A monumental night lies ahead for England at Euro 2020 but there's also action in Copa America, at Wimbledon and another Euro 2020 clash on Saturday and KevMac previews a busy day for us.
England v Ukraine
ENGLAND expects and so do the bookies with Gareth Southgate’s men now every firm’s favourite to win the Euros.
It’s amazing what a win over Germany can do to boost the confidence levels down south and the best price on a Three Lions triumph is now just 11/5 with Unibet.
That’s mainly down to England being in the easier side of the draw with only Ukraine then Denmark or the Czechs standing in their way of a place in the Wembley final.
The semi-final is also being played in London so Southgate’s men will never have a better chance of lifting the Henri Delaunay trophy.
Only one of their matches will be played on foreign soil and that’s tonight’s quarter-final with the Ukrainians in Rome.
After the racucous atmosphere inside Wembley for that 2-0 win over the Germans there could be a bit of a
comedown for England inside the Stadio Olimpico.
And it could be more like a home game for Ukraine with their large ex-pat community in Rome coming out to cheer on the team.
But it’s still hard to see past another victory for Southgate’s men and that’s reflected in the odds available to punters.
England are just 3/13 at SBK to qualify for the semis and that price only increases to 5/11 for a win inside 90 minutes.
Ukraine are a whopping 9/1 with the same firm to triumph without the need for extra time and penalties, an incredible price for a quarter-final at a major tournament.
They are also as big as 9/2 with SportNation to qualify and a few punters might fancy a nibble at such a big price given England have been far from imperious.
We’re all fed up hearing the Baddiel and Skinner song as English fans dream of football coming home.
But a more appropriate chant would be “1-0 to the Ingerlund” as their four games so far at the tournament have served up just four goals.
A 1-0 win for England tonight pays 5/1 at Bet365 and that’s a good option for long-odds punters but it could be safer just to back a one-goal winning margin for either side at 8/5 with McBookie.
Ukraine played quite defensively in their last-16 clash against Sweden, sitting back for most of the game and trying to hit on the break.
Andriy Shevchenko will probably use the same tactics in Rome so I would be surprised if it turned out to be an entertaining game.
A fifth consecutive clean sheet for Jordan Pickford is priced just 3/4 at McBookie but the same firm pays 21/20 for an England win to nil.
Betting against both teams scoring paid off for me in the Germany game but that bet doesn’t offer much value here at a best 13/20 with BetVictor.
Under 2.5 match goals is a little better at 5/6 with SBK.
England’s two goals against the Germans came after Southgate brought on maverick Jack Grealish.
With Ukraine set to sit deep, the Aston Villa playmaker could be handed a start for this one and he’s 23/10 at McBookie to claim a third assist of the finals.
Harry Kane finally got off the mark with the clincher against Germany so he will head into the quarter-final with his confidence boosted.
The Spurs star is odds-on with most firms for anytime scorer but SBK price him at 6/5 and that looks pretty good value.
Paddy Power are also offering 2/1 on Kane having a header on target and that’s worth a punt after he nodded home against the Germans.
Roman Yaremchuk has been Ukraine’s main man up front, netting three times in his last five caps.
William Hill are offering 10/11 on the Gent striker having one or more right-foot shots on target and that bet stands a good chance of landing.
England should be on the front foot for most of the match so back Ukraine to pick up the most booking at 4/5 with McBookie.
Super Singles
- One-goal winning margin (8/5, McBookie)
- England win to nil (21/20, McBookie)
- Harry Kane header on target (2/1, Paddy Power)
- Ukraine to have most bookings (4/5, McBookie)
Czech Republic v Denmark
DENMARK’S emotional rollercoaster has been the story of Euro 2020 and they now stand just 180 minutes from the final.
It looked like the Danes would be heading home early after the agony of watching talisman Christian Eriksen suffer a heart attack on the pitch in their opener against Finland.
His team-mates were shamefully asked to continue that match just hours after Eriksen had been taken to hospital and it was no surprise to went on to lose 1-0.
And when Denmark followed that up with a 2-1 loss to Belgium it left them facing a knockout blow.
But a rousing 4-1 win over Russia in the final group night swept them into the last 16 on a night of high emotion in Copenhagen.
