Journalist Martynas Pocius continues to share his predictions for the European Championship (you can read yesterday's diary entry here).
Despite some of your skeptical comments, yesterday finally became the first day with a positive balance after two unsuccessful first days. True, the winning amount was small, but after two unsuccessful first days, finally, my luck turned. Although I did not predict the outcome of the matches, the Croatia national team lived up to expectations and was rewarded with more yellow cards than Ireland, bringing in a profit of 28.50 Lt.
The third bet, on which I was waiting for more than 2 red cards for the Spanish national team and more than 30 total fouls for both Irish and Croatian teams, was canceled by the "Tonybet" betting company, so the bet amount was returned to my account. This can also be considered a success, as the Spaniards coincidentally spent time in the penalty area twice (both during the first half), and the total number of fouls in the second match was just a hair away from the required 30.
For those commenting on my small betting amounts, I remind you that I plan to bet throughout the entire championship, so if I start betting big amounts right from the beginning and they don't work out, the allocated budget could quickly run out.
Today we will see the last teams that have not yet played. In group D, France will face England and Sweden will face Ukraine.
Balance: 950.80 Lt
France - England both teams to score at least one goal and Ukraine - Sweden Ukraine to not score (total odds 6.64). Bet - 10 Lt.
It's hard to imagine the last time Sweden left the field without scoring a goal. Today they will have to score, as in the remaining matches they will face much more formidable opponents than Ukraine, who in the last 6 friendly matches only scored goals once. It's difficult to judge the current play of the tournament hosts, as friendly matches are in no way comparable to official matches, but Turkey showed just before the start of the championship that Ukraine's offense can be stopped.
France and England have already faced each other in one European Championship match - the 2004 duel in Portugal was remembered with three goals. This time we will see only 2 players from those matches on the field, both in England's ranks - A. Cole and S. Gerrard, so history remains just history. The tactics of today's England team are clear - playing on the counter-attack and waiting for opportunities. As we saw in friendly matches, this worked: although the English struggled, they managed to defeat the opponent's goalkeepers. Knowing that the French defense line does not inspire confidence, I hope that goals will also fall into France's goal. But the same can be said about the badly shaken English defense, so I believe that J. Hart will also have to pull the ball out of the net.
France - England France ball possession over 53.5% (odds 1.85). Bet - 30 Lt.
The bet is based on statