Euro 2021 odds: Best bets for the second round of group stage matches and Golden Boot

Every team at Euro 2021 has now played a game, and we now know more about the state of each team as the second round of group matches get underway.

There were a couple of upsets in the opening set of fixtures. Sweden was able to hold Spain to a goalless draw. Slovakia managed to beat Poland in a battle of neighboring countries. And, of course, Finland earned a win in their first Euro fixture ever, beating Denmark 1-0. That came in the wake of Christian Eriksen suffering cardiac arrest on the field.

With those matches in the books, now is the perfect time to take advantage of any overreactions to the first set of Euro matches. Every contest in the 51-match tournament is important, but the second go-around is often the most important, as some teams are playing for their tournament lives while others are looking to clinch a spot in the Round of 16.

With a lot on the line already, bettors can take advantage of these highly motivated teams while also targeting some of the bigger on-field mismatches. It’s also a good time to make more informed wagers on the Golden Boot race now that some true contenders for the award have emerged.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the best bets for the second round of group stage matches along with some top wagers to make in the Golden Boot race.

UEFA EURO 2020: Updated tables, scores, results from tournament

Euro 2021 odds for second fixtures of group stage

Below are the latest Euro 2021 odds for each match of the second phase of the group stage, according to the DraftKings sportsbook. Included are odds for each team to win and each game to end in a draw.

Euro 2021 best bets for second group stage fixtures

Italy (-159) over Switzerland

Kickoff: Wednesday, June 16 at 3 p.m. ET

Italy looked terrific in their 3-0 Euro-opening win over Turkey on Friday. Now, they get to take on a Swiss squad that tied Wales in their opener.

While Switzerland should test Italy more than Turkey was able to, the Swiss showed they have scoring issues with Benfica man Haris Seferovic struggling early. They’ll have more trouble sustaining an attack against an Italian team that held the ball 61 percent of the time against Turkey and notched 24 shots (eight on goal).

Expect another Italian win that will set up a must-win matchup for Switzerland against Turkey in the group finale.

Belgium (+112) over Denmark

Kickoff: Thursday, June 17 at 12 p.m. ET

It’s hard to root against Denmark, and the team could be emotionally galvanized as it attempts to win this game without its star playmaker, Eriksen, who is currently hospitalized in stable condition after going into cardiac arrest on the field during Denmark’s loss to Finland. The Danes will want to win for Eriksen and to stick to it UEFA after the governing body had them finish their game on Saturday afternoon just 90 minutes after the incident.

However, Belgium is one of the most experienced sides in this tournament and Romelu Lukaku & Co. dominated Russia in a 3-0 victory in St. Petersburg. Home-field advantage for the opponent didn’t faze the Belgians then and they should have a good chance to beat Denmark in Copenhagen, especially with the Danish side unfortunately down its best player.

The Red Devils are a good value pick. Denmark may be desperate to earn at least a point after the loss to Finland, but the Danes will be hard-pressed to find a way to earn one in this tough matchup.

MORE: Full schedule, dates for Euro 2021

Germany (+140) over Portugal

Kickoff: Saturday, June 19 at 12 p.m. ET

Portugal won 3-0 in its opening match, but the result was deceiving. They Portuguese were held scoreless by Hungary until the 84th minute before breaking through. After that, a questionable penalty kick opportunity helped them put Hungary away and Cristiano Ronaldo added a third goal for good measure.

But Portugal was not dominant. And Germany was solid in its own right against tournament-favorite France, holding the French to one goal (a Mats Hummels own goal) and possessing the ball 59 percent of the time.

Could Portugal win or tie? Sure. But Germany desperately needs at least a point out of this matchup to stay alive, so the Germans are the better side to bet. If you’re worried about the possibility of a tie, you could bet the “Germany or Tie” prop at -250.

Spain (-278) over Poland

Kickoff: Saturday, June 19 at 3 p.m. ET

Spain and Poland both failed to secure victories in their first match. Poland shockingly lost to Slovakia 2-1 and lost Grzegorz Krychowiak to the tournament’s first red card. Meanwhile, Spain tied Sweden 0-0.

So, which side will bounce back? The money should be on Spain. In truth, the Spaniards should’ve beaten Sweden. They had 75 percent of the possession and generated 17 shots, five of which were on goal. They just didn’t convert. But if they bring their finishing boots against Poland, they should win.

It will also help the Spaniards' cause that they’ll have a full week of training after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 scare earlier in camp (captain Sergio Busquets was ultimately the only player required to quarantine for an extended period). They are certainly a likeable side, even at the short odds of -278. You can always parlay Spain with another one of these bets to generate better odds as well.

Euro 2021 Golden Boot odds

Below are the latest odds for the top Golden Boot contenders at Euro 2021, per DraftKings sportsbook.

MORE: All the milestones set by Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2021

Euro 2021 Golden Boot best bets

Romelu Lukaku, Belgium (+225)

Lukaku may have the shortest odds, but there’s still a lot to like about him. First of all, he is one of three players at Euro 2021 that has already netted two goals. That gives him a leg up on the competition. Second, he is playing for an experienced Belgium side which is expected to go deep in the tournament. And the potential return of Kevin De Bruyne will only make their attack more productive.

Finally, the Belgians are playing in a rather weak group, so they will continue to rack up scoring opportunities and seem poised for a solid run in the tournament. That bodes well for Lukaku.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal (+400)

Like Lukaku, Ronaldo has already netted two goals. He scored both late in Portugal’s game against Hungary. And like Lukaku, there’s a lot to like about his goal-scoring opportunities moving forward.

Ronaldo’s schedule isn’t easy. He’s playing Germany and France in his next two fixtures. However, he is the top scorer on Portugal and the team will do what is necessary to get him opportunities. If there’s a penalty, he will take it. The same can be said of free kicks around the penalty area.

While Ronaldo’s path won’t be as easy as that of Lukaku, there’s still plenty to like about him at 4-1 odds. And if you took a chance on Portugal to win the tournament and Ronaldo to be the leading scorer, as we recommended in our pre-tournament betting primer, you have to be feeling good about him after his opening fixture.

Kylian Mbappe, France (+1700)

Mbappe didn’t score in France’s opening win over Germany. In fact, none of Les Bleus scored; they only won thanks to an own goal. However, Mbappé had a goal taken off the board for an offside.

It still demonstrated his world-class finishing skills. He has good speed and should continue to have scoring chances moving forward. France is playing Hungary next, and Mbappé could do well in that contest although space will be at a premium. Getting him at 17-1 odds seems like a good value given he can explode for a multi-goal game. His teammate, Karim Benzema (+2500) is another decent value option as well.

Source: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/euro-2021-odds-best-bets-group-stage-golden-boot/19la9617v10n5z8ccrd8g3cpi