Horseracing dominates the sporting landscape this weekend, but TAB soccer customers can look forward to some blockbuster action with a couple of great clashes on the cards at EURO 2024 and a cash injection of nearly R500,000 in add-ins and a carryover to five TAB soccer pools.
EURO 2024 is at the quarter-final stage and while the likes of Belgium, Croatia and reigning champions Italy have gone home, most of the other big-gun countries are in the quarters.
Some, it must be said, are looking in the best shape of the eight and have been the most impressive team at the tournament so far. England and France on the other hand have been so boring that any of their supporters suffering from insomnia must now be cured.
As the competition enters its final stages, however, still being in the battle is the most important factor, and all those left in the competition have realistic hopes of lifting the trophy on 14 July.
Switzerland have been impressive. They sent Italy home and were unlucky not to beat Germany in their final group match. They will aim for another high-octane performance against England tomorrow and could blow Gareth Southgate's side away.
England were within seconds of going out of the competition to Slovakia in the last 16, before Jude Bellingham produced a sublime overhead kick in stoppage time. Harry Kane then found an extra-time winner to get them into the last eight.
Bellingham and Kane have shared England's four goals at the competition so far. Neither has looked in the greatest of form, but their ability to impact a match even when not playing well, is the main reason England might just scrape past the Swiss.
England are also lucky that they are in the weak half of the draw and away from two powerhouse quarter-finals on Friday.
Hosts Germany take on a Spanish side that dismantled Georgia in the last 16. Spanish manager Luis De La Fuente has got the best out of an immensely talented squad of players with Manchester City's master playmaker Rodri controlling matches from the middle of the park. And seven different Spanish players have already hit the back of the net at the tournament, showing their goals can come from anywhere.
Julian Nagelsmann's Germany have also been impressive with Jamal Musiala a definite candidate for Player of the Tournament and Toni Kroos showing no signs of looking like a player about to hang up his boots.
It should be a tight clash, as should France against Portugal, though that game features two teams with plenty of room for improvement. France, for all their attacking talent, have scored just three goals at this year's Euros, and those were two own goals and a Kylian Mbappe penalty.
Portugal, meanwhile, lost to Georgia in the group stages, and struggled to get past Slovenia in the last 16, with Cristiano Ronaldo really looking like a man playing in one tournament too many.
In the other quarter-final, the Netherlands, another side who have impressed up to now, should have enough to get past a dangerous but defensively vulnerable Turkey.
SOCCER 10 V2 SUGGESTED BET:
| M1: Spain vs Germany | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| The most anticipated match at EURO 2024 kicks off this R150,000-added Soccer 10. Germany are unbeaten in their last eight games and Spain have won six on the trot. The last meeting between them was a 1-1 draw at the Qatar World Cup. What a clash. | |||
| M2: Larne vs Cliftonville FC | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Larne are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions, whereas Cliftonville have lost two friendlies in a row. Larne won the last meeting between the two 8-1 in April and have three wins to Cliftonville’s one from their last four clashes. | |||
| M3: Portugal vs France | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Portugal have won 12 of their last 15 games and France are unbeaten in their last seven. Their last clash was three years ago and ended in a 2-2 draw. In seven past meetings, Portugal have won one to France’s four with two draws. | |||
| M4: Ceara vs Santos | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| The visitors, second in Brazil’s Serie B with 22 points, face Ceará who are eighth with 19 points. Santos have won eight of their last 15 games, while Ceará have been winless in 10 of their last 15. | |||
| M5: Charleston Battery vs Birmingham Legion FC | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Charleston, second in the USL Championship with 33 points, face sixth-placed Birmingham Legion with 24 points. Charleston have won eight of their last 14 games including a match against Birmingham. | |||
