Euro 2020 Scotland and Wales Specials

Scotland and Wales both come into this tournament priced at 150/1 to win it, which is understandable, as this is the first time the Scot’s have been at the Euros since 1996, where they were ironically drawn in the same group as England, finishing behind the Three Lions and Holland in the group standings, whilst Wales don’t look likely to go further than they did at Euro 2016, where they were the surprise package of the tournament as they reached the semi-finals.

Scotland face a huge task in Group D, facing up to the challenges of England, Croatia and the Czech Republic and are priced at 5/4 to qualify from it. Steve Clarke’s side qualified via a playoff game against Serbia, which they earned via the Nations League.

However, Wales are priced at 5/6 to qualify from a tricky group, containing the likes of Italy, Switzerland and Turkey having qualified in 2nd place behind Croatia, ahead of the likes of Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan.

Scotland

The last player to score for Scotland at the Euros was Ally McCoist back at Euro 96 in a 1-0 victory over Switzerland as they exited the tournament via goal difference to the Netherlands in the group stages. Steve Clarke’s side have the odds of 4/6 to score three goals this time around which should be possible when considering recent records against their group stage opponents.

Scotland actually managed to beat the Czech Republic both 2-1 and 1-0 in the Nations League in Group B2, thanks to goals from Lyndon Dykes, Ryan Christie and Ryan Fraser, despite this, they still finished two points shy of the Czechs’ who finished as top of the group.

Clarke’s side haven’t met England in a competitive game since their dramatic 2-2 draw at Hampden Park in June 2017, where Leigh Griffiths scored two sensational free-kicks in the 87th and 90th minutes of the game to put them 2-1 up, before conceding a stoppage-time equaliser to Harry Kane.

If Scotland can replicate some of the previous results discussed against the Czech Republic or England, as well as managing goals against Croatia who conceded 16 goals in six games in the Nations League to the likes of France, Portugal and Croatia, then they are priced at 6/4 to score four or more goals and 11/4 to score five or more.

Wales

As previously discussed, Wales face a tough task in Group A and are the fourth favourites to qualify from their group despite having the odds of 5/6 to qualify, but, as shown in the last Euros, if the likes of Gareth Bale turns up and is on form, as he regularly has been for the national team regardless of his club status, then they will always have a chance of making the round of 16.

Wales are priced at 1/1 to score four or more goals which in itself could be a big ask for them considering that when they qualified for the tournament via the qualification group they found the back of the net 10 times in eight matches, whilst scoring seven in six matches in the Nations League against the likes of Bulgaria, Finland and the Republic of Ireland.

However, they are facing teams that have had poor defensive records in both Switzerland and Turkey, who combined in the Nations League, conceded 16 goals in groups A4 and B3. Wales are priced at 2/1 to score five or more and 10/3 to score six or more at the Euros which will likely depend on them qualifying from the group stage.

Scotland will be looking to maximise their chances of progressing from Group D and they will likely look at Croatia and Czech Republic as their best chances of points from the group stages, whilst they will also be determined to beat England due to the historic rivalry between the two nations.

Clarke’s side are priced at 9/1 to get six points which would likely guarantee them qualification to the round of 16 barring extraordinary circumstances, whilst having the odds of 4/1 to get four points and 3/1 to get three points. However, they are also priced at 9/2 to have a disastrous tournament and lose all three of their matches, as well as 3/1 to pick up just one point.

Wales most likely outcomes according to the bookie’s are to finish on either three or four points, with both of these tallies being priced at 7/2.

These outcomes seem likely due to Wales having the tough test of Roberto Mancini’s Italy in their group who advanced through to the Nations League semi-finals, as well as awkward opponents such as Switzerland and Turkey, with the Swiss finishing top of qualifying Group D, whilst Turkey narrowly missed out on top spot to France in Group H by two points.

Ryan Giggs’ side are priced at 13/2 to lose all three group matches at the Euros, 4/1 to get just one point and 15/2 to get two wins.