With every day that passes EURO 2024 welcomes new contenders to the mix. Where the opening days feature the likes of Germany, Spain, Croatia, and Italy, Sunday introduces two more top sides to the field, with England and the Netherlands seeing their first action.
The competition is just getting started, but if the passion of the opener, featuring raucous anthems from both Scotland and Germany and an emphatic result for the host side, was a taste of what lies ahead, the next month of action should continue to entertain.
3:00 p.m. ET Headliner: Serbia vs England
| Serbia Win | +670 | England Win | -200 | Draw | -200 |
| Over 2.5 Goals | -114 | Under 2.5 Goals | -108 | Broadcast | TSN |
When assessing England, separating the hype from reality is hard. On paper, Gareth Southgate’s side is one of the favourites – in fact, they have the shortest odds (+400) to win it all – and with the likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Phil Foden lining up, it is easy to see why the nation is excited heading into this summer’s tournament.
The Three Lions have always had talent in the squad, it’s the matter of putting it all together, the sum being greater than the individual parts, that has proved elusive. The steady hand of Southgate has gone some way towards ensuring the circus that revolves around the team stays firmly on the outside, and having reached the finals of EURO 2020, stumbling only at the last hurdle against winners Italy, England will believe that this could be their year – so long as it doesn’t come down to penalties.
Unbeaten through qualification, England suffered a shock defeat to Iceland in their final warm-up match before heading to Germany. It could be just the wake-up call the side needed to hit the ground running or a portent of things to come.
Serbia is a stranger to the EURO Finals. 2024 will be the first time the nation appears at just itself, however. Whether as part of Yugoslavia or the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, under which the nation last appeared in 2000 and reached the quarterfinals, their technical skill has made the Balkan nation a perennial dark horse, but only rarely since the glory days of the 60s and 70s have they lived up to that billing.
Their coach, Dragan Stojkovic, was a player in the 2000 edition, and the Eagles have plenty of experience, both at the club and international level, in the squad – captain Dusan Tadic and fellow midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic for example, while former Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic will release the change to face the English – but come to Germany in mixed form, despite a swashbuckling approach that concedes as many chances as it creates.
Game Bets To Consider
- This one could have some goals in it. England has kept one clean sheet in its four matches in 2024. In the last four matches involving Serbia, 11 goals have been scored. Betano are offering enhanced odds on Both Teams to Score in the Second Half—yes, at +275.
- Bellingham is far from an unknown—his exploits previously at Borussia Dortmund and his stellar debut season at Real Madrid following a massive transfer have seen his star rise and rise—but he has not yet hit those same heights for England. EURO 2024 could be that moment. A same-game parlay of 1st Half Result – England, Score Anytime – Jude Bellingham, and England Shots on target – Over 5.5 at +775 looks enticing.
Bet on England vs. Serbia
ENG -200
SER +670
Other EURO 2024 Games On June 16
Poland vs. Netherlands, 9:00 a.m. ET
The opening match from Group D will be fascinating. With France expected to top the group, both sides will be desperate to kick start their tournaments by defeating the other as they make their case to claim second spot (four third-placed sides will advance, but best not to take that risk).
Both sides will be missing key players: Polish talisman Robert Lewandowski appears set to be sidelined for at least this first outing, while Frenkie de Jong has been ruled out of the competition. Both Memphis Depay and Virgil van Dijk are still returning to full fitness.
Under Michal Probierz, the Eagles are unbeaten in their last eight matches, played largely at home against second-tier opposition. It’s always a good idea to go into a tournament feeling positive about recent results, but one has to wonder how they will fare against top-level opponents of the likes they will face in the group. Ronald Koeman and the Oranje are asking themselves the same question after 4-0 wins over Scotland, Canada, and Iceland in their approach.
Game Bet To Consider: One can expect the Dutch to dictate more than their fair share of the attacking play in this one. With that in mind, Depay will surely have more than a few looks at goal. The line for Memphis Depay Shots on Goal Over/Under is set at 1.5, and the Over pays out at +135.
Slovenia vs. Denmark, 12:00 p.m. ET
While nowhere near as high profile as the Serbia-England clash that headlines Group C, this one has some potential to be just as interesting. Both teams come to Germany in strong, albeit unspectacular form. Slovenia, under Matjaz Kek, can upset stronger sides, as a win over Portugal in March attests, and though yet to emerge from the group stage in appearances at three major tournaments, with game-breakers (21-year-old forward Benjamin Sesko) and game-savers (31-year-old goalkeeper Jan Oblak) at either end, are capable of stealing matches.
For Denmark, Manager Kasper Hjulmand is the same man who led the Red and Whites to the semifinals at EURO 2020, and while the World Cup in between was disappointing, the Danes will be hoping that consistency on the field – Christian Eriksen, Simon Kjaer, Andreas Christensen, and 16 other players are returning from the squad of four years ago – and on the touchlines will see them chart a similar path deep into the knockout rounds.
Game Bet To Consider:
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has goals in Denmark’s last three matches, yet 18 other players between the two sides have shorter odds to score on the day. Eleven of them are his teammates, meaning somebody will not be featuring. Hojbjerg as Goal scorer: Anytime +650, First +1700, Last +1700.
| Away Team |  | Draw | | Home Team | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | +550 | +305 | -167 | Netherlands | 9:00 AM |
| Slovenia | +430 | +260 | -128 | Denmark | 12:00 PM |
| Serbia | +670 | +345 | -200 | England | 3:00 PM |
Latest EURO 2024 Futures Odds
Here are the latest EURO 2024 Futures odds, heading into the matches on June 16:
| Team | | Yesterday | Team | | Yesterday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | +400 | +360 | Spain | +900 | +750 |
| France | +400 | +375 | Italy | +1400 | +1400 |
| Germany | +450 | +550 | Netherlands | +1700 | +1600 |
| Portugal | +550 | +700 | Belgium | +1900 | +1700 |
Germany’s big 5-1 win over Scotland in the tournament opener was a statement, if ever there was one. Goals from both rising stars, Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala, in the opening 20 minutes, nevermind the dictation in midfield from Toni Kroos and the sheer enthusiasm of the German play, answered several questions and narrowed their odds of winning it all.
England remain the bookies’ favourite, for now. Can they make a declaration of their own?
