EURO 2024 is fast approaching, with the first games kicking off in just 10 days from now. Played once every four years, it’s not only one of the most popular tournaments in international soccer, but in all of sports. Twenty-four nations will vie for their spot atop the continent over the next several weeks and you can put yourself in a winning position as well with some shrewd choices at Canada’s top sportsbooks.
While much of the most popular Euro 2024 betting action will take place once the tournament is underway, here are three bets that might be worth considering while the markets are still open-minded.
UEFA Player of the Tournament – Kylian Mbappe (France)
It’s always a little gutsy to take a tournament MVP-style award before the opening whistle of the opening match, but this is one where the stars feel aligned for a legacy-defining tournament for the French megastar.
The 25-year-old Paris native was so close to having his moment at the 2022 World Cup, playing excellent soccer throughout and earning himself the Golden Boot as top scorer as just a 23-year-old. His biggest moment was in the final against Argentina, where his hat trick – just the second in finals history – brought France back from a 2-0 deficit, though they ultimately fell in penalties.
This time around, he’ll be coming back two years older and wiser while still in prime form and with the world already watching after his recently announced move to Real Madrid. Another monster tournament here would cement his status atop this newly emerging group of global footballers, and with another strong France team surrounding him, I think he’ll make himself heard.
Odds to Win: +700 on NorthStar Bets, +700 on bet365
Kylian Mbappe to win UEFA Player of the Tournament at EURO 2024
Group C Winner – England
Expectations are high for the Three Lions, as they enter the tournament as favourites to win Euro 2024 on many of the top sportsbooks around the world. At the same time, history has a way of going against them, with their last World Cup win coming nearly 60 years ago and the team having never won the European Championship. They came excruciatingly close in 2020, losing the final in penalties on home turf.
So even as platforms like bet365 offer boosted odds (+325 up from +300) for them to win the whole thing, it’s hard to bank on them bucking tradition until they show a clearer path. We can start small and look to them to win Group C. While Denmark, Serbia, and Slovenia aren’t pushovers, the English squad should have no trouble picking up enough points to top their group. For some extra spice, you could go with an exact 1/2 of England 1st and Denmark 2nd at +185 on Sports Interaction.
Odds to Win: -286 on Sports Interaction, -250 on NorthStar Bets, -250 on bet365
England to Win Group C
Most Assists – Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)
Few teams had a better run of qualifying than Portugal, showing excellence on both sides of the ball while going undefeated across 10 games. One could suggest that their schedule wasn’t exactly the toughest, with an opponent list of Lichenstein, Luxembourg, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, and Slovakia – the latter of which being the only team ranked in the FIFA Top 50 – but you deal with the cards you’re dealt, and other top teams built up their stats against non-qualifiers as well.
Portugal had the second-highest goals and shots per game in the qualifying window, the second-most touches in the box per game, and the highest expected goal rate of any nation in qualifying. So the offence is expected to be potent. In previous years, this may lead some to put their money on Cristiano Ronaldo to be the top goal scorer, but the 39-year-old has some tough competition. Instead, I’d look to the team’s facilitator, Manchester United attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes, to make an impact atop the assist leaders. He posted seven assists in 10 games during the qualifying window and had three assists in four games in the 2022 World Cup.
If you don’t want to take him outright, bet365 has a line set up for his assists total. With the line set at +2.5, you can bet the over at +120.
Odds to Win: +1300 on NorthStar Bets, +1200 on bet365
