Another cracker weekend for TAB soccer customers starts tonight with two cash-added pools followed tomorrow by a guaranteed R10-million Soccer 13 and two other cash-boosted bets. And then at 21:00 on Sunday, Spain and England square up in the EURO 2024 final. Spain are deservedly hot favourites, but England need only a couple of flashes from brilliance from the likes of Bellingham and Foden to win their first trophy in nearly 60 years
The match is the highlight of this weekend’s football action and Gareth Southgate has defied the critics in leading England to a second consecutive EURO final and the country’s first major championship final away from home.
The real question now is whether England can finally get over the line, against a Spain side that have been the standout performers in Germany.
England will certainly have to play better than they have at this tournament so far, and better than they did in the EURO 2020 final at Wembley. Against Italy in that final, England took an early lead, but from that point were outgunned by Italy who eventually took the title via a penalty shootout.
Three years on Southgate's men came into this competition as one of the favourites, but until Wednesday they had put in a series of turgid performances - scraping past Slovakia and Switzerland in the knockout rounds to reach the last four.
The semi-final saw England produce their best performance yet, again showing resilience to come back from a goal down with substitute Watkins providing the late winner.
Southgate's side have fallen behind in all of their three matches in the knockout rounds, which may ironically have helped them, as at times they have played like a side with no idea how to take the initiative.
Forced to fire up after Xavi Simons' long-range missile had put Holland in front early, England's attack caused the Dutch far more problems than to other teams in the earlier rounds.
Spain, however, are firm favourites to break England’s hearts again. La Roja have played exhilarating attacking football at EURO 2024, taking down reigning champions Italy, hosts Germany and France in a far more perilous run to the final than England.
La Roja's young sensation Lamine Yamal will turn 17 the day before the final, and could extend his birthday celebrations by playing a major role in assisting Spain to beat England. His strike against France in the semi-finals underlined his amazing ability and England will have to be sharp to keep him quiet.
Spain's goal-scoring threat, however, comes from all areas of the pitch with nine of their players having scored at the competition so far. So if Yamal doesn't get you, Dani Olmo will and if Olmo doesn't get you, Fabian Ruiz will.
There’s unlikely to be much in it, but at the end of the day Spain should emerge victorious. Prediction: Spain 2 England 1.
SOCCER 10 V2 SUGGESTED BET:
| M1: Al Ahly SC vs Pyramids FC | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Ahly are unbeaten in 15 games and second in the table with 51 points from 21 matches. Pyramids top the log with 65 points from 26 games and have won their last 13 games. Pyramids won the last encounter 3-0, but Ahly have won four of the last six clashes between the two. | |||
| M2: Sarpsborg 08 vs Rosenborg | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Sarpsborg are on a three-game losing streak, while Rosenborg have lost six of their last nine games. Sarpsborg won their last meeting 5-2. | |||
| M3: Bohemians vs Sligo Rovers | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Bohemians are winless in their last five Irish Premier Division matches, while Sligo Rovers have won their last two. Bohemians won the last meeting 3-0. Sligo Rovers are seventh with 28 points, three more than Bohemians. | |||
| M4: Dundalk vs Drogheda United | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Dundalk have lost six of their last 10 games and are ninth with 19 points, three more than Drogheda United who are winless in their last nine. Drogheda won the last meeting 2-1 on 1 May. | |||
| M5: Galway United vs Waterford FC | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Waterford, third in the Irish Premier Division, have won three in a row. Galway are fifth and unbeaten in 11 of their last 14 games. Their last meeting ended in a 0-0 draw, but Galway have won four of the last six encounters between the two and drawn the others. | |||
| M6: Wexford FC vs Cobh Ramblers | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Wexford are winless in their last seven games and sixth in the table with 27 points. Cobh Ramblers are 7th with 26 points and have avoided defeat in 10 of their last 14 games. Their last meeting ended 1-1. | |||
| M7: Ponte Preta vs Mirassol | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| The visitors are 10th in Serie B with 19 points, three more than Ponte Preta. Their last clash ended 1-1. | |||
| M8: Hartford Athletic vs Charleston Battery | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| USA second division. Hartford are on a three-game losing streak. Charleston have won eight of their last 14 games and are second in the table, 17 points ahead of Hartford. | |||
| M9: Botafogo SP vs Amazonas FC | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Botafogo are unbeaten in their last five Serie B games and are 12th with 17 points. Amazonas are unbeaten in their last three and are 14th with 16 points. | |||
| M10: Paysandu SC vs Ceara | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Paysandu are unbeaten in their last four Serie B games and are 15th in the table with 16 points. Ceará, currently ninth with 19 points, have won only five of their last 15 games. | |||
Suggested R216 perm: 1,2,3 x 1,2,3 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1,2,3 x 1,2 x 2,3 x 1 x 1.
SOCCER 10 V1 SUGGESTED BET:
| M1: Bahia vs Cuiaba | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Bahia are fifth in Brazil’s Serie A with 24 points, having won nine of their last 14 games. Cuiabá are 15th with 13 points and are winless in their last four. Cuiabá won their last meeting 3-0. | |||
| M2: Cruzeiro vs RB Bragantino | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| The visitors sit seventh with 22 points, two ahead of Cruzeiro. The last clash between them ended 0-0. | |||
| M3: Juventude vs Internacional | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Copa do Brasil match. Juventude have lost their last two, while Internacional are winless in their last three Serie A games. The two have a win apiece with two draws from their last four meetings. | |||
| M4: Montreal Impact vs Atlanta United | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| MLS clash. Montréal have won only two of their last 15 games and are 12th with 22 points. Atlanta United are ninth on 24 points. | |||
| M5: New England Revolution vs Orlando City | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| New England have won five of their last six MLS games, while Orlando have struggled, winning only four of their last 14. Orlando are 10th with 24 points, two more than New England. | |||
| M6: Austin FC vs Seattle Sounders FC | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Seattle are unbeaten in their last four matches and sit ninth with 28 points. Austin have lost four of their last six MLS games and are 10th with 27 points. The last match between them was a 0-0 draw. | |||
| M7: Houston Dynamo vs Minnesota United | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Houston have been unable to win in 11 of their last 15 games and are seventh in the table with 30 points. Minnesota are eighth with 29 points. Houston won their last meeting 2-1 in April. | |||
| M8: Colorado Rapids vs New York RB | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Colorado have won eight of their last 15 MLS games and won their last home match 2-1. New York RB are unbeaten in their last four, drawing their last match 2-2. | |||
| M9: Portland Timbers vs Real Salt Lake | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Salt Lake, second in the table, visit Portland (sixth) after winning their last game and avoiding defeat in 13 of their last 15 fixtures. In their past six meetings, both teams have two wins with two draws. | |||
| M10: Los Angeles FC vs Columbus Crew | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Los Angeles are unbeaten in 12 games and top the log with 40 points. Columbus have won three on the trot and are third with 36 points. Columbus won their last clash with LA 2-1. | |||
Suggested R72 perm: 1,2 x 1 x 1,2 x 1 x 1,2,3 x 1,2,3 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1.