Italy v Ireland, Poznan, Monday, 7.45pm
Spain v Croatia, Gdansk, Monday, 7.45pm
ONE half of the last-eight line-up has been decided and we can look forward to Germany v Greece and Portugal v Czech Republic later in the week.
Another two spots will go to two from three of Spain, Croatia and Italy tonight – and it promises to be a fascinating 90 minutes of football.
I'm pretty sure Italy will take care of whipping boys Ireland but they must fear the prospect of a 2-2 draw or higher that would put Spain and Croatia through no matter what Cesare Prandelli's side do.
So until I see the teams and maybe how the game starts, the only bets I'll be having on Spain v Croatia is both to score and maybe over 3.5 goals (just in case it's 2-2).
A 2-2 draw by the way pays no bigger than 13-2 at BetvIctor when you'd normally see 12-1.
Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has endured a miserable campaign and it can only get worse in crisis.
The Irish have posed little threat up front, made defensive mistakes and conceded early goals. Are they Scotland in disguise?
Italy are unbeaten after two draws but in 2004 a 2-2 draw between Sweden and Denmark ensured the Italians were eliminated from the European Championship.
An identical scoreline would leave the three sides on five points with head-to-head results between the trio being the first deciding factor. A 2-2 would put Spain and Croatia through on more goals scored.
Italy's best bet is to go out and try to win by as many as they can and a side featuring the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Antonio di Natale and Antonio Cassano are certainly capable of finding the net.
Every bet I had on Spain against the Irish came up and I'm hoping to repeat that success with the Italians. Those punts will include Italy -1 (4-5, BetVictor), Italy -2 (9-4, Paddy Power), Italy HT/FT, Italy to win to nil (11-10, Ladbrokes) and Italy to win both halves (15-8, Skybet, Paddy Power).
Just to win Italy are no bigger than 2-7 at Coral and to qualify they are 5-6 with William Hill – the same as the Croats.
To win Ireland are as big as 10-1 with Stan James to notch the points and 5-1 at William Hill to get one point on the board.
Mario Ballotelli has been a big disappointment so far and he's set to be replaced by Di Natale who is 9-2 (various) to bag the opener.
Spain are just 3-4 (various) to beat the Croats but any draw will put them through ahead of their opponents. A stalemate pays 21-10 at Blue Square.
Will they settle for a stalemate or go for victory? Hopefully Spain will go for it and to have a chance of netting two the Croats will need the ball.
Spain's possession against Ireland was an incredible 78 per cent and to have a chance of scoring against them you need much more of the ball. Unibet go 8-11 for Spain to have more than 58.5 per cent possession and that looks likely.
Del Bosque could ring with the changes with the likes of Fernando Llorente, Alvaro Negredo, Juan Mata, Pedro and Jesus Navas seeing little or no action so far.
Mario Mandzukic and Nikica Jelavic have hit all four of Croatia's goals between them and to score again you can have either Mandzukic or Jelavic at 4-1 with Paddy Power.
Recommendations
Italy -1 (4-5, BetVictor)
Italy to win both halves (15-8, Skybet, Paddy Power)
Di Natale to score first (9-2, various)
Spain v Croatia over 3.5 goals (15-8, Paddy Power)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
4/6 on Spain is enough to temp me in, Also going Torres first and Torres anytime ( if he starts )
Italy to Ron both halves out to 21/10 with paddy power
Got my bets on quickly as I’m assuming the prices will change.
£100 on Di Natale first goal @ 5/1 with Paddy Power (refunded if there are 4 or more goals).
£20 on Di Natale last goal @ 5/1 with Paddy Power (refunded if there are 4 or more goals).
£100 on Italy to win both halves @ 21/10 with Paddy Power.
Good luck to everyone. Particularly myself.
Chris, I’m all over Italy as well. I hope they don’t take it easy and consider the 1-0 option.
Have you ever tryed to change your bets chris in of going for 1st goal scorer all the time! Maybe try something that you will get 90mins for instead of being over in the 1st 5mins! Just asking!
I know Alex I see your point but it’s one of my fave bets and if you back strikers all the time you do get a good few winners. All you need is one in 4 to be honest to make profit. But i think im going to take Mr Fixit’s advice and stop betting last scorer.
By the way 2-2 in Spain game is 10/1 with Ladbrokes online and a wee birdie tells me its 14/1 on the coupon in the shop. Can anyone check in a ladbrokes shop. Dont ask at the counter, just check the coupon.
Chris, coupon could well say 14-1 but I’m pretty sure it will be cut in shops now as well.
Had a nice winner yesterday on podolski fgs when I seen it was his 100th cap I backed him,players always seem to raise there game when they reach a landmark of caps.im going to go for goals in the Spain -Croatia game I reckon it will be pretty open game and as for Ireland sad to say but I can’t see them troubling Italy at all they done well to get to the euros but haven’t enough quality so I will have a lump sum on Italy -1
When I saw the teams yesterday Podolski was in my thoughts as was van der Vaart but didn’t back either in the end. Would have been a nice double. If you like backing players reaching landmarks I take you’ll be on Damien Duff who captains Ireland tonight as he wins his 100th cap.
Thanks for that chris. But if i was betting that much i would go for btts at least you are getting the whole game for your money. Or a good handicap bet like i had last wk with spain! Just look out for them cause they are there if you look! Good luck tonite mate!
Going for iniesta and pirlo both to score tonite. 5to2 and 7to2 in ladbrokes! iniesta due a goal and pirlo takes pens and great with free kicks!
Alex, they’re two guys I always have a look at. Both have a chance.
Alex what about Pirlo to score in an italy win 9/2 at hills?
Just looked at that chris. iniesta and a spain win is 100to30. Not a bad double. Plus chris if both are on the park you get 90mins for your money!
Im goin for spain and italy-1. Dont think spain will take a chance and go for win the same as germans. Think if negredo and di natale start i’ll have a wee touch on them fgs and anytime dble.
Looks like the bookies have wisened up to spain
Best i can see now is 8/15.
Looks like the bookies have wisened up to spain
Best i can see now is 8/15.
Haha long cox :)
Looking like di natale and torres starting tonight from what im hearing.
Joe, Di Natale’s a cert for Balotelli and wouldn’t be surprised if he kept Torres in there. What’s everyone’s thoughts about the potential 2-2 carve-up?
Not If one of the players gets injured or sent off Alex ;-)
Chris you can say that about nearly ever bet that you can put on!
Spain 2-0 Italy 3-0 Torres to score 1st 3 x £5 dbls & a £5 treble,bring it on.
Alex a first scorer bet could also last you 90 mins
Paul the bookies don’t seem to think so. Most bookies now offering 10/1
Terry you only have 2 doubles there. 2-0 Spain and 3-0 Italy is one double, Torres first and italy 3-0 is your second double. You can’t have a double of 2-0 Spain and Torres. This will be treated as a scorecast which is generally a good bit shorter. Same as you don’t have a treble. Your £5 treble will go on 2-0 Spain Torres first goal scorecast with Italy 3-0.
Chris, good advice for Terry, hope he hasn’t placed it wrongly.
I’m looking at Jelavic anytime @ 9/2. Torres 1st @ 9/2. And Torres/Jelavic anytime double @ 10/1. Also Di Natale 1st scorer. Do I wait 2 see the teams and risk the odds shortening or just go for it?
Paul starting to mworry about Italy to win both halves. Paddy Power out to 12/5!! Wish u hadn’t staked my £100 yet. I’d like to cancel then place the bet again
Chris, I don’t know why it’s going out. Surely all the money will be on Italy.
Paul, Chris, I checked Italy -1 price this morning and it was evens, when I went to put the bet on 2 hours later I got 11/10. I found this odd as I thought they would be cut if anything as all the money would be on them.
I think Di Natales odds will shorten as Bolatelli def not starting
Not in this tourney it wont! Only 6 games that both teams havent scored. cant see both scoring in the italy game tonite but can in the spain game!
Maybe they know something we don’t or perhaps as you suggested they could settle for 1-0
Spot on Chris,Di Natale changed to 9/2 from 5/1 already
Im getting 11/8 on 888 for italy spain dble only evens on skybet and theyre sayin thats enhanced. Thats where my moneys goin. Cant see spain risking a carve up paul. Maybe thot about it if just a draw needed but a 2-2 draw? Just cant see it.
Joe, I hope there is no carve-up but it’s happened before.
Just put my bets on. My main bet is spain and italy double which has came in to 5/4. Di natale and iniesta anytime dble @ evens and 12/5. Same amount of goals in both games @ 4/1. Just got a wee feeling the spain game could be very tactical and pretty tight and iniesta could be the man breaking from midfield. Good luck everyone :)
I reckon Ireland will get something tonight boys, I can see a lot of money being lost on Italy.
Big call but I’d be shocked if Italy -1 comes in.
Nobby, why would u be surprised after Ireland’s first two performances?
I’ve gone with —
Spain single 4/6
Torres anytime 4/5 and first 9/2
Couple of side bets —
Spain win and xavi score /Italy win and de natale score , double
De natale
had a poor euros so far gonna try spain 3-1 italy 1-0
.. De Natalie and Italy 2-0
Gone Iniesta and Silva 1st goalscorer in Ladbrokes at 8/1 each, refunded if Torres scores first or last.
They’ve conceded 7 goals so far, 4 of them after three mins gone 1st half and 2nd half, there better than that I think.
Italy dont usually beat teams by much so I think it will be tight. Ireland have nothing to lose at this stage so I think they’ll put up a big fight
The Irish must be piling money on their own country as Italy have went from 1/4 to a best price of 4/9
Tommo, it’s very strange.
18 years ago today. Ireland 1-0 Italy. Come on The Irish
Ciaran, I’d be amazed with only pride to play for.
Now the price has went in, i’m glad i haven’t stuck any bets on. Just going to put all my eggs in one basket and go for a straight single on the Italians.
888 just sent me text sayin bet a tenner on coupled fgs get tenner free bet. I took torres or iniesta @ 12/5.
I think the spain v croatia game could be a cracker of a game! Croatia are no mugs!
Went a Bit crazy enight. Bets:
Torres/Di Natale First Scorer £5 Double
Spain 2-1/Italy 2-0 £2.50 Double
Mandzukic/Di Natale Anytime £5 Double
Di Natale First Scorer 1-20mins/Torres first Scorer 21-45mins £2 double
Mandzukic/Cassano Last Goalscorer £2 Double
Scorecast Double Torres 2-1/Cassano 2-1 £1
David, it’s easy to do. I’ve stuck with singles on Iniesta, Di Natale and Pirlo as well as all my bets on Italy.
Just in from work….
Di natale/Torres Double and singles
Di natale Italy win
Good luck
Peter, nearly had your di Natale goal there but Irish have started well.
Didnt make any pre-match bets. Any thoughts on in-play Paul? Italy -1 and Spain pays almost 2/1. Yay or Nay? Thanks,
Thinking both teams have to go for it to avoid whoever finishes top on England’s group!
I’m watching Italy and think they’ll score again. Good last 15 minutes and hopefully won’t settle for a risky 1-0. Haven’t seen any of the Spain game so wouldn’t like to make an unrunning prediction. However, 0-0 is no use to Croatia so surely they’ll have to go for it and that might play into Spain’s hands.
I really wanna see spain win. Not just for my double tonight i put a good few quid on the other day on a germany spain final and if spain dont win group then theyll meet in the semis.
In-play looks far too hard to call at the moment.
Under 1.5 goals Spain v Croatia/Over 1.5 Italy v Ireland is only paying 1.33/1.
Might keep the account credit for tomorrow night
Fancy anything in-play in the Italy game Paul? Di Natale next goal? He looks Sharp
After losing £330 in 3 days… i’ve decided to play a safer approach tonight and slowly build funds up
Italy HT FT
ITA vs IRE over 2.50 goals
Spain/ Italy win double
Di Natale ANYTIME scorer
Andy, hopefully Italy will do it for us. Di Natale looked good first half without scoring.
Anyone fancy Croatia to nick this?? 8/1 in play
Paul croatia had a great chance to go 1 up 5mins ago. Spain are poor. Torres off and no one up front again!
Draw will do them but if Croatia score they’re out. Surely they won’t do a Russia. Italy wobbling a bit too.
Stuck a fiver on Croatia 9/1….games wide open!
Peter, got it on now and it’s end to end so you’re right to take a wee chance on 9-1.
Phew thank feck for that! Wish iniesta had stuck it in himself tho!
Yeah, better if Iniesta scored but all the Italy bets up thanks to bad bay Balotelli.
Nice one paul. I made a few quid tonight on italy spain double and spain germany final still good chance. Not too shabby night for me and good few peeps on italy -1 and to win both halves so not too bad all round :)
Joe, i took a chance on Italy at least winning by two and it paid off in the end but fair play to the Irish because they were much better and unlucky not to score.
Paul Joe Hart man of the match 40/1 @ Bet365. Surely worth £10? What you think. 25/1 elsewhere and as short as 18/1.
Chris, don’t know about Hart especially if England are on top and Shevchenko is out.
What about Rooney to score in an England win at 4/1?
Chris, you’ll see my tips in the morning. That would be more like it but do you think he’ll be sharp enough straight away. Could take some time to get up and running or maybe hit it off right away. If Welbeck starts I might look at him for first scorer.