Sports betting players still have a while to go until next year?s European Championships, which will be held next summer in Poland and the Ukraine, but we?re almost through the complicated qualification process. Here is who should reach the finals of the tournament, alongside the host countries (that means 51 countries battling for 14 spots; nine first-place teams, the top second-place team, and four winners from playoffs between the remaining eight second-place teams).
Group A
The Germans are off to a hot start, winning their first five matches by a score of 17-1, and they?re looking to add to their record 10 appearances in the European Championships, along with three wins. Three of their five remaining games are away from home, but it doesn?t matter; Germany is the class of this group.
The June 3rd meeting between Belgium and Turkey in Brussels will go a long way towards deciding who finishes second in the group. Austria will be looking to pounce if one of those teams falter, and they have two easy closing games against Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. But the smart money is on Belgium, even though they end their qualification in Germany. The Germans will probably field a weak lineup as they should have their spot sewn up.
Soccer Betting Picks: Germany, Belgium
Group B
Halfway through qualification, 1976 champion Slovakia, Russia and Ireland are all tied with 10 points, while Armenia is two points behind, so the next round of games on June 4th will be huge. Armenia has the toughest task as four of their last five games are away from home, while Russia plays four of their last five at home, so they have the upper hand. Ireland and Slovakia meet in September in Dublin in a game that could decide second place.
Take the Russians and Ireland to the Euro 2012 finals, as Russia has the most talent and probably won?t lose at home again after falling to Slovakia in Moscow back in September, while the Irish are owed one by karma after France cheated them out of a World Cup spot. However, they have to beat Slovakia to have a chance.
Soccer Betting Picks: Russia, Ireland
Group C
The 1968 champion Italians are the soccer betting favorites to win this group after winning four and drawn one of their first five games, while Slovenia, Serbia, Estonia and Northern Ireland are within two points of each other. Watch the Serbian situation closely as they have been threatened with a ban after their match with Italy in October was stopped after six minutes because their fans were throwing flares on the pitch. The Northern Ireland fans are also worth watching, and Italy as well, so it could be a matter of who is left to go onto the finals.
Look for Slovenia to turn around their home form (one win, two losses) and capture the second spot behind the Italians in Group C.
Soccer Betting Picks: Italy, Slovenia
Group D
France will likely end up topping the group as they look to bounce back from the debacle that was South Africa 2010, and they?ve won four straight after losing to Belarus, who is four points behind France, but tied with Albania, and Bosnia-Herzegovina is one point behind. Even Romania is still in the mix, three points behind Belarus and Albania. This is probably going to go all the way to the final week of qualifying in October.
Look for France, who won in 1984 and 2000, to make their eighth appearance in the Euros, while Albania returns to the tournament for the first time since 1964.
Soccer Betting Picks: France, Albania
Group E
The Netherlands, who won in 1988, are following up their runner-up result in the World Cup by storming through Euro 2012 qualification, winning their first six games by a score of 21-5. Sweden, Hungary and Moldova are within three points of each other, and second place will probably be decided in September when Sweden heads to Hungary, and the Swedes are the smart play because Hungary?s defense is atrocious. They?ve scored 15 goals in their first six games, while allowing 13, second only to last-place San Marino, who hasn?t scored yet.
The Swedes also get the upper hand because they have two games in hand on Hungary.
Soccer Betting Picks: The Netherlands, Sweden
Group F
Two points separate first-place (and 2004 champion) Greece, Croatia, Israel and Georgia, but you can count Israel out as they have to play three of their last four games away from home. Georgia needs to get a point in their trip to Croatia in June as they look to reach the finals of their first major international tournament.
First place should be decided when Greece hosts Croatia in October, while the Croats will likely need a point when they host Latvia four days later. They?ll probably get all three points to secure qualification as they rolled to a 3-0 win in Latvia back in September.
Soccer Betting Picks: Greece, Croatia
Group G
It looks like it?s going to be a two-horse race between England and Montenegro, and if they both win in June, Wales will be eliminated. Switzerland needs to win in England to have a chance, while Bulgaria has to do the same in Montenegro, who beat the Bulgarians 1-0 on the road. First place will be decided in October when England heads to Montenegro.
The Three Lions will reach the tournament for the eighth time in their history, while Montenegro makes the finals for the first time since becoming an independent nation.
Soccer Betting Picks: England, Montenegro
Group H
Norway has jumped out to a three-point lead over Portugal and 1992 champions Denmark, who will host Portugal on the final matchday in October in Copenhagen. Portugal hosts Norway in their next match in June, while Denmark visits last-place Iceland, so all three could be tied on 10 points heading into the next round games.
It?s tough to count the Portuguese out, so they?re in. Denmark also gets the nod over Norway, who visits Copenhagen in September, and the Danes are very good at home. The Norwegians fall just short of reaching the Euro finals for the first time since 2000.
Soccer Betting Picks: Denmark, Portugal
Group I
In the final group, the defending champions from Spain (who also won in 1964 and are the defending World Cup holders as well) and the 1976 champion Czech Republic are running away with it. Scotland needs to beat the Czechs at home in September to have a chance in qualify as they?re six points behind the second-place team. Lithuania also has the run the table, although they have back-to-back matches against Liechtenstein that could build some momentum ahead of a massive game in Scotland.
