The Euros are truly kicking into overdrive, and the party continues in style on Saturday with three fascinating fixtures.
All three games have plenty to offer the neutral while we’ll be hoping to see the luck of the Irish shine through for Martin O’Neill’s Green Army. If you ever needed an excuse to spend a Saturday afternoon lazing in front of the sofa, this is it.
And hopefully these tips will make it a profitable Saturday too.
Saturday’s Matches: Belgium v Republic of Ireland (2PM, ITV); Iceland v Hungary (5PM, BBC One); Portugal v Austria (8PM, BBC One)
After seeing Sweden lose to Italy yesterday, the Republic of Ireland genuinely have a fantastic chance to qualify and would see their place in the round of 16 with a win in their Saturday afternoon showdown. Unfortunately, they could be in for an extremely difficult test against the side ranked second in the FIFA rankings.
Belgium find themselves in desperate need of victory after their opening loss to Italy, but Marc Wilmots will be confident about his side’s chances. Improvements will be required for the Red Devils. However, if they perform to their best then they’ll win.
In Group F, both Iceland and Hungary picked up surprisingly positive results in their respective openers and each have a fantastic chance of reaching the last 16. Neither side has anything to lose, and will have pinpointed this as a winnable fixture before the tournament started. It could be a fascinating battle.
The day’s final match brings the conclusion of the second round of fixtures, and the need for a positive result couldn’t be bigger for either Portugal or Austria. Both were disappointing in their openers but can get their campaigns back on track. With so much on the line, it has all the makings of a Saturday night classic.
Toe Punter v The Bookies
In the afternoon clash, we’d all love to see Ireland book their place in the last 16. Unfortunately for the Boys in Green, Belgium’s need for the victory will make things even tougher.
Belgium looked stifled against Italy, but should have more joy against a weaker opponent. Start your Saturday by backing the Belgians to win.
Bet: Belgium to win @ 9/10 with 888sport (£10 stake)
Most people would’ve expected the middle game to be nothing more than a battle for third place in Group F, but it could actually end up deciding the group winner.
Even if it doesn’t, both teams know they have a fantastic opportunity to reach the knockouts, which is why this one could be packed with drama to the death. This tournament has already provided tons of late goals; don’t be surprised if we see another here.
Bet: Iceland v Hungary – goal after 66:59 @ 5/6 (£10 stake)
After the disappointment of drawing against Iceland, Portugal need a hero on Saturday. There’s only one candidate, and we’re backing him to score first – even if Austria are a competitive opponent.
Ronaldo still has a chance of matching or even beating Michel Platini’s all-time record. At 7/2, we think he’s well worth a punt to open his Euro 2016 account with the opener.
Bet: Cristiano Ronaldo to score first @ 7/2 with Paddy Power (£10 stake)
