England and Germany Looks a Safe Bet for a Draw
England have already qualified for the semi-finals of the European under 21 championships and with Germany only needing a point to ensure their qualification, this match looks as if it could end up all square.
England have a good record over Germany at this level and have won four and only lost one of their eight meetings. We expect them to keep up that decent record tonight, but how they go about it may well depend on how much they are up for it now they have qualified.
A win for either team would ensure they finish top of the group and there is the argument that both teams may go all out for the win to ensure they finish top and get an easier, semi final tie. We think this is unlikely and in tonight’s game we reckon the under 2.5 goals at 2/5 (Paddypower) is pretty much a banker bet.
England are 12/5 (Ladbrokes) to win with Germany priced at 9/4 (Bet365) to take all three points. We are going to go for the draw 5/4 (Ladbrokes) as this outcome will see both teams going through.
Fraizer Campbell has looked England’s most likely goalscorer in their previous match and he has to be considered again at 15/2 (Skybet). We’re going to go for Craig Gardner to be first goalscorer as an alternative at a bigger price 28/1 (Bet365).
The other match between Finland and Spain could become immaterial no matter the result if the England Germany game ends up all square.
Pre-tournament favourites Spain have been a huge disappointment –although if you took our advice and laid them you will have made a nice profit-and have been toothless in attack. They will need to go all out for a win against Finland if they are to have any chance of qualifying, but from what we’ve seen so far they may not have the stomach for a fight and at 2/7 (Ladbrokes) they look far too short a price for us and we won’t be taking them at that price.
Finland could be difficult to break down and with Spain finding goals hard to come by the under 2.5 goals is worth a bet at 11/10 (Skybet). Finland are 10/1 (Ladbrokes) and we reckon they could be worth a small bet.
Our prediction is a 1-0 win to Finland at odds of 20/1 (Paddypower).
