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June 2024
FABULOUS FOOTBALL AHEAD AS EURO 2024 KICKS OFF
Soccer fans can look forward to a glorious month as the drama of EURO 2024 unfolds. All the matches will be included in selected TAB soccer bets and there will be many added pools, which will enhance TAB soccer customers’ chances of landing big wins. The show kicks off tonight with a guaranteed R8-million Soccer 13 pool and a R150,000-added Soccer 10 - plus this is your last chance to play one of TAB’s four bets on the overall tournament. The four pools all carry R20,000 add-ins from TAB and close at the start of tonight’s tournament opener between Germany and Scotland.
ENGLAND ARE FAVOURITES BUT HAVE CHINKS IN THEIR ARMOUR
A feast of football awaits soccer fans over the next month as Germany play host to EURO 2024. Twenty-four countries will battle for the right to be crowned the best on the continent, with a winner notoriously hard to pick in a tournament that often throws up surprises.
Who could have possibly predicted, for example, that Greece would win the tournament in Portugal in 2004 or, to a slightly lesser extent, that Portugal would go all the way in France in 2016?
Italy will go in as the reigning champions, after breaking England hearts at Wembley on penalties four years ago.
They may not have the superstar names of other nations, but the Azzuri are a notoriously good tournament team, and a third title is far from out of the question.
Germany have home advantage and a strong squad, but have been poor in major tournaments in recent years, exiting in the group stages of the last two FIFA World Cups and in the last 16 of EURO 2020.
England, who beat Germany in that last-16 match four years ago, are many people's favourites and currently head the fixed-odds betting on the tournament. On paper they have an attack that looks full of creativity and goals, but Gareth Southgate's side limp into the finals off a friendly defeat at home to Iceland. And, let’s face it, England have too often flattered only to deceive.
France have reached the last two World Cup finals and have a squad overflowing with talent in all areas of the pitch. Kylian Mbappe, the best attacker in the world, can rip defences to shreds on his own. It is Les Bleus perhaps, that should head betting boards for this tournament.
Spain, winners of back-to-back Euros in 2008 and 2012, continue to have a side capable of beating anyone on their day, with a passing brand of football that starves you of possession to the point of exhaustion, as was also the case when they won the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The Netherlands will hope to be a force again in a major tournament under Ronald Koeman, with Virgil Van Dijk leading from the back.
Belgium's golden generation has few survivors, but the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku still remain, and they go into the game having not lost a match under Dominic Tesdesco.
Roberto Martinez's Portugal have a fantastic squad, including the still-going Cristiano Ronaldo, and won all 10 qualifying matches. They have, however, lost friendlies since then to Slovenia and Croatia, both of whom will also be at EURO 2024.
Croatia, who reached the World Cup final in 2018 and the semi-finals in 2022, are another side that could well pose a threat in Germany, with the irrepressible Luka Modric still making their midfield tick. This is a European nation that often punches above its weight though they have, surprisingly, never won a knockout match at a European Championship. Whoever wins, it should be a month of magical football.
The competition starts this evening when Germany face Scotland at the Allianz Arena. Germany are 3-10 favourites to win with the draw at 5-1 and Scotland at 11-1. The betting says it all and Germany to win looks a natural banker in tonight’s Soccer 10.
LATEST FIXED-ODDS BETTING ON EURO 2024: 7-2 England; 4-1 France; 11-2 Germany; 13-2 Portugal; 8-1 Spain; 14-1 Italy; 16-1 Netherlands, Belgium; 40-1 Croatia, Denmark; 66-1 and upwards others.
* The four TAB bets on EURO 2024 are listed below and our soccer expert’s tips. Remember the four pools close tonight.
WIN bet – choose the country to win EURO 2024
PLACE bet – choose one of the four semi-finalists
EXACTA – choose the two finalists
QUARTET – choose the four semi-finalists
TIPS:
WIN: France
EXACTA: France, Germany
QUARTET: France, Italy, England, Germany
PLACE: Belgium
R150,000-ADDED SOCCER 10 POOLS MATCH BY MATCH
Friday 14 June S10 V3
SOCCER 10 V3 SUGGESTED BET:
| M1: FC Tallinn vs Tartu Welco | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| With a R150,000 cash boost from TAB, the total pool should be some R2 million and there are prospects of a bumper payout. Second division clash in Estonia. FC Tallinn are on a six-game winning streak and are second in the league, four points ahead of third-placed Tartu Welco, who are unbeaten in their last four. | |||
| M2: Orgryte vs GIF Sundsvall | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Orgryte have lost eight of their last 14 games in the Swedish second division, but won their latest 3-0. GIF Sundsvall are winless in eight games. Örgryte are 14th with nine points with Sundsvall 16th with eight points. | |||
| M3: Germany vs Scotland | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Germany are unbeaten in four friendlies. Scotland have just one win in their last nine games. Recently, Germany won 2-1 over Greece and Scotland drew 2-2 with Finland. Germany won their last meeting with Scotland 3-2 nine years ago. | |||
| M4: Operario PR vs Santos | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Santos are on a three-game losing streak and visit Operário who have won their last two. Both teams have 15 points in Serie B, with Santos fourth and Operário sixth. | |||
| M5: CA Talleres vs Platense | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Talleres have won seven of their last nine games, while Platense have avoided defeat in 11 of their last 15. Talleres won the last clash 4-2 and are playing at home. | |||
| M6: Avai vs Guarani | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Avai have made a solid start to the season and are currently third in Brazil’s Serie B, whereas Guarani are last in the table. | |||
| M7: Loudoun United FC vs Las Vegas Lights FC | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| USA second division. Loudoun United (seventh with 17 points) won their last match 3-0. Las Vegas Lights (10th with 15 points) have lost six of their last 11. Loudoun won their last clash 3-0. | |||
| M8: El Salvador vs Peru | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Peru are unbeaten in their last four games. El Salvador have just one win in their last 15 games. Peru won their last meeting with El Salvador 4-1 two years ago. | |||
| M9: New York City vs Columbus Crew | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| New York are third with 29 points and on a five-game winning streak in the USA’s MLS. Columbus Crew are seventh with 24 points and recently lost 0-3 to Pachuca. The last clash between these two was a 1-1 draw. | |||
| M10: Boca Juniors vs Velez Sarsfield | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Boca Juniors have seven wins in their last 14 games but lost their last match. Vélez Sarsfield are unbeaten in their last four. | |||
SUGGESTED R48 PERM: 1 x 1,2,3 x 1 x 1 x 1,2 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1,2 x 1,2
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Saturday 15 June S10 V1
SOCCER 10 V1 SUGGESTED BET:
| M1: Hungary vs Switzerland | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| With R150,000 added by TAB, expect another bumper pool of some R2million! Hungary have won 10 of their last 15 games, while Switzerland are unbeaten in their last four friendlies. Switzerland won the last meeting between the two 5-2. | |||
| M2: University of Pretoria vs Richards Bay | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| University of Pretoria have won one of their last 10 games. Richards Bay have won six of their last 10. Richards Bay won their last clash. | |||
| M3: Dalvik/Reynir vs Keflavik | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Dalvik/Reynir are winless in their last five, whereas Keflavik have avoided defeat in all but two of their last 10. Keflavik are fourth in the table, two points ahead of Dalvik. | |||
| M4: Spain vs Croatia | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Spain have won 10 of their last 12 games and Croatia are on a six-game winning streak. Spain won the last meeting between the two and have won five of the last seven matches between the teams. | |||
| M5: Italy vs Albania | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Italy are unbeaten in six games and won the last meeting between the teams. Albania have won eight of their last 14 games. Italy have won all four of the matches between the two in the last 10 years. | |||
| M6: CA Union vs San Lorenzo | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Unión are unbeaten in their last four games, while San Lorenzo have failed to win in 10 of their last 13. Last met in February and drew 0-0. | |||
| M7: Ponte Preta vs Novorizontino | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Novorizontino, unbeaten in their last four Serie B games, are 11th with 14 points. Ponte Preta have won just three of their last 15 matches and are 14th with nine points. Their last meeting was a 1-1 draw. | |||
| M8: Atletico Huracan vs Indep Rivadavia | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Huracán are unbeaten in their last nine games, while Independiente Rivadavia have lost eight of their last 15. | |||
| M9: Ituano vs Paysandu SC | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Paysandu are 16th in Serie B with eight points and Ituano are 18th with six points and an inferior goal difference. Ituano have lost 11 of their last 13 games. | |||
| M10: RB Bragantino vs Juventude | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| RB Bragantino are unbeaten in their last four games and sixth in Serie A with 12 points. They won their last meeting with Juventude, who are 12th with nine points. | |||
SUGGESTED R72 PERM: 1,2,3 x 3 x 2,3 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1,2 x 1 x 1,2,3 x 1.
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