I see the underdogs as a superior unit and when you also factor in their underrated tactician Marco Rossi, it feels like they are still being underestimated by the bookmakers.

Odds Now’s best bet – 2pts on Hungary to win @ 11/4 (Betfair)

OddsNow's Betting Preview - Spain vs Croatia

Team news

There are still plenty of question marks over how Spain will line up in their opening contest as Luis De La Fuente searches for his ideal blend of starters.

Influential former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte is a major doubt to face Croatia after missing training in midweek, meaning Real Madrid veteran Nacho could be drafted in.

Fabian Ruiz and Nico Williams may edge out Mikel Merino and Dani Olmo in the battle for starting berths, while 16-year-old Lamine Yamal should become the European Championship’s youngest ever starter.

Croatia have injury problems in their backline — particularly at full-back, where Josko Gvardiol will likely have to fill in on the left flank rather than the central spot he has generally occupied for his nation in recent times.

Experienced wing-back Ivan Perisic is still working his way back from a serious knee injury so probably won’t start, while Osasuna striker Ante Budimir appears to be first-choice centre forward.

The state of play

Many billed this as the “group of death” at Euro 2024, with Spain, Croatia and Italy all pooled together alongside impressive qualifiers Albania. 

Whether it will actually pan out in such a fashion remains to be seen, particularly given four third-placed teams will still make it through to the knockout phase.

Regardless, starting with a defeat would not be ideal for either nation. Nations League winners Spain are viewed as strong favourites in the betting but do have a youthful look to their line-up.

Croatia, in stark contrast, can call on a midfield trio with a combined age of 99 — though Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic may still prove the best engine room of all in Germany this summer.

Analysis and best bets for Spain vs Croatia

This current Spain squad is a far cry from the La Roja crop who won three consecutive tournaments between 2008 and 2012 — possessing less experience and less tactical identity under their understated boss Luis De La Fuente.

Yet at fifth favourites in the outright betting, the general feeling is this is a group who could go deep this summer if everything clicks into place.

While experienced stars such as Rodri, Dani Carvajal and Alvaro Morata provide a strong core to build off, it is starlets such as Pedri, Yamal and Nico Williams who must help elevate a solid-looking outfit into a spectacular one in Germany.

Experience, meanwhile, is probably Croatia’s strongest suit. A semi-final and a final in their last two tournament outings show this ageing crop know exactly how to get things done under the most intense pressure.

Spain are verging on odds-on favourites to win this opening contest but the pair’s last meeting was a tense 0-0 in last year’s Nations League final and similar could be on the cards again here.

Croatia have seven clean sheets in their last 11 outings and a draw probably suits both parties in what could be a tightly-contested Group B.

Odds Now’s best bets – 1pt on Draw @ 5/2, 0.5pt on 0-0 correct score @ 19/2

OddsNow's Betting Preview - Italy vs Albania

Team news

Italy lost Francesco Acerbi and Giorgio Salvini from their 30-man provisional squad due to injury, making Luciano Spalletti’s final decisions slightly easier to make for the wrong reasons.

Now the tournament is here, more immediate concerns are over the fitness of Davide Frattesi, Nicolo Fagioli and Nicolo Barella, though all three have been cleared after muscular issues.

Albania don’t have any obvious fitness concerns ahead of this clash, which sees no less than nine of their playing squad take on the nation where they play their club football. 

The main selection issue seems to be at centre forward after the surprise retirement of regular No9 Sokol Cikalleshi. Chelsea outcast Armando Broja looks likeliest to get the nod here.

The state of play

With Spain and Croatia meeting in the second contest of the day, both of these sides know victory will help them put pressure on at least one of the other fancied nations.

Expectations are naturally higher for Italy, who are extremely short to win this contest. Their qualifying route to Germany was significantly less comfortable than their lesser-heralded opponents, though.

Albania topped their qualifying group for the first time in their history and even though it was a weak pool of nations, they still hugely exceeded expectations.

Ex-Arsenal player Sylvinho is in charge, assisted by ex-Manchester City full-back Pablo Zabaleta. That duo will hope their combined wealth of elite football experience can come in handy when navigating this brutal-looking group.

Analysis and best bets for Italy vs Albania

At odds of 3/10 to prevail, Italy are one of the shortest-priced teams of matchday one but I’d be in no rush to back them on the handicaps. 

The Azzurri are in a period of transition both in their playing squad and on the sideline, with Spalletti still searching for his best XI despite Spalletti having now been in charge for 10 matches.

Unable to break down Turkey in their first friendly before scraping past a poor Bosnia side 1-0, there is little indication that the favourites will suddenly turn into rampant beasts in front of goal in Germany.

Furthermore, Albania are no pushovers. They don’t create many chances but equally, they don’t give up many and even a point from this first encounter would mark one of their finest ever results.

Add in the close proximity of these two nations, the fact several Albanians play in Serie A and the general nervy feel that often partners tournament openers and there’s plenty of reason to think this will be tighter than the odds suggest.

I expect Italy to eventually show their class but it could take a while. Therefore, backing the Draw/ Italy result on the half-time/ full-time line at 3/1 looks a good ploy.

Odds Now’s best bet – Draw half-time, Italy full-time @ 3/1 1pt win

OddsNow's EURO 2024 Best Bets for Saturday, June 14

Odds Now’s Euro 2024 best bets for Saturday, 14 June

Hungary to win - 2pts @ 11/4  (Betfair)

Spain vs Croatia draw - 1pt @ 5/2 (General)

Spain vs Croatia 0-0 correct score - 0.5pt @ 19/2 (Bet MGM)

Draw HT/ Italy FT in Italy vs Albania - 1pt @ 3/1 (General)

Total staked – 3.5pts

Current tournament P/L - +2.25pts to level stake