Euro 2020 takes place across 12 cities in as many UEFA countries this summer, in a unique format to mark the 60th anniversary of the tournament.
While it is rare for the competition to be spread across so many different locations, it is also uncommon for it to be so wide open as far as contenders are concerned, with many of the usual suspects less fancied than they normally are.
England fans are certainly not used to seeing their team listed as the favourite to lift the trophy. The Three Lions have never even made the European Championship final, and no major silverware has been won by the national team since the 1966 FIFA World Cup.
Gareth Southgate’s side were beaten semi-finalists at the 2018 World Cup, but one thing they do have in their favour this time around is the fact that all three of their group games, plus the semi-final and final, will be played at Wembley Stadium in London.
The further development of young stars such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Jadon Sancho since the heartbreak in Russia will give them reason to be optimistic this year, while they will hope talisman Harry Kane and the in-form Marcus Rashford will fully recover from their respective injuries in time for their opener against Croatia on June 14th.
England are as short as 4/1 with some UK betting sites, with world champions France and star-studded Belgium both priced around the 5/1 mark.
Les Blues would perhaps be a bit shorter if they weren’t paired with Germany and Euro 2016 winners Portugal in Group F. Given their international tournament pedigree and outstanding squad, it is hard to envisage the French not going deep.
Belgium are still very much in the midst of a golden generation. They reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016, and went one better at the 2018 World Cup, losing 1-0 to eventual winners France in the last four.
The Red Devils’ biggest assets are now right in the middle of their peak, and this might be their best and perhaps only remaining shot at winning a major competition with this crop of players.
Netherlands failed to qualify for Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, but are still fancied to do well this summer. The best price on a Dutch triumph is 7/1 with Redbet, a bookie with which you can claim a free bet upon registration.
In Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt, they have undoubtedly the best centre-back pairing in Europe, and a relatively kind Group C draw alongside Ukraine, Austria, and another qualifier yet to be determined gives them a strong chance.
Germany and Spain are usually priced a lot shorter than the odds of 8/1 you can currently get on them. Both are in a stage of rebuilding after a number of key players retired, but punters should know better than to write them off, and there could be some value with these.
Roberto Mancini takes charge of his first European Championship with Italy, and there is an air of unpredictability as to how they will fare. Gli Azzuri missed out on reaching the last World Cup, but they won all 10 of their games in qualification for the Euros and look in good shape both defensively and in attack.
Anything above 9/1 might be worth a look for the Italians here, and some new betting sites have them as big as 12/1.
Portugal are an outsider to retain their title, and 16/1 may tempt some. Then, after Croatia at 25/1, all other teams are priced at or above 66/1.
*Odds are correct as of February 4th 2020 and are subject to change.
