Euro 2024 Daily Betting Briefing: Thursday, June 20
(Featured image: Alamy Images)
Tournament favourites England return to action before a mouthwatering clash between Spain and Italy on a tasty Thursday of European Championship action.
Check out our best bets and match previews below and over on our YouTube channel.
Euro 2024 fixtures for June 20, 2024
There are three Euro 2024 matches taking place on Thursday, June 20. These are:
2pm BST: Group C - Slovenia vs Serbia (Allianz Arena, Munich)
5pm BST: Group C - Denmark vs England (Frankfurt Arena, Frankfurt)
8pm BST: Group B - Spain vs Italy (Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen)
Betting Odds for Thursday's Euro 2024 fixtures
Slovenia 17/4, Draw 11/4, Serbia 4/5
Denmark 5/1, Draw 11/4, England 8/11
Spain 5/4, Draw 9/4, Italy 29/10
*UK best prices as of 10AM 20/06/2024
Odds Now's Betting Preview - Slovenia vs Serbia
Above: Aleksandr Mitrovic will lead Serbia's line against Slovenia (Photo by Alamy Images)
Team news
Serbia have suffered a blow to their Euro 2024 hopes after Juventus winger Filip Kostic sustained a tournament-ending knee injury against England.
Filip Mladenovic looks the obvious replacement for him, while skipper Dusan Tadic will hope to return to the starting fold having started on the bench against the Three Lions.
Slovenia could go unchanged after earning an impressive point with Denmark in their opener, though Benjamin Verbic could now be given a start having returned from a hamstring issue with a 25-minute cameo on Sunday,
The state of play
Both teams will have been relatively content with their start to Euro 2024. Serbia went down 1-0 to a well-fancied England side but were the dominant team in the latter stages of the contest and could easily have nicked a point.
That was exactly what Slovenia managed to do against Denmark. Having absorbed plenty of pressure in the first period, they made late pressure tell when Erik Jansa smashed a powerful equaliser beyond Kasper Schmeichel.
Slovenia boss Matjas Kek suggested his players had been initially overawed by the occasion before finding some belief late on, which stands them in good stead for this upcoming crunch clash.
Victory will take either side close to a knockout berth, though Serbia would potentially still need a point from their final match with Denmark.
Analysis and best bets for Slovenia vs Serbia
Serbia's attacking threat was talked up prior to their opening clash but just one solitary shot on target was a disappointing return — and something that simply must improve here.
Dragan Stojkovic's men had plenty of possession in the second half but were short of a final ball. A recall for skipper Tadic will help address that, though Kostic's injury is undoubtedly a hammer blow.
Slovenia won't win many prizes for the aesthetics of their approach but it is effective. They are comfortable soaking up pressure before looking to the pace of Andraz Sporar and power of Benjamin Sesko up top.
Their direct approach caused Denmark plenty of problems late on and will surely also unsettle a Serbia side with just two clean sheets in their last 13 outings.
This is a big game for both sides and tensions will only be heightened by the georgraphical history beteween these two former Yugoslavian nations. As a result, the physical battle could be key.
Rather than playing the cards markets, which have been tough going in this tournament thus far, I prefer fouls as the angle in.
Slovenia committed 12 against Denmark, while Serbia racked up a whopping 19 against England. Over 27.5 match fouls is an attractive 11/4 chance with BetVictor.
Odds Now's best bet - Over 27.5 match fouls - 1pt @ 11/4 (BetVictor)
OddsNow's Betting Preview - Germany vs Hungary
Above: Christian Eriksen netted an emotional goal on his Euros return for Denmark against Slovenia (Photo by Alamy Images)
Team news
Though Denmark did not pick up any injuries in their opening 1-1 draw with Slovenia, a mediocre performance may prompt Kasper Hjulmand to make changes.
In contention to come into the starting line-up could be Brentford duo Christian Norgaard and Mathias Jensen, as well as experienced duo Yussuf Poulsen and Joakim Maehle.
England were criticised for their second-half showing in the 1-0 win over Serbia yet Gareth Southgate is set to name an unchanged XI from that opening contest.
That means another crack in central midfield for Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, while Kieran Trippier should continue to deputise at left-back in the absence of Luke Shaw.
The state of play
Denmark would have been disappointed to walk away with only a point from their opening encounter, though they only had themselves to blame after spurning several first-half chances.
Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen netted their goal and mustered an impressive five shots in total — the joint-most of any player in matchday one — though he probably should have at least doubled his team's tally.
In truth, the Danes sat off too much in the closing stages and Slovenia could easily have won it late on. As it was, a point means the Danes remain narrow favourites for second spot in Group C.
England flew out of the traps against Serbia with Jude Bellingham heading home early in a dominant first period. Yet like today's opponents, they were guilty of sitting back far too much after the break.
That said, they only conceded one shot on target in the entire 90 minutes and Southgate will probably be quietly delighted with his team's solid if unspectacular start.
Analysis and Best Bets for Denmark vs England
Both sides come into this contest having not hit the high standards expected of them in their respective tournament openers, making for an interesting dynamic.
That underperformance was clearly more damaging for Denmark, who dropped two points from a match they would've had pencilled in as a win. As a result, qualification is still far from certain with two tricky matches left.
England, meanwhile, emerged with a clean sheet and three points. While their attacking threat dropped off markedly in the second half, they got the job done and it means the favourites can play with slightly more freedom here.
Denmark's chief conductor Christian Eriksen is well known among the opposition camp having plied his trade in England for many years. He is unlikely to be afforded the same space and time on the ball he received against Slovenia.
As a result, it is hard not to see England wrestling some form of control early on — which usually equates to one of their many attacking superstars finding the net.
However, it is unlikely they will be able to tear apart a Danish side boasting plenty of experience at the back. Backing the Three Lions to triumph in a low-scoring affair looks the safe play.
OddsNow's Best Bet - England and under 3.5 goals - 2pts @ 6/5
OddsNow's Betting Preview - Spain vs Italy
Above: Spain skipper Alvaro Morata opened his tournament account against Croatia (Photo by Alamy Images)
Team news
Spain will be able to recall Aymeric Laporte to their backline should they wish to do so, though it seems the ex-Manchester City defender is more likely to occupy the bench.
Experienced Real Madrid defender Nacho deputised impressively in the 3-0 win over Croatia and is likely to keep his spot as a result.
Italy are not facing any enforced changes for this clash, though striker Gianluca Scamacca could be in danger of rotation having struggled to influence things in the 2-1 win over Albania.
The state of play
Spain were fourth favourites in the outright betting coming into the tournament and did little wrong in a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Croatia — particularly in front of goal.
First-half strikes from Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal killed things as a contest, though 2.47xG against suggests the scoreline could have been different had Croatia not been so wasteful.
Italy had the worst start imaginable to their European Championship defence when falling behind to Albania inside 30 seconds, though they quickly dusted themselves down to turn things around in 15 minutes.
Those two victories mean the winner of this contest would become a hot favourite to top Group B, which is looking all the more intriguing after Albania's plucky 2-2 draw with Croatia on Wednesday.
Analysis and best bets for Spain vs Italy
Luis de la Fuente was delighted with Spain's comfortable opening triumph and proudly declared in the aftermath that his side have the class and depth to rival anyone at Euro 2024.
While that may be true, there were also some alarm bells raised defensively against Croatia — with the underlying numbers showing their clean sheet to be a minor miracle.
Meanwhile, Italy may not boast a vintage crop of players but they do have immense tournament nous historically as a nation, particularly when unfancied by the masses.
Luciano Spalletti's side were unspectacular against Albania but did enjoy a high level of control in the contest, suggesting they may have been able to conserve some energy like La Roja.
Given both sides are near enough through already, this could be a clash played with the handbrakes off and that makes both teams to score an attractive proposition.
Though Spain are the betting favourites here, they shipped three goals in a recent friendly with Brazil and another meeting with elite opposition could see their backline breached again.
OddsNow's Best Bet - Both teams to score - 2pts @ EVS (Betway)
Odds Now's Euro 2024 best bets for Thursday, June 20
Over 27.5 match fouls in Slovenia vs Serbia - 1pt @ 11/4 (BetVictor)
England to beat Denmark and under 3.5 goals - 2pts @ 6/5
Both teams to score in Spain vs Italy - 2pts @ EVS (Betway)