FOX Sports’ digital gaming program returned this week to talkabout the upcoming significant videogames of the Euro Championship (which are all on the FOX household of networks).
Every group in the Euro 2024 field has now played one match, and “Bear Bets” is back to wrap-up those results and appearance ahead to Matchday 2.
To start, Chris “The Bear” Fallica and Geoff Schwartz were signedupwith by Stu Holden to cover success by the favorites, England and France, as well as the dominant provings by Germany versus Scotland and Spain versus Croatia.
Afterward, The Bear and Geoff talked finest bets and futures.
Let’s dive into the action.
Coming into the competition, most individuals preferred France or England to win this competition … Could England haveactually been more dominant in their 1-0 success over Serbia?
Holden: “I think when you believe about England — I believe they were overpriced a little bit to start with, in my viewpoint. The defense isn’t strong adequate down the spinalcolumn. Not excellent sufficient to win the Euro, yet we fall in love with the private names.”
Are there issues for France with the injury to Kylian Mbappé?
Holden: “What they’ve traditionally done when they’ve won competitions is construct into the competition gradually … With [Mbappé] having the broken nose, it’s declared that he’s going to missouton the Netherlands match that possibly affects the Golden Boot race … however it likewise provides chances now for them to get some other guys … chances in front of the objective. The French group is stacked — I’m not concerned at all about France.”
Have sensations altered about Belgium after being upset by Slovakia, 1-0?
Holden: “I didn’t like Belgium to start with. I simply believe that this Belgium group isn’t total. They have a veryfirst time head coach in a huge European champion, and in lotsof methods you’re relying on Romelu Lukaku to produce and rating objectives … As far as Belgium goes, I was amazed they lost to Slovakia however I believe its a evenmore reflection that I wear’t see this as any more than a group that going by past the quarterfinals.”
What was the most dominant efficiency in the veryfirst round of matches?
The Bear: “You can make a really excellent case for Germany … I personally idea Spain were the most excellent group since Croatia has some first-rate gamers on that side. What they did in simply coming out and controling Croatia in that veryfirst videogame – I idea was incredibly excellent. I believe possibly individuals were sleeping on Spain a little bit.”
Holden: “I think I was most satisfied with Germany in the veryfirst match. Spain … let’s not get totally brought away here with the reality that they won that videogame 3-0. Croatia had a lot of possibilities and didn’t transform on those ones … I believe you’re going to see a bounce back from Croatia. I still like them around the quarterfinals in this competition. As far as Germany, if you laid on them pre-tournament, you’ve got to be sensation quite good.”
More pleased by Germany or dissatisfied in Scotland?
Holden: “Scotland were dreadful! Scotland, you dissatisfied me! And, maybe over-flattered Germany a little bit. But, if you’re thinking about a group being the host country with the pressure coming in – and you were concerned a little bit about Germany going out on the group phase at the last 2 World Cups – this is a group that got nearly every assaulting gamer a objective … A guy who was simply called up to the lineup 2 days before gets a objective … they must be flying come videogame 2, and I would sensation quite great about Germany getting at least to a semifinal.”
Is there one gamer or group your viewpoint has altered about alotof, great or bad, through the veryfirst 4 days?
Holden: “Lukaku I was actually dissatisfied with … I idea he may be in the mix even for the Golden Boot duetothefactthat I felt that Belgium had a quite easy group that they would cruise through … I was dissatisfied with Harry Kane to be sincere, with England. I felt that just 2 touches for him in the veryfirst half of that match, and he was dropping too far at times on the ball. Now you heard some remarks from him after the videogame. He was infact stating that Gareth Southgate asked him to stay greater and inhabit the 3 centerbacks to make area for the other gamers. You puton’t desire to hear that if you’ve got Harry Kane for the Golden Boot!”
The Bear: “The groups that we anticipated to be the bottom feeders – Romania, Slovenia, Georgia, Albania – they all came out and played fantastic veryfirst matches. They all had genuine opportunities to get a result. Not all of them did. But, it simply goes to program you the depth in this competition that even groups you anticipate to be ‘propping up the table’ … the last location group was fantastic.”
Here are the Bear’s finest bets for Matchday 2 (all times ET).
Croatia vs. Albania, 9 a.m. ET Wednesday, FS1 and the FOX Sports App
The Bear: “I think Croatia will appearance to resolve some of their protective concerns from their veryfirst match versus Spain.”
PICK: Albania and Croatia under 2.5 objectives scored (-120)
Spain vs. Italy, 3 p.m. ET Thursday, FOX and FOX Sports App
The Bear: “I think Spain hasactually been the most outstanding group in the competition. Italy, as excellent as they were in coming back to beat Albania, they do have some problems on that back line still.”
PICK: Spain to defeat Italy (+115)
Poland vs. Austria, 12 p.m. ET Friday, FS1 and the FOX Sports App
The Bear: “Poland was muchbetter than I idea they would be in that veryfirst videogame, however they didn’t actually threaten much after getting that veryfirst objective. I believe Austria mostlikely wasworthyof a little bit muchbetter fate in that veryfirst match versus France.”
PICK: Austria and Poland under 2.5 objectives scored
Bear likewise likes one nation’s title futures more than the rest, and has a coupleof tickets for the Golden Boot as well.
GOLDEN BOOT FUTURES
Lamine Yamal: +4500
Jamal Musiala: +2800
Romelu Lukaku: +1200
“The reality that none of the huge weapons scored — Ronaldo, Kane, Mbappé, whoever — it opens up the chance for possibly one of those longer-priced [names].”
GROUP STAGE FUTURES
Belgium to win Group E (+280)
Lastly, after a stunning loss to Slovakia, the Bear likes Belgium to bounce back and win its group at +280. He is not overreacting to their preliminary loss and still thinks they are the most gifted group in Group E.
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