Month: June 2024

Group D gets going with Poland taking on Netherlands in what most are selecting as a round 1 banker.

Poland ended group in 3^rd place, behind Albania and Czechia. They ended above Moldova and Faroes. They made playoffs and beat Estonia and Wales on penalties. Recent form is an unbeaten run of 8 games with 5 wins and 3 draws. Netherlands finished 2^nd in group behind France. Beating Greece, Ireland and Gibraltar. Recent form for them is 6 wins and 2 defeats.

Team news:  Lewandowski misses this first match and is a huge loss for them scoring 8 in last two years. Milik is out the competition also. Netherlands miss Frankie de Jong

Head-to-head statistics: 5 games – 1 draws and 4 wins Netherlands.

Betting selection – Poland have never beaten Netherlands and I don’t see that happening here either. Netherlands are very good and have a very deep squad. Take Netherlands -1 AH at 51/50 or 2.02 Bet365.

Group B gets underway with two heavyweights clashing in Berlin.

Spain topped their group, qualifying ahead of Scotland, Norway, Georgia and Cyprus. Overall recent form is 6 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss with only Colombia prevailing over them. Croatia finished behind Turkey but ahead of Wales, Armenia and Latvia. Recent form for them is 5 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats with an unbeaten run of 6 games.

Team news:  Spain have a slight doubt of CB Aymeric Laporte. Ivan Perisic isn’t classed as match fit just yet so could be on bench.

Head-to-head statistics: 6 games – 4 wins Spain, 0 draws and 2 wins Croatia.

Betting selection – Spain don’t seem to be on anyones tipping radar for this competition but will go deep for sure. Croatia will be looking to keep it tight. I take Spain to win 19-20 or 1.95 Betfair.

Group A second game of the competition as Hungary and Switzerland face off in Koln.

Hungary topped their qualification group going unbeaten against Serbia, Montenegro, Lithuania and Bulgaria. Recent overall form for them has seen 5 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss. Swiss qualified 2^nd behind Romania. Heading Israel, Belarus, Kosova and Andorra. Recent form them is 2 wins, 5 draws and 1 loss.

Team news:  Slight injury worry for talisman and captain Dom Szoboszlai who was injured last match but looks fit for this. Steven Zuber likewise is a slight doubt for the Swiss.

Head-to-head statistics: 3 games – 1 wins Hungary, 0 draws and 2 wins Switzerland.

Betting selection – A closer game than the odds suggest for me. Hungary have been very good for last year or so – ignore the loss to Ireland that’s a fine tuning and only a friendly. Swiss are hard to beat but only 2 wins in 8 is not top form. Take Hungary/Draw double chance at 8-11 or 1.72 Skybet.

Brazil Serie A and Flamengo seeking a win to put them back on top of the table. They host Gremio at Maracana.

Flamengo have 14 points from 7 games so far after 4 wins, 2 draw and 1 loss. Home form has been 2 wins and 1 loss. Recent all competition form has seen 5 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss with last 5 all won. They have made KO stages of Copa Libertadores. Gremio have done so also but needed to play 3 games in 10 days to so (after weather cancelled the initial matches. Overall in Serie A they are 13^th with 6 points from 5 games after 2 wins and 3 losses. Away form of 2 defeats from 2. Recent all comp form is 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses.

Team news:  Home side miss Pulgar, de la Cruz, Vina, Varela and de Arrescaeta to international duty. Visitors too are hit by call ups with Villasanti and Soteldo out. Injuries are causing Geromel, Robert, Mila and Henrique to miss out also.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 11 wins Flamengo, 4 draws and 5 wins Gremio.

Betting selection – Flamengo should have too much for Gremio who will be a bit tired from globe trotting in Copa Lib. Three games in last two weeks for them plus Serie A games will catch up with them for sure. Take Flamengo -1 AH at 1.95 or 19-20 bet365.

Euro 2024 is here and the hosts take on the Scotland at Allianz Arena in Munich.

Germany qualified as hosts for this one. Recent form for them is 4 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. At home 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss. Scotland finished 2^nd in their group ahead of Norway, Georgia and Cyprus (behind group winners Spain) winning 5, drawing 2 and losing 1. Away form was 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss. Recent form is poor with 1 win, 3 draws and 4 losses (the win against Gibraltar)

Team news:  Germany could not include Gnabry, Werner or Goretzka and lost Pavlovic with illness. Scotland lost attackers Doakes and Dykes.

Head-to-head statistics: 5 games – 4 wins Germany, 1 draw.

