Euro 2008 Quarter –Finals
Croatia v Turkey
Croatia are unbeaten in the tournament so far and the 5/6 (Ladbrokes) for them to beat Turkey tonight looks a decent bet. Croatia have looked a major force in this competition and have some decent strikers and Turkey will need to raise their game to a higher level if they are to win tonight.
Turkey scored twice in the last three minutes to come back from a 2-0 deficit to win the match 3-2 against the Czech Republic and they will be high on confidence following that result.
They are 4/1 (Skybet) to beat Croatia but we think class will tell in the end tonight and are taking Croatia to win. The draw is available at 5/2 (Bodog) If you think it will end up level after 90 minutes.
Croatia have scored first in all their games so far and we think that trend will continue tonight so the 4/5 (Skybet) for Croatia to score the first goal is a bet we think you should get on.
Both teams are capable of scoring goals and the over 2.5 goals at 11/10 (Paddypower) is worth considering.
We’re going for a correct score of 3-1 to Croatia 18/1 (Ladbrokes) and are taking Luka Modric 9/2 (Paddypower) to be among the goals.
Netherlands v Russia
Holland have looked the best team in the competition and although Russia may make it hard for them they look as if they will have too much quality for the inexperienced Russian side.
The 3/4 (Betfair) on a Holland win doesn’t look a bad price given how well they’ve played so far. Holland have been able to capitalise on the chances they have created in matches and with Russia liable to make defensive mistakes Holland could punish them.
Russia have plenty of pace in their team and like the Dutch are great at the counter attack. They have good strikers in Pavluchenko and Arshavin and their pace could trouble the Holland centre-back pairing who don’t look the quickest. At 4/1 (Partybets) the Russian’s are no forlorn hope and they could take advantage if Holland were to have an off day.
We’d be surprised if there were not a few goals in this game and Holland to win 4-2 66/1 (Bet365) or 3-1 11/1 (Partybets) are the two we think could be the most likely.
Pavluchenko 8/1 (Skybet) and Arvashin 10/1(Bet365) look the most likely to score the first goal for the Russian’s, while Kuyt 10/1 (Ladbrokes) and Robben 9/1 (Paddypower) catch our eye for Holland.
Spain v Italy
Italy scraped through the group stages, but you wouldn’t put it past them to “do a Germany” and dump Spain out of the competition. They haven’t been impressive at all and if France hadn’t had a man sent off then they might not have been in the Quarter-finals at all. But you need a bit of luck to win tournaments like this and now that it’s sudden death they have to be given every chance of winning this match.
Spain have failed at this stage so many times before in big tournaments you just wonder if they will do so again here. They have two great strikers and with Italy missing two of their best midfielders through suspension, Spain may get the room to provide the ammunition for them to grab the vital goal.
This game will be extremely close and Spain 6/4 (Stan James) are slight favourites to win. Italy are 11/5 (Betfair) to win, but we think this could go right to the wire and are taking the match to end in a draw after 90 minutes 21/10 (Bodog).
We think there’s a distinct possibility this match could go to penalties and both teams are quoted at 19/2 (VCBet) and we think this bet is worth considering.
Our forecast is that the match will end up 1-1 after 90 minutes 11/2 (Bet365).