Spain and the Czech Republic are the teams to wager on in your online betting book.
Group A
The Germans are off to a hot start, winning their first five matches by a score of 17-1, and they?re looking to add to their record 10 appearances in the European Championships, along with three wins. Three of their five remaining games are away from home, but it doesn?t matter; Germany is the class of this group.
The June 3rd meeting between Belgium and Turkey in Brussels will go a long way towards deciding who finishes second in the group. Austria will be looking to pounce if one of those teams falter, and they have two easy closing games against Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. But the smart money is on Belgium, even though they end their qualification in Germany. The Germans will probably field a weak lineup as they should have their spot sewn up.
Soccer Betting Picks: Germany, Belgium
Group B
Halfway through qualification, 1976 champion Slovakia, Russia and Ireland are all tied with 10 points, while Armenia is two points behind, so the next round of games on June 4th will be huge. Armenia has the toughest task as four of their last five games are away from home, while Russia plays four of their last five at home, so they have the upper hand. Ireland and Slovakia meet in September in Dublin in a game that could decide second place.
Take the Russians and Ireland to the Euro 2012 finals, as Russia has the most talent and probably won?t lose at home again after falling to Slovakia in Moscow back in September, while the Irish are owed one by karma after France cheated them out of a World Cup spot. However, they have to beat Slovakia to have a chance.
Soccer Betting Picks: Russia, Ireland
Group C
The 1968 champion Italians are the soccer betting favorites to win this group after winning four and drawn one of their first five games, while Slovenia, Serbia, Estonia and Northern Ireland are within two points of each other. Watch the Serbian situation closely as they have been threatened with a ban after their match with Italy in October was stopped after six minutes because their fans were throwing flares on the pitch. The Northern Ireland fans are also worth watching, and Italy as well, so it could be a matter of who is left to go onto the finals.
Look for Slovenia to turn around their home form (one win, two losses) and capture the second spot behind the Italians in Group C.
Soccer Betting Picks: Italy, Slovenia
Group D
France will likely end up topping the group as they look to bounce back from the debacle that was South Africa 2010, and they?ve won four straight after losing to Belarus, who is four points behind France, but tied with Albania, and Bosnia-Herzegovina is one point behind. Even Romania is still in the mix, three points behind Belarus and Albania. This is probably going to go all the way to the final week of qualifying in October.
Look for France, who won in 1984 and 2000, to make their eighth appearance in the Euros, while Albania returns to the tournament for the first time since 1964.
Soccer Betting Picks: France, Albania
Group E
The Netherlands, who won in 1988, are following up their runner-up result in the World Cup by storming through Euro 2012 qualification, winning their first six games by a score of 21-5. Sweden, Hungary and Moldova are within three points of each other, and second place will probably be decided in September when Sweden heads to Hungary, and the Swedes are the smart play because Hungary?s defense is atrocious. They?ve scored 15 goals in their first six games, while allowing 13, second only to last-place San Marino, who hasn?t scored yet.
The Swedes also get the upper hand because they have two games in hand on Hungary.
Soccer Betting Picks: The Netherlands, Sweden
Group F
Two points separate first-place (and 2004 champion) Greece, Croatia, Israel and Georgia, but you can count Israel out as they have to play three of their last four games away from home. Georgia needs to get a point in their trip to Croatia in June as they look to reach the finals of their first major international tournament.
First place should be decided when Greece hosts Croatia in October, while the Croats will likely need a point when they host Latvia four days later. They?ll probably get all three points to secure qualification as they rolled to a 3-0 win in Latvia back in September.
Soccer Betting Picks: Greece, Croatia
Group G
It looks like it?s going to be a two-horse race between England and Montenegro, and if they both win in June, Wales will be eliminated. Switzerland needs to win in England to have a chance, while Bulgaria has to do the same in Montenegro, who beat the Bulgarians 1-0 on the road. First place will be decided in October when England heads to Montenegro.
The Three Lions will reach the tournament for the eighth time in their history, while Montenegro makes the finals for the first time since becoming an independent nation.
Soccer Betting Picks: England, Montenegro
Group H
Norway has jumped out to a three-point lead over Portugal and 1992 champions Denmark, who will host Portugal on the final matchday in October in Copenhagen. Portugal hosts Norway in their next match in June, while Denmark visits last-place Iceland, so all three could be tied on 10 points heading into the next round games.
It?s tough to count the Portuguese out, so they?re in. Denmark also gets the nod over Norway, who visits Copenhagen in September, and the Danes are very good at home. The Norwegians fall just short of reaching the Euro finals for the first time since 2000.
Soccer Betting Picks: Denmark, Portugal
Group I
In the final group, the defending champions from Spain (who also won in 1964 and are the defending World Cup holders as well) and the 1976 champion Czech Republic are running away with it. Scotland needs to beat the Czechs at home in September to have a chance in qualify as they?re six points behind the second-place team. Lithuania also has the run the table, although they have back-to-back matches against Liechtenstein that could build some momentum ahead of a massive game in Scotland.
Spain and the Czech Republic are the teams to wager on in your online betting book.
