Betting.Betfair.com
·6 June 2024
Group C Stat Pack: Best bets for England, Denmark, Serbia & Slovenia

In partnership with
Yahoo sportsBetting.Betfair.com
·6 June 2024
Here we go again for England fans as the Three Lions head into Euro 2024 as favourites go one better than penalty heartbreak at Wembley last time - and once again they're are plenty of reasons for optimism.
Talent isn't much of an issue for Gareth Southgate, but just how he gets the best out of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka while also keeping control in midfield and protect the weak spot at the heart of the defence is the real test.
John Stones and Harry Maguire are first choice when available, as although there's talent behind them they're largely untested at international level - but with so many club stars and genuine match-winners in the squad they're rightly at the top of the betting market.
You just can't overstate how outrageously good Jude Bellingham has performed scoring all those goals and helping Real Madrid win the league and Champions League in his first season in Spain - aged just 20!.
Bellingham just has the aura about him that makes him look pretty solid at 11/43.75 for Young Player of the Tournament, but if he produces like he did for Madrid and England get back to the final then 9/110.00 on Bellingham as Player of the Tournament looks well within reach.
It's boring, but injury permitting Harry Kane is still your man as 8/131.61 to be England's top goalscorer - even though he was topped at the World Cup by Saka AND Marcus Rashford. He did miss that pen aganst France though as his record was astonishing this season with 48 goals in 50 games for Bayern and England.
Again top England scorer in qualifying, playing for a team that should go deep and still on the pens - if that back injury is sorted then he's a worthy second favourite behind Kylian Mbappe at 11/26.50 for the Golden Boot at the Euros - with both having scored 12 goals in 18 games over the last three major tournaments.
Powered by
Recommended Bet
Back Harry Kane to win the Euro 2024 Golden Boot
Second behind Kane in Euro qualifying, Saka also had 108 Premier League shots this season and had at least one in eight of his last 10 games of the campaign - along with five in four games at the last World Cup.
With Kane, Foden and Bellingham likely starting with him who all like the ball to feet and drop deeper, Saka is the main threat in behind so you should look at him in the shots markets in each game.
As an aside, also back Saka in the 'to be fouled' match markets as he was fouled the fifth-most times in the Premier League, and the joint-most for England in qualifying - being fouled in six of seven, and multiple fouls against in four.
His overall England form may not be the best, but Phil Foden got two assists at the World Cup and is far better form this season with 12 in the league and Champions League for Man City.
Foden will have an expanded role for Southgate here with three group games where they should boss possession and he's had that key to unlock defences all season with Man City - he's 16/117.00 for most tournament assists.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is England's best passer, and he may not even start, while Foden will be asked to try and control the game - but in terms of sheer numbers and for a betting angle then you need to be looking at the centre backs.
Jon Stones and Harry Maguire topped the charts in Qatar with 94.6 and 84.8 passes per 90 minutes while Maguire had the sixth-most passes in all of Euro qualifying and with at least three group games against sides sitting back you'd back both centre backs for 90+ passes each, but Stones is better technically and gets the nod between the two.
Recommended Bet
Back Jude Bellingham Player of the Tournament
Semi-finalists at the last Euros riding the emotion of Christian Eriksen's near tragedy, Denmark have a better squad this time around and as boss Kasper Hjulmand becomes just the third manager to lead the country to three straights major tournaments.
They've an overall average of 2.79 goals pe rgame at the Euros from 33 matches, which is the most of the 12 teams to have played 20 games or more at the finals, and although they've evolved into a more passing team they can still play quick, direct counter-attacking football.
They had the 10th most shots in qualifying with 15.7 per game and that coupled with their team spirit adds up to them being fancied to finish second in Group C at 8/52.60.
Injuries and lack of minutes led to a difficult season at Man Utd for Christian Eriksen but he can still have a huge impact for Denmark as his dead ball excellence and ability to pick out a pass can easily win them games and see them through into the knockouts. He had three assists in qualifying and created 23 chances
He's shown glimpses at Man Utd but Rasmus Hojland has been excellent for Denmark with seven goals in qualifying - only four players scored more - while he led the team in shots (23), shots on target (13) and xG (5.2).
Showing a more predatory aspect than at United, his 55 touches in the opposition box were more than anyone in qualifying bar Ronaldo and Mbappe - and with his stature meaning he's also a set piece danger, he's not without a chance at 16/117.00 to be Young Player of the Tournament.
