Hosts Germany kick off Euro 2024 against Scotland in a Group A showdown in Munich, the first of a number of eye-catching fixtures throughout the first few days of competition. We have predictions from matches featuring top contenders Spain, England and France plus the showdown between Romania and Ukraine.
Spain vs. Croatia predictions
Three-time winners Spain begin their Group B program with a seriously difficult fixture against Croatia at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
Spain is well-fancied and Luis de la Fuente's men come into the competition after a pair of five-goal thrashings against Andorra and Northern Ireland in their final warm-up games.
But Andorra and Northern Ireland are nowhere near the level of Croatia, a team led by a LaLiga favorite in Real Madrid veteran Luka Modrić and packed with experience.
Croatia faced a far sterner test in their final round of pre-tournament friendlies against North Macedonia and Portugal and won both, 3-0 and 2-1 respectively.
These countries have met twice in the past three years and both times drew after 90 minutes. They were close then and it promises to be close again and with Spain too short at -109*, Croatia with a +0.5 Handicap looks like a tempting bet at -102*.
Serbia vs. England predictions
England, who have been talked up by plenty of observers and are the current betting favorites to win Euro 2024, had the wind taken out of their sails by a pre-tournament 1-0 loss at home to Iceland.
That was a performance and result that might just be the wake-up call they need to remain confident they won't fluff their opening-night lines against Serbia.
However, they are short enough in the Money Line market at -215* to be given a miss; indeed a better play would be to back both teams to score at +105*.
England are full of firepower and the Iceland loss should be disregarded. They beat Bosnia 3-0 before that and in qualifying piled up 22 goals in eight games, scoring in each of them.
But Serbia, led by warhorse Aleksandar Mitrović, come into the game on the back of a 3-0 win against Sweden and scored in all eight of their qualifiers, too.
England's defense looks suspect so expect goals at both ends in this Group C tie in Gelsenkirchen.
Romania vs. Ukraine predictions
Ukraine are going to fancy their chances of emerging from Group E and should certainly be able to take care of Romania in Munich in their opener.
The Romanians' warm-up schedule culminated in a pair of 0-0 draws against Bulgaria and Liechtenstein. Only two members of their squad have scored more than seven international goals and a lightness in attack could well be their undoing.
Back Ukraine on the Money Line at +103*.
Austria vs. France predictions
The mighty France are strongly fancied in Germany and are a short price at -189* to see off Austria in their Group D curtain-raiser in Dusseldorf.
With Real Madrid-bound Kylian Mbappé and World Cup-winning experience throughout the team, it's easy to be impressed by France.
But you write off Austria at your peril. Understated, unfancied, but unbeaten in 2024, they are a side full of Bundesliga regulars who could easily upset the odds. At the very least, take them to come out on top with a +1.0 Handicap at +103*.
