Euro 2020: Qualifying preview and best bets

Here's our best bets for the Euro 2020 qualifying groups.

Group A

England should win this group as easily as the odds suggest as Gareth Southgate looks to build on the positivity created by reaching last year's World Cup semi-finals and this summer's Nations League finals.

There are a number of supremely gifted young players pushing for places so complacency is unlikely to be an issue and there is nothing to be feared from Czech Republic, Montenegro, Bulgaria and competition novices Kosovo.

Czech Republic should take second. Roma forward Patrik Schick has a touch of class and the squad has a number of players who have helped Slavia Prague reach the Europa League quarter-finals.

Group B

Reigning European champions Portugal look banker material to see off Serbia, Ukraine, Lithuania and Luxembourg.

Cristiano Ronaldo returns after being given the Nations League off, but Fernando Santos's side were still able to reach the finals and this is an impressive side containing players such as Joao Cancelo, Ruben Neves and Bernardo Silva.

Serbia have not quite managed to take advantage of their emerging talent and never seem far away from internal strife but should be battling out for second spot alongside Ukraine.

Group C

Northern Ireland have ended up in a nightmare selection, with not only tricky Belarus but also huge heavyweights Germany and Holland.

The Dutch came out on top against their old rivals in the Nations League section and there is considerable excitement surrounding Ronald Koeman's squad. Virgil van Dijk is the cornerstone of the side, while Ajax's run to the quarter-finals of the Champions League has propelled Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt to superstardom.

However, if you like the Dutch to overcome Germany, the 16-1 outright is probably the best bet. Germany are in transition, having dumped Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels, but probably still deserve to be group favourites.

Group D

Ireland look to be lagging behind Denmark, who beat them 5-1 on aggregate in a World Cup playoff and then finished above Martin O'Neill's men easily in the Nations League.

Mick McCarthy's arrival may not do enough to close the gap and Denmark, with Christian Eriksen pulling the strings, could do enough to upset the odds against group favourites Switzerland.

The Swiss set a decent standard but lack a goalscorer or playmaker of the calibre of Eriksen.

Group E

It could be difficult for Croatia to motivate themselves for this more mundane assignment following their incredible run to the World Cup final, but the core of the side, including Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, remains in place to justify last year's surprise package being short-priced favourites.

The good news for Wales fans is they are in prime position to take second place ahead of Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan.

Slovakia should put up the biggest threat but a number of retirements has put even more emphasis on captain Marek Hamsik and crack centre-back Milan Skriniar to make a difference.

Group F

Spain have an embarrassment of riches but have become a bit of an embarrassment following their early World Cup exit and the managerial carnage that entailed, and they disappointed in the Nations League under Luis Enrique.

Koke, Saul Niguez and Isco are just some of those dropped by Enrique in a much-changed squad for the opening Euro games against Malta and Norway, which suggests Enrique is already thinking qualification is in the bag.

He is probably right. Norway's results have picked up and Sweden can be stubborn but Spain should still easily take control of top spot.

Group G

The make-up of Poland's side is quite frustrating as they possess two top goalkeepers and three excellent strikers. But Jerzy Brzeczek has been given a decent group to try to find a formation where Robert Lewandowski, Krzysztof Piatek and Arkadiusz Milik can all start.

Those three excel for Bayern Munich, Milan and Napoli respectively and should be too hot for Austria, Israel, Slovenia, Macedonia and Latvia.

Euro 2020 qualifying groups

Austria have been overrated for a while and always seem to flatter to deceive, but at a massive price Macedonia could be dangerous in the battle for second spot. They have lost only two of their last 17 matches and that includes a draw away to Italy.

Group H

There seems little point trying to take on France, the world champions, who have a young enough squad to improve between now and the European Championship finals.

The interesting battle is for second, particularly as Iceland's horrendous performances in the Nations League hinted that their fairy-tale run at Europe's top table may have run its course.

Turkey have the more natural talent and Senol Gunes, 15 years after his last spell in charge of the national team, could be the man to harness that following Mircea Lucescu's miserable run as gaffer.

Group I

This could be Belgium's last proper chance to make the most of the ability of Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne.

Jan Vertonghen (aged 31), Toby Alderweireld (30) and Vincent Kompany (32) won't have many more tournaments to keep the defence intact so it's surely now or never for Roberto Martinez's golden generation.

Thankfully for the Red Devils they have been handed a golden qualification chance, although Scotland could get closer to Russia than the odds suggest as the form of the World Cup quarter-finalists needs to be proved away from home.

Group J

Of all the short-priced favourites Italy look the most vulnerable as they tend to only do just about enough and go into the qualifying campaign on a run of three wins in 13.

Those victories were all by one goal against Saudi Arabia, USA and Poland and their top goalscorer in the current squad is veteran defender Giorgio Chiellini with eight.

Bosnia at least possess a killer in front of goal in Edin Dzeko and a playmaker in Juventus's Miralem Pjanic who can supply the bullets for the veteran to shock the Azzurri.

Recommendations
Portugal to win Group B
2pts 1-2 Betway
Poland to win Group G
2pts 10-11 Betway
Denmark to win Group D
1pt 6-4 general
Bosnia to win Group J
1pt 9-2 Betway

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