And Kasper Hjulmand’s men kept the momentum going by smashing four past Wales too last weekend.
I thought that clash with the Welsh would be tight but Denmark were rampant and had too much firepower for Rob Page’s side.
Danish fans are starting to believe their heroes can repeat the shock triumph at Euro 92 – and they can get odds of 11/1 at Betway on that fairytale finish.
The bookies are a bit more confident in them seeing off the Czech Republic tonight with the Danes odds-on favourites to qualify at 11/18 with SBK.
The odds increase to 6/5 with the same firm for a win inside 90 minutes and that looks decent value on the evidence of Denmark’s last two performances.
The Czechs are outsiders at 29/20 with McBookie to qualify but have already defied the odds to reach the quarter-finals.
Many people tipped the Czechs to finish bottom of Group D but instead they had qualification wrapped up after just two games.
Jaroslav Silhavy’s men then dumped a free-scoring Dutch side out in the last 16, although they were helped by a red card for Mathijs De Ligt.
With red-hot Patrick Schick on four goals for the tournament they could also cause the Danes some problems at the back.
Denmark have kept just one clean sheet at the Euros so I fancy both teams to score at 11/10 with Betfred.
Deadly Schick is 14/5 with BetVictor to grab another goal and that looks overpriced.
Mikkel Damsgaard is the biggest Danish threat and he delivered when I backed him for an assist last weekend against Wales.
The Sampdoria kid is 9/2 at McBookie to set up another goal and that could be worth a punt again.
Both teams have been well disciplined so far at the finals, picking up only nine yellows between them, so it could pay to back against a busy day for the ref.
Under 3.5 cards pays 20/21 with McBookie and that looks worth a punt.
I also like the look of the 11/10 on offer at William Hill for each side to win over three corners.
Super Singles
- Denmark to win the game inside 90 minutes (6/5, SBK)
- Both teams to score (11/10, Betfred). Under 3.5 cards (20/21, McBookie)
- Both teams to win over three corners (11/10, William Hill)
Copa America
If England haven’t bored you to sleep with another dreary display there’s a late treat for armchair fans at the Copa America tonight.
It’s quarter-final time in South America and the clash between Uruguay and Colombia promises some blood and thunder.
The Uruguayans head into the clash in better form, having finished second behind Argentina in their group.
Colombia could only come third behind Peru and Brazil but pushed the hosts all the way before losing 2-1 thanks to a Casemiro goal in the 10th minute of added time.
Uruguay are McBookie’s 8/11 favourites to reach the semis while the Colombia are 11/10 shots but I fancy the draw at 90 minutes which pays 15/8.
Edinson Cavani netted twice in the group stage and is on the pens so it could pay to back him for a goal at 49/20 (Unibet).
The last three meetings have produced two reds and 15 yellows so it could pay to back a sending-off at 16/5 with Unibet.
Wimbledon
CAMERON NORRIE has the chance to announce his arrival as a big-time player when he faces Roger Federer at Wimbledon.
The Scot has been in fine form this year and gave Rafa Nadal a test at the French Open before losing in straight sets.
So he could get some joy against Federer as the Swiss superstar steps up his comeback from injury.
Federer beat Richard Gasquet in straight sets on Thursday but remains a bit rusty after knee problems.
The veteran is still a 3/7 hot favourite (SBK) to beat 9/4 outsider Norrie today.
But it could pay to back the Brit in the games handicap, a market that paid off for me in Norrie’s Paris clash with Nadal.
Backing the 25-year-old with +4.5 games pays 9/10 at SBK while the odds increase to 9/5 at Genting if you think the match will go to four sets.
The best game today could be Daniil Medvedev’s clash with Marin Cilic.
The No.2 seed is a 2/9 hot favourite (Bet365) but Cilic reached the final in 2017 and has a decent serve.
So the Croatian could also be worth a punt in the games handicap where Cilic + 5.5 games pays 49/50 at Novibet.
I'm a sports journalist, football tipster and author from Dundee, who is now working in Glasgow. I've covered games at every level, from Junior football to internationals, and still love football even though it has clearly sold its soul. I've been in football tipping since 2018 with the MFT site.
Do I detect a hint of bitterness Kevin?