| M6: Rhode Island vs Indy Eleven | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Another USA second division clash. Indy Eleven’s 10-match winning run came to a halt last time. Rhode Island have only three wins in their last 15 but did win their last home fixture. This is the first meeting between the two teams. Indy Eleven are third in the league table and Rhode Island ninth. | |||
| M7: Brusque FC vs Ponte Preta | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Brusque are unbeaten in their last four Serie B games, while Ponte Preta have failed to win 11 of their last 15 matches. Ponte Preta are 13th with 16 points with Brusque 18th on 12 points. | |||
| M8: Puebla vs Santos Laguna | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Mexican premier league (Liga MX). Puebla are winless in their last 12 games, while Santos Laguna are winless in their last six. Puebla lost their last home game 1-2 to America and Santos Laguna lost 0-3 to Atlético San Luis. Santos won a clash between the two 3-0 in January. | |||
| M9: Club Queretaro vs Club Tijuana | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Tijuana are winless in 13 of their last 15 Liga MX games. Querétaro are winless in their last four. The last match between them was a 1-1 draw and Querétaro have won four of the last seven meetings with one win for Tijuana and two draws. | |||
| M10: FC Juarez vs Atlas | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Juárez have won five of their last seven games, while Atlas have failed to win in 12 of their last 13. In their last seven meetings, Atlas have won five with one draw. | |||
Suggested R108 perm: 1,2 x 1 x 1,2,3 x 1 x 1,2,3 x 3 x 1 x 1,2,3 x 1 x 1.
SOCCER 10 V1 SUGGESTED BET:
| M1: England vs Switzerland | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| England are unbeaten in all four EURO 2024 games, while Switzerland are unbeaten in their last eight in all competitions. England won the last clash between two 2-1 and have won six of the last seven encounters with one draw. No doubt though that England will have to improve on their current form to win here. | |||
| M2: Netherlands vs Turkey | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Netherlands destroyed Romania in the round of 16 and are getting into stride at the right time. Turkey have won 10 of their last 14 and showed lots of heart to hold on against Austria. Netherlands have four wins to Turkey’s two in their last eight clashes. | |||
| M3: Goias vs Chapecoense | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Chapecoense face Goiás at Estádio de Hailé Pinheiro. Goiás are winless in their last four Serie B games and are ninth in the league. Chapecoense, on a three-game losing streak, are 16th. Their last meeting ended 2-2 five years ago. | |||
| M4: Cincinnati vs Inter Miami | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Cincinnati have won 10 of their last 12 MLS games including their last meeting against Inter Miami, who are on a three-game winning streak. Inter Miami currently top the table with 44 points with Cincinnati second on 42 points, having played one less game. | |||
| M5: Orlando City vs DC United | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Orlando have failed to win in 11 of their last 15 MLS games and lost their last match. United are winless in their last nine games. Orlando won their last meeting 3-2. Orlando are 11th with 21 points, just one ahead of D.C. United. | |||
| M6: Philadelphia Union vs New York RB | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| New York are unbeaten in their last four games, while Philadelphia are winless in seven and lost their last game 2-4 to Montréal. Philadelphia won the last encounter between the two 4-1, but are 12th on the table with 20 points compared to third-placed New York’s 35. | |||
| M7: Flamengo RJ vs Cuiaba | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Flamengo have won three of their last five and currently top the Serie A table in Brazil with 27 points from 13 games. They are 14 points ahead of Cuiaba, who have three draws and two wins from their last five. | |||
| M8: Sao Paulo vs RB Bragantino | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Expect a close game. Sao Paulo have won their last two matches, but are only two points ahead of Bragantino. | |||
| M9: Austin FC vs New York City | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Both sides have lost three of their last five with Austin 10th in the Western Conference and NYC fifth in the Eastern Conference. Austin have only five points less than their rivals though and have home advantage. | |||
| M10: Seattle Sounders FC vs New England Revolution | TEAM A WINS | DRAW | TEAM B WINS |
| Sounders are ninth in the Western Conference and have eight points more than their rivals who are one from bottom in the Eastern league. Sounder have three wins to New England’s four in past clashes. | |||
Suggested R324 perm: 1,2,3 x 1 x 1 x 1,2,3 x 1,2,3 x 1,2,3 x 1 x 1 x 1,2 x 1.