Euro 2024 Tips and Predictions: Back 6/4 Van Dijk fouls with Betfair Exchange | OneFootball

Euro 2024

Jimmy says Van Dijk is a big price to commit 2+ fouls

Jimmy The Punt takes a look ahead at the Betfair Exchange markets for the Euro 2024 semi-finals and recommends backing a certain Liverpool defender to commit fouls when he comes up against England's attack...

Football... Only Bettor Podcast - Semi-final tips - Listen here!

Mbappe not fit and firing

I could not have been more wrong about France.

God they are dull. Cheers Didier Deschamps, that's two hours of my life I am never going to get back.

I hitched my wagon to the wrong horse in Kylian Mbappe. Maybe the broken nose is weighing heavy on him. The Frenchman has had 20 shots, eight on target and racked up an xG of 2.72 with his only goal coming via the spot against Poland.

Without Mbappe fit and firing, France have lacked any razzle dazzle.

All of their five games this summer have seen unders click, two have ended goalless and France are yet to score from open play. Backing both teams to score 'no' might be worth a go.

On the other hand, Spain have razzle and dazzle on each wing.

Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal have lit up the tournament on La Roja's flanks.

The pair have averaged 5.6 dribbles per game and drew a heap of tackles. Although they only draw 1.3 fouls a game between them, I think the fouls or cards could be worth a look here. Jules Kounde, Theo Hernadez and maybe even N'golo Kante could help cover it from midfield.

I also like Aurelien Tchouameni prices in the shot markets. The midfielder is Les Bleus' third sharpest shooter averaging 2.8 per game yet is odds against with the sportsbook to have 2+ on Tuesday.

Foul play

England were faultless during the shootout against Switzerland in their quarter-final. The same can't be said for the previous two hours of football.

Like France, England have been stinking up their side of the bracket, the whole tournament in fact.

The Three Lions have racked up an xG of 4.3 this summer having played five games. For context, Slovakia generated a higher total (4.4), Poland (4.2) only just notched up less and Czechia managed 5.1 having played two fewer games.

Finding the net is tricky when the frontman, Harry Kane, has only had 23 touches in the opposition box all tournament.

What England's captain is good at is drawing fouls. He has drawn 10 this summer, two against Switzerland on Saturday.

Virgil van Dijk will be his direct opponent on Wednesday. The Netherlands centre-back has committed at least one foul in each of his five appearances in Germany, averaging 2.4 per game and his price on the Betfair Exchange to commit two against England is appealing.

Now read Lewis Jones' Euro 2024 semi-final preview!

Recommended bets

Back Virgil van Dijk to commit 2+ fouls @ 2.52