Betting selection – Scots have too much to do in this to get anything. Germany will be roared on and have too much talent in the squad. Take Germany -1.5 at 1.89 bet365.

Barcelona for this 2^nd leg semi final Spain Segunda. Espanyol won the 1^st leg 1-0 in Gijon to put one foot in the final.

Espanyol ended season in 4^th with 69 points. Their overall season form is 18 wins, 18 draws and 7 losses. At home 12 wins, 8 draws and 1 loss. Recent form is exceptional with an unbeaten run of 17 matches, 7 wins and 10 draws. Gijon ended season in 5^th, 5 points behind home side. Overall form was 18 wins, 11 draws and 14 losses. Away form of 6 wins, 5 draws and 10 losses. Recent form of 4 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses.

Team news:  The home side have Sergi Gomez suspended. No new injury issues for the visitors.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 7 wins Espanyol, 5 draws and 8 losses.

Betting selection – First leg was straight forward win for EspanyoI, I don’t see Gijon getting anything here at all. Take Espanyol win at 2.00 or Evens Bet365.

Florida and Camping World Stadium for a Copa America warm up match.

USA are ranked 11^th in the world after recently winning the CONCACAF Nations League. Recent results from them are 4 wins and 4 losses. They were hammered 5-1 in Maryland just 4 days ago by Colombia. Brazil are 5^th in the world at moment. Recent results for them are 3 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses.

Team news:  The home side have no injury worries. Brazil can call in Vini Jr and Rodrygo.

Head-to-head statistics: 7 games – 7 wins Brazil

Betting selection – Seven straight wins for Brazil in this fixture and hard to see anything else. Take Brazil -1 AH at 7-10 or 1.70 Unibet. We get stakes returned on a 1 goal Brazil win.

Estadio Diego Armando Maradona for Argentina Primera match up.

Argentinos Jrs are 12^th in table with 6 points from 4 games. At home they have won both matches they have played. Recent all competition form is 4 wins and 4 losses. They just failed to qualify for KO stages of Copa Sudamericana, finishing 3^rd in a tough group. Cordoba are in last place of 28 after 4 straight league losses. Two of those away from home. They have not won since Copa Argentina match on 2^nd April (1 draw and 4 losses in that time)

Team news:  The home side are just missing Gaston Veron. Gomez and Nuss are out for the away side.

Head-to-head statistics: 7 games – 3 wins Argentinos Jr, 3 draws and 1 Cordoba.

Betting selection – Cordoba struggling badly and I cannot see anything but a home win. Take Argentinos Juniors win to nil at 6-5 or 2.20 Bet365.

The first Classico Vovo of Brazil Serie A season as Botafogo host Fluminense in Rio at Estadio Nilton Santos.

Botafogo are in 3^rd place in league with 13 points from 7 games after 4 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses. Home form is 2 wins and 1 loss. Recent all competition form is an unbeaten run of 6 games with 4 wins and 2 draws. They have qualified for KO stages of Copa Libertadores also so a good start for them. Fluminense are in 15^th after a poor start. Overall form is 1 win, 3 draws and 3 losses. Away form of 3 straight losses. Recent all comp form of 3 wins, 3 draws and loss. They too have made KO stages of Libertadores.

Team news:  The hosts miss Savarino, Nascimento, Pablo, Jeffinho and Marcal. Visitors miss Lele and Andre but could have Thiago Silva for a debut.

Head-to-head statistics: 20 games – 6 wins Botafogo, 5 draws and 9 Fluminense.

Betting selection – Great start for the home side but this is a closer game than the table suggests. I take Fluminense/Draw double chance at 1.91 or 10-11 BetFair.

We head to Caxias do Sul and Estadio Alfredo Jaconi this evening, the home improving while the visitors rooted at the bottom.

Juventude are in 12^th in Serie A with 9 points from 6 games after 2 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss. Home for is unbeaten run of 2 wins and 1 draw. Recent all competition form of 2 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss.  Vitoria are yet to win in top league. A run of 2 draws and 5 losses giving just 2 points. Away form has seen 1 draw and 2 losses. All comp form  has seen 1 draw and 6 losses.

Team news:  The hosts miss Joao Lucas suspended while Edson and Jean Carlos are doubts. Vitoria still unable to select Caceres, Andrade, Goncalves, Everaldo and Vieira.

Head-to-head statistics: 6 games – 1 wins Juventude, 3 draws and 2 wins Vitoria

Betting selection – Juventude never played a game in May due to constant postponements, will be fresher than most. They are in better from and playing well. The visitors are struggling and look doomed already. Take Juventude win at 2.00 or Evens 888sport.