European U21 Championship: Saturday betting previews, tip and TV details

Sky Sports Football, 8pm Saturday

Italy v Belgium & Spain v Poland

An intriguing final round of Group A fixtures awaits with Italy, Poland and Spain all in with a realistic shout of directly qualifying for the semi-finals, possibly progressing as the best second-placed side or exiting the competition at the first hurdle.

Sky Bet go 6-4 about Italy and Poland winning the group with Spain at 5-2 and the best bet could be to take the Azzurrini to top a tight section where head-to-head involving the nations is the first criteria to separate final placings if points are level.

Poland, who upset the odds to beat Belgium and then stunned hosts Italy with a 1-0 smash-and-grab victory, will claim first place if they avoid defeat against Spain.

However, they cannot top the section if they lose. A narrow defeat could be enough for them to take the best runners-up spot as goal difference is used after points gained, although that won't be known for another couple of days.

Liverpool goalkeeper Kamil Grabara has been one of the standout performers in the tournament but the Poles are missing their main goal threat Dawid Kownacki due to suspension, which suggests one breakthrough from Spain's pretty patient passing patterns could land the win.

But a small-margin victory only helps Spain if Italy fail to beat Belgium after the Iberians lost 3-1 to the Azzurrini in their opener.

If the hosts are successful La Roja need to win by three goals to make certain of a last-four berth as on a three-way head-to-head tie the goal difference is currently Italy plus one, Poland plus one and Spain minus two.

Backing Italy to top Group A is essentially a double on them to beat Belgium and Spain to triumph by one or two goals, which looks the most likely outcome.

Recommendation
Italy to win Group A
1pt 6-4 Sky Bet

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