Euro 2020 Odds: Group A Tips, Odds, Predictions

Italy come into this tournament as outsiders to win the tournament at 11/1 having won their last international tournament in 2006 at the World Cup in Germany. Since then, the Azzuri did reach the final of Euro 2012 but were thumped 4-0 in the final at the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv.

This is Italy’s first tournament since Euro 2016, having disastrously failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, as they were knocked out in the playoffs to Sweden in the qualifiers. Since then, there has been changes for Italy, as they are now managed by former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini.

The Italians take on the likes of Switzerland, Turkey and Wales in Group A and will be expecting to qualify as group winners in what could be a slightly tricky group. Mancini’s side do have a good mix of experience and youth, as the likes of Gianluigi Donarumma, Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Pellegrini will be playing in their first senior tournaments, whilst the likes of Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Marco Verratti, Lorenzo Insigne and Ciro Immobile will provide a lot of big match experience and quality all over the pitch.

Mancini has never managed at an international tournament, so this will be a new experience for the 56-year-old who has managed an array of club sides including Lazio, Inter Milan and Galatasaray, winning 13 honours. The former City man has already shown his capabilities as an international manager, leading his side to the Nations League semi-finals, having topped a group consisting of the Netherlands, Poland and Bosnia & Herzegovina, winning three and drawing three, conceding just two goals.

Italy are priced at 8/15 to win Group A.

Turkey, Switzerland and Wales will all provide stern competition to compete and follow the Italians through the group.

Switzerland come in as favourites out of the initial three mentioned at 1/2 to qualify, following a respectable showing in Group A4 in the Nations League, finishing five points adrift of Group winners Spain, and three points behind Germany. The Swiss are ironically in the same group as Italy in the World Cup qualifiers and have started life well in that, having beaten both Bulgaria and Lithuania 3-1 and 1-0.

Turkey will be the dark horses in Group A, as despite poor showings in the Nations League, they matched France stride for stride in the qualifiers for this tournament, finishing two points shy on 23 from 10 matches in a group consisting of Iceland, Albania, Andorra and Moldova. The Turks also had a sensational start to World Cup qualifying, beating both Holland and Norway 4-2 and 3-0, before drawing 3-3 with Latvia in March.

With players such as Burak Yilmaz, Yusuf Yazici and Zeki Celik coming into this tournament full of confidence, having won Ligue 1 with Lille, there are many reasons for Şenol Güneş’ side to be optimistic about their chances of progressing. Turkey are priced at 8/15 to qualify from the group, and 11/4 to finish as runners up to Italy.

Turkey have been known for causing upsets in the past couple of years, so it wouldn’t be unfeasible for them to shock the tournament and qualify as top of the group. In the last two years, they have faced the likes of France (twice), Germany and Holland, and have come away with two wins and two draws, beating France 2-0 in the European Championship qualifiers thanks to goals from Kaan Ahyan and Cengiz Under.

The Turks are priced at 5/1 to win Group A.

Wales will be looking to Euro 2016 for inspiration, having reached the semi-finals of this competition last time out. Ryan Giggs’ side come into this tournament as underdogs at 1/1 to qualify from what is a tough group for them. Since their heroics, inspirational defender Ashley Williams has retired from football altogether, whilst Gareth Bale has played just 3,802 minutes of league football, whilst their other star man Aaron Ramsey has been a bit-part player at Juventus this season, featuring just 22 times in Serie A.

Wales will know that if they are to qualify then it could be as a best third-placed team if they can pick up a tally of around four points from their three matches.

Turkey’s best tournament in recent years came back in Euro 2008 where they reached the semi-finals of the Euros, overcoming the likes of Switzerland, Czech Republic and Croatia in dramatic fashion with late goals in each match, before narrowly losing to runners-up Germany in the semis, where a stoppage-time goal from Philip Lahm sent the Germans through to the final in a 3-2 victory for Die Mannschaft.

The first game of Euro 2020 sees Turkey take on Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, which will be a huge test for the Turks. This game will likely define the winners of Group A if either side wins, of which Italy are priced at 11/20 to do so, compared to Turkey’s odds of 11/2. This game is expected to be a low scoring affair, hence why under 2.5 goals is priced at 4/6 to happen.

Turkey’s second fixture sees them play a much more winnable one, as they then face Wales, of which they are priced at 9/4 to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 against a Wales side that will be desperate to get something out of the game to increase their chances of progression, before they face Switzerland in their final group match which is expected to a close one, hence for Turkey’s odds of 2/1 to win the match.