The opening week of the 2024 European Championship in Germany has been hugely informative for sports bettors, with several teams showcasing their title credentials.
They include the hosts, who are now joint-favourites with France and England on several on line sportsbooks after comfortably beating Scotland and Hungary.
England’s presence at the top of the outright betting is baffling given how they have played in their first two games against Serbia and Denmark.
While Gareth Southgate’s side have taken four points from a possible six, their performances have been extremely poor, and they do not appeal as likely winners of the tournament.
The Three Lions have a fairly tricky path ahead of them, with Italy or Croatia among their potential quarter-final opponents and France or Belgium expected to be waiting in the last four.
If England somehow navigate their way through to the final, it would be a brave move to back them to beat either Germany, Spain or Portugal.
A place in the quarter-finals will probably be as good as it gets for England this summer, which leaves punters looking elsewhere for the winners of the tournament.
Given how the early group stage results have gone, Germany are on course to meet Spain in the quarter-finals. The winner of that tie would fancy their chances of winning Euro 2024.
Germany are now priced at 4/1 to win the tournament, but they could find it difficult to see off the challenge of a Spanish side which has looked impressive.
Odds of 11/2 to lift the trophy are tempting, particularly given that manager Luis de la Fuente has an array of talented players at his disposal.
If Spain reach the semi-finals, they would probably face Portugal or Belgium and would be odds-on favourites to progress to the final in Berlin.
Their most likely opponents are France, who should win Group D before facing either Turkey or Czechia in the last-16 of the tournament.
Belgium or Slovakia could be next on the agenda, although they could play one of the best third-placed teams if they spring a surprise in the round of 16.
England, Italy or Croatia are possible semi-final opponents, which gives France every chance of booking a place in the final on July 14.
Given how things have unfolded at Euro 2024 up to this point, it is tough to imagine Les Bleus not safely navigating their way past each of their opponents on their way to the final.
The crucial contest in the other half of the draw is the possible quarter-final clash between Germany and Spain, and the latter are favoured to claim victory there.
On that basis, odds of 18/1 on France and Spain to face each other in the final look too good to ignore and are well worth a wager.
Punters who fancy taking out some insurance could consider a saver on a France versus Germany final at odds of 14/1.
