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Between Copa America and Euro 2024, we have an absolutely loaded schedule of soccer heading into the weekend.
Below, I’ll break down all three of Friday’s Euro 2024 matches from a betting perspective and let you know where I’m laying my money on the pitch.
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Friday’s Best Euro 2024 Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Slovakia (+270) vs. Ukraine (+110), DRAW (+230) | O/U 2.5 (+120/-155)
Friday’s action gets started with a Group E showdown between Slovakia and Ukraine. Ukraine didn’t look good in their opener, getting drubbed 3-0 by Romania. Slovakia pulled out a 1-0 victory over Belgium, which likely shocked most. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. ET from Düsseldorf Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany.
This line is a little bit of a head-scratcher to me. Typically, I don’t want to overreact from just one matchday, but Ukraine did not look good in their opener against Romania. The expectations were high entering the tournament for the Coach Serhiy Rebrov and his Blue and Yellows, but they laid an egg in their first match.
Meanwhile, Slovakia has continued to play quality soccer over the last eight months. Including the 1-0 upset win over Belgium, the Slovaks have posted a fantastic 6-1-1 record over their last eight matches across all competitions. It’s worth noting that they lost the €˜xG score’ to Belgium (0.6-1.6), but I don’t think the Ukranians stack up anywhere near the Belgians in terms of overall talent.
Maybe I’m crazy for buying high on Slovakia, but I’ll take them +0.5 (-140) in the second match. If Ukraine can’t figure out its defense, it could be in for another long day. Let’s ride with Slovakia.
Bet: Slovakia +0.5 (-140)
Poland (+250) vs. Austria (+115), DRAW (+240) | O/U 2.5 (-110/-115)
The soccer continues with a Group D clash between Poland and Austria. Both teams took losses in their opening matches, with Poland losing to Netherlands (2-1) and Austria getting blanked by France (1-0). Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET from Olympiastadion Berlin in Berlin.
I’ll play the Both Teams To Score (BTTS) prop in this contest. First and foremost, it looks like Poland will return Robert Lewandowski to their lineup on Friday. The striker is the captain of the Eagles, and he leads the country in all-time caps (182) and goals (82) throughout his long tenure as a player. Lewandowski should give Poland a much-needed boost as the group stage continues.
As for Austria, they looked alright in their 1-0 defeat against France. They controlled 52% of the possession while taking six shot attempts (three on target). All in all, they posted a xG mark of 0.8 in the shutout loss. Ralf Rangnick and his squad will be attempting to score against a Polish team that has conceded in four of their last five matches, including three straight contests. I’ll lay the juice in this spot and say both teams score. I think it ends in the 1-1 range, or maybe someone comes away with a second goal to secure three points.
Bet: Both Teams To Score (-145)
Netherlands (+255) vs. France (+115), DRAW (+235) | O/U 2.5 (-105/-120)
Friday’s Euro 2024 nightcap features a heavyweight tilt between the Netherlands and France. Both teams earned victories in their opening matches, meaning this is a pivotal contest regarding who will win the group. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. ET from Leipzig Stadium in Leipzig, Germany.
I’ll take the under 2.5 for the Friday finale. In case you missed the big news, Kylian Mbappe (47 international goals) will miss this match with a broken nose. He’ll likely return later in the tournament wearing a mask, but he’s confirmed out for Friday’s matchup with the Dutch. With Mbappe sidelined, this French squad is obviously a lot less dangerous. Their leading scorer is Olivier Giroud (57 international goals), but he played only one minute as a late sub against Austria.
On the flip side, France’s defense has been lights out under Coach Didier Deschamps. His squad has posted three straight clean sheets, and I think there’s a chance the trend continues against the Netherlands. The Orange have looked good offensively, but this will be a tall task against a dominant French club. The two countries faced back on Oct. 13 in qualifying, and France won 2-1. However, Mbappe scored both French goals, and with him out of the mix, I think goals will be at a premium. I’m taking the under.
Bet: Under 2.5 (-120)
