Euro 2020 knockout stage gets underway
The Euro 2020 knockout stage begins this weekend with Wales and Denmark clashing in Amsterdam and the red-hot Italy facing Austria at Wembley in a tantalising matchup.
Event # 1 – EURO – Wales vs Denmark
Wales reached the semi-final of the Euro 2016 and are aiming to make another similar run after taking four points from Switzerland and Turkey in the group stage, with their star players Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey looking their best again.
Wales did very well and surprised many to finish second in their group as they were expected to struggle. In their final match of the group, the Welsh side faced the red-hot Italy, and many thought they would be brushed aside but they showed great fighting spirit to only go down 1-0 after having a player sent off. If they had allowed one more goal, that result would have seen them slip down to third in the standing and out of the competition. The Welsh head into this game having won just one of their last five matches in all competitions and worryingly for them, they have also lost five of their last seven meetings against Denmark.
Amid much adversity, including losing their talisman, Christian Eriksen, who collapsed during their opening game against Finland, the Danes have progressed through to the knockout stage courtesy of a better goal difference over third-placed Finland, finishing second in the group behind Belgium.
In their final group match, the Danes thrashed Russia 4-1 in an impressive display to book their passage through to the knockout round. Now the Danes will be aiming to carry this momentum when they square off with Wales tomorrow, a side they have beaten in five of their last seven meetings.
KEY STATS
Wales – have lost both of their previous matches in Amsterdam, losing against the Netherlands in September 1988 (0-1) and June 2014 (0-2).
Denmark – have won each of their last three competitive meetings with Wales in a run stretching back to June 1999. This is the first meeting between the sides in a major tournament.
Both sides – none of the 10 previous meetings between Wales and Denmark in all competitions have finished level, with Wales winning four to Denmark’s six. This is the first meeting between the sides since November 2018, with Denmark winning 2-1 in a Nations League match.
The betting tip. Denmark win.
Event # 2 EURO – Italy vs Austria
Two neighbouring countries, Italy and Austria, clash in a Euro 2020 round of 16 encounter at Wembley Stadium tomorrow.
The Italians enter this match as overwhelming favourites to progress, and why wouldn’t they, following their superb performances during the group stages, scoring seven goals without conceding while collecting maximum nine points from their three games played. That impressive run allowed Coach Robert Mancini and his Italian side to set a new national record for not losing 30 consecutive matches.
The Azzurri, Italy, smashed Turkey 3-0 in their opener, after that rolled over Switzerland by the same score-line, before beating a stubborn Wales 1-0 in their final group match.
The Italians have not conceded a goal in their last 10 matches and have scored at least twice in all nine games before their 1-0 win over Wales.
Austria, on the other hand, surprised many when finishing second in the group behind the impressive Dutch team, beating North Macedonia 3-1 and Ukraine 1-0 either side of a 0-2 loss to the Dutch. This will be the Austrians first-ever appearance in the knockout stages of the European Championship, and their first in the knockout stage of any major tournament since the 1954 World Cup when they reached the semi-final.
The Austrians will not have fond memories of playing at Wembley Stadium, as they have lost four of their six games played in London in all competitions (W1 D1), with this their first visit to the English capital since a 7-0 thrashing in a friendly against England back in 1973.
KEY STATS
Italy – have won all four of their meetings with Austria at major international tournaments, with all four such games coming in the World Cup — 1-0 in 1934, 1-0 in 1978, 1-0 in 1990 and 2-1 in 1998. Also, Italy are currently unbeaten in 30 games (W25 D5), the joint-longest run in their history, equalling a run under Vittorio Pozzo between 1935 and 1939.
Austria – this is Austria’s first-ever appearance in the knockout stages of the European Championship, and their first in the knockout stage of any major tournament since the 1954 World Cup when they reached the semi-final.
Both sides – Italy are unbeaten in their last 13 meetings with Austria in all competitions (W10 D3) since a 1-2 friendly loss in December 1960. This is the first match between the sides since a 2-2 friendly draw in August 2008.
The betting tip. Italy win.
JUSTBET ODDS – Wales vs DenmarkWALES TO WIN $5.00 which means a $1000 bet would pay $5,000
Saturday, June 26, 2021
Prediction Odds on Prediction Odds Calculation
DENMARK TO WIN $1.87 which means a $1000 bet would pay $1,870
MATCH TO DRAW $3.20 which means a $1000 bet would pay $3,200
Odds on the Home Team (Wales)
winning the game 2-0 at full time $25.00 which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $25,000
Odds on the Away Team (Denmark)
winning the game 1-3 at full time $20.00 which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $20,000
Odds on the game drawing 2-2 at full time $23.00 which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $23,000.
JUSTBET ODDS – Italy vs AustriaSaturday, June 26, 2021Prediction Odds on Prediction Odds Calculation
ITALY TO WIN $1.54 which means a $1000 bet would pay $1,540
AUSTRIA TO WIN $6.80 which means a $1000 bet would pay $6,800
MATCH TO DRAW $3.95 which means a $1000 bet would pay $3,950
Odds on the Home Team (Italy)
winning the game 3-0 at full time $10.00 which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $10,000
Odds on the Away Team (Austria)
winning the game 1-2 at full time $23.00 which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $23,000
Odds on the game drawing 1-1 at full time $7.40 which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $7,400.