With the hosts the overwhelming favorites to progress
as group winners, we take a look at the market for who is likely to
join Les Bleus in the knockout stages this summer
Les Bleus are joined by Switzerland, Romania and Albania, three sides who should be able to compete with Didier Deschamps' men if not stop them from finishing in top spot. Betway offer France at just 4/11 (1.36) to end the group stages ahead of all three opponents and there will be few punters rushing to take that price despite the likelihood of the outcome.
It is worth bearing in mind the French's record against their fellow Group A teams, with Les Bleus losing their last game against Albania 1-0 (a friendly last year June) and managing only one win in their last five matches against Romania. Against the Swiss their record is little more impressive with just one win in their last four, so while France are expected to top the group it could perhaps be tighter than people imagine.
The real market though is for who will join France in the knockout stages, and the favourites are rightly Switzerland with Vladimir Petkovic's side offered at 1/4 (1.25) to qualify. The "to qualify" market is made more complex by the expanded 24-team tournament with only eight teams exiting the competition after the group stages.
The Swiss had a decent qualifying campaign finishing behind England and their record of just eight goals conceded in ten matches underlined their solidity as a unit. Their squad is full of players plying their trade in the continent's major leagues, and their starting line-up is capable of causing any side problems. The Swiss are priced at 13/10 (2.30) to finish second and that should be of interest.
However the team with the best defensive record in the whole qualifying tournament were Romania who let in just two goals in 900 minutes of football, and back in March the side held Spain to a goalless draw in a friendly. The problem for Anghel Iordanescu and his side is that they face France in the opening game, while Switzerland take on outsiders Albania, meaning that Romania could face an immediate uphill task to qualify. Nevertheless they can be backed at 4/6 (1.65) to make it through, and at 5/2 (3.50) to finish second in the group.
The least fancied team is the least experienced with Albania competing at a major tournament for the first time in their history. The bookies make them the most likely to finish bottom at 5/6 (1.83) and of the four sides their squad certainly seems the weakest but the better value appears to be backing the 13/10 (2.30) available on Switzerland taking the second automatic spot.
For a longer price punters could also consider the 13/8 (2.63) available on France/Switzerland in the straight forecast market.
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