With a reputation more of an enforcer, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg plays a different role for Denmark, with his 724 passes the fifth most in qualifying - while he registered the fourth-most 'line breaking passes' with 18.7 per 90 minutes - with only Modric, Xhaka, Rodri having more.
Three goals and three assists was a great return in qualifying for Jonas Wind - who was also second in the squad for shots on target behind Hojland. Wind hit the target in seven of 10 qualifiers and overall hit the target 46 times in 44 games for club and country.
He's a no-nonsense defeder, who by the is also looking at for passes per game, but what you should focus on is fouls as the Crystal Palace gave away 34 this season and seven in seven qualifying games. He's also coming up against Kane, Mitrovic and Hojlund in the group.
Recommended Bet
Back Denmark to finish second in Group C
Not many 66/167.00 shots have this much talent but Serbia have failed to shine so far in their three World Cups - can we expect them to finally get their act together in their Euros debut?
Probably not - because 17/102.70 on finishing third is the bet for Serbia in the group even with the attacking talent they have - as they've failed to convince at the back.
They scored in every game in qualifying, so have the firepower, while five of their 15 goals came from headers - the highest ratio among the qualifiers - so watch out for specials on headed goals.
A talented do-all midfielder, he's playing out in Saudi Arabia now so he'll be freasher than most, and he's got a bit of everything to really put his stamp on games when here wants to - including scoring important goals. He's a big threat from set pieces too.
Aleksandar Mitrovic may have gone to Saudi Arabia but he's still scoring goals and ended up with a season of 33 goals for club and country still a terrific return. And with seven games where he's scored twice or more, he's got a puncher's chance in the Golden Boot stndings at 50/151.00.
Dusan Tadic made four assists in qualifying, putting him third in the standings, and he's a decent shout for most tournament assists at 50/151.00 given the strikers he's supplying. Vlahovic joins Mitrovic in offering a target for Tadic's classy through balls and set-piece delivery.
With 31 chances created in qualifying, only Bruno Fernandes had more and with the finishers in the side if Serbia progress he's got definite dark horse potential.
Powered by
The Juventus man doesn't start a lot for Serbia, but he makes the most of his time with three goals from just over 2.5 games worth of action - and he pulls the trigger plenty, with an average of 2.24 shots on target per 90 minutes played in the qualifiers.
For the entire season he averaged a shot on target every hour he's on the pitch, so definitely one to keep an eye on in the shots markets.
Fulham fans have sampled Lukic's fiesty play this season, and overall he's given away a foul in 25 of 33 appearances for club and country this season - while in qualifying it was five out of six games for a total of 10 fouls.
Recommended Bet
Back Dusan Tadic (EW) most tournament assists
One of the big outsiders of the tournament, but Slovenia qualified with the same points as Denmark in their group, only coming second on head-to-head, and they do have talent at both ends of the pitch.
Jan Oblak is one of the best keepers in the world and Benjamin Sesko one of the hottest young striking prospects in Europe - but they're still right up against it.
They're one of the easiest teams to back to finish bottom of the group at 4/61.67.
While their young striker will attract the headlines, if Slovenia are to do anything they'll need Atletico keeper Jan Oblak at his best like in qualifying with four clean sheets, conceding once every 120 minutes and preventing 4.48 goals according to Opta - the fourth-best number in qualifying.
Going unders on goals could be a good way to go for Slovenia games, or back Oblak's saves total. He had 16 in the four toughest games in qualifying, and 22 in six Nations League games which is a decent marker for this group.
The 20-year-old scored five and had two assists in qualifying and this could be a huge tournament for him - but his 50/151.00 Young Player of the Tournament odds reflect the fact he'll likely just play three games. And a slight red flag is that all seven of his goal involvements came at home.
Only four players created more than Adam Cerin's 23 chances in qualifying, which resulted in three assists. He plays a more defensively role for Panathinaikos so doesn't have the same stats, but he's more involved in pressing highe for Slovenia so is worth a look for an assist.
Seskohas the pace, but Andraz Sporar is the Slovenian target man, and actually topped the squad with eight shots on target in qualifying, despite playing fewer games, with an average of 1.3 per 90 minutes played. He also scored against Denmark in qualifying so watch out for him in that game.
Orlando City Brekalo played five qualifiers and gave away multiple fouls in four of them, so watch out for him in the line-up because he'll find the forwards England, Denmark and Serbia have to offer just too much of a step up.
Recommended Bet
Back Slovenia to finish bottom of Group C