The last round of matches kick off Monday morning before we head into the knockout stages. There should be some interesting results through this period and with the new 24 team format it could lead to some pretty open football from those sides scrapping for a 2nd & 3rd place finish. The unknown of what will be required to make it through for those 3rd placed sides should see some more adventurous football than what we’ve seen from some sides so far.

**Odds from Sportsbet as at 19th June

20th June    

Highlight Match

Switzerland ($5.5) versus France ($1.91), Draw ($3)

Sitting 2nd in Group A behind France, Switzerland should be able to qualify for the next stage even if they lose though there may be a few nervy moments with the unknown of the other group match between Romania and Albania. It’s still possible that they can drop to 3rd if Romania have a strong result over Albania. For this one though I expect it to be pretty tight. France will be focused on finishing top of their group and will also want to find some form to build some momentum for the next stage. Expect Pogba and Griezmann to start in this one having sat on the bench against Albania in the favour of team experimentation. The positive is they’ll have slightly fresher legs for the 90 minutes here. France are going along ok at the moment but haven’t hit top form. I’m not sure they’ll hit that form in this match but they should have enough to edge out another win.

Predicted score: France 1-0
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at $1.5 (85%)
Next Best: France to win at $1.91

Other Matches

Romania ($2.25) versus Albania ($3.4), Draw ($3.3)

Predicted score: Romania 2-1
Best Bet: Romania to win either half at $1.66 (80%)
Next Best: Over 2.5 goals at $2.33

21st June    

Highlight Match

Slovakia ($5.3) versus England ($1.91), Draw ($3.2)

England need to win to guarantee top spot in their group but they are in a great position to do so ahead of their final group match. Slovakia will be tough given they have their own chances of making it through to the next stage. If they manage a point here and Wales stutter against Russia then they would finish 2nd. They may have their chances as well with Hodgson looking to rotate up to 6 players. That’s a big gamble with top spot not yet secured with it mathematically possible for England to finish 3rd if Wales beat Russia and Slovakia cause an upset as a result. England have navigated their way through to this point ok but the resting of players sounds alarm bells for me. Slovakia won’t be pushovers and they do have the attacking talent to cause England problems who have kept 1 clean sheet in their last 7 internationals. This one may well end up that both both sides have to settle for a draw.

Predicted score: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Half-Time Draw at $1.91 (75%)
Next Best: Both teams to score – Yes $2.25

Other Match

Russia ($2.8) versus Wales ($2.87), Draw ($3)

Predicted score: Wales 2-1
Best Bet: Wales to win either half at $1.99 (80%)
Next Best: Bale to score anytime at $2.1

22nd June    

Highlight Matches

N.Ireland ($13) versus Germany ($1.25), Draw ($6)

A bit of the David versus Goliath type of match on paper here but Germany have really failed to impress so far even if they sit top of the group. They haven’t really looked at their best but they shouldn’t have to worry too much about making it through to the next stage. Northern Ireland really have nothing to lose so they won’t die wondering in this one. The problem is that Germany really need to hit some form before the next stage so they could well be hungry for a good result in this one. Whether that translates to goals or not remains to be seen but for the most part I expect Germany to comfortably win this.

Predicted score: Germany 2-0
Best Bet: Germany to win to Nil at $1.8 (85%)
Next Best: Germany to lead at Half-Time at $1.62

Croatia ($4.5) versus Spain ($2.05), Draw ($3)

Spain are guaranteed a spot in the next stage and Croatia should finish 2nd even if they lose here though they’ll want to ensure they don’t lose by too much for the Czech Republic to snatch 2nd. That would leave Croatia at the mercy of finishing in 3rd relying on other results to see if they make it through. The absence of their best player, Luka Modric, won’t make their chances of a result against Spain any easier either. It wouldn’t have done their chances any harm to have him but I think regardless this will be a Spain win. Spain’s 3-0 win over Turkey in their last match sets them up nicely for the remainder of the tournament in what is a very difficult group.

Predicted score: Spain 2-0
Best Bet: Spain to win at $2.05 (85%)
Next Best: Spain to win either half at $1.54 

Other Matches

Ukraine ($3.8) versus Poland ($2), Draw ($3.6)

Predicted score: Poland 2-1
Best Bet: Poland to win at $2 (75%)
Next Best: Half-Time Draw at $1.91

Czech Republic ($2.4) versus Turkey ($2.87), Draw ($3.6)

Predicted score: Czech Republic 2-1
Best Bet: Czech Republic Draw No Bet at $1.69 (85%)
Next Best: Both teams to score – Yes at $1.83

23rd June    

Highlight Matches

Hungary ($11) versus Portugal ($1.36), Draw ($4.5)

At this stage of the tournament, Hungary are surprise group leaders ahead of their final group match opponents Portugal. Two draws and just the 1 goal isn’t good enough for Portugal and it seems as though at the moment not even Ronaldo can do much about it. The fact remains though that a win will secure them passage to the knockout stages which makes this an interesting contest. Hungary aren’t yet guaranteed an automatic pass to the knockout stages especially if they lose and Iceland beat Austria in the other group match. That makes this one a little nervy for Hungary as there’s the unknown of how hungry Portugal are to win this. Ronaldo I don’t think can be kept scoreless for much longer so that’s just a matter of time. It just comes down to whether the rest of his team steps up alongside him or he has to drag them into it. Regardless of what he has to do I can see Portugal sneaking this.

Predicted score: Portugal 2-1
Best Bet: Portugal to score 2 or more goals at $1.67 (75%)
Next Best: Half-Time Draw at $2.1 

Sweden ($5) versus Belgium ($1.8), Draw ($3.6)

Belgium’s win over Ireland last time out gives them something to build on and a draw here would secure 2nd place in the group behind Italy. For Sweden though, they are not out of it yet with a win surely enough to secure 2nd themselves assuming Ireland lose out to Italy. Belgium looked a lot better in their 2nd match of the tournament and that should somewhat break the shackles for this game and beyond one would think. The injury to Dembele who remains a doubt for this one is a blow but I’d expect Belgium to have enough cover to see them through.

Predicted score: Belgium 2-0
Best Bet: Belgium to win at $1.8 (80%)
Next Best: Under 2.5 goals at $1.64

Other Matches

Iceland ($3.75) versus Austria ($2.1), Draw ($3.4)

Predicted score: Iceland 2-1
Best Bet: Double Chance Iceland at $1.75 (85%)
Next Best: Iceland Draw no bet at $2.65

Italy ($2.37) versus Ireland ($3.3), Draw ($3.2)

Predicted score: Italy 1-0
Best Bet: Italy Draw no bet at $1.63 (90%)
Next Best: Under 2.5 goals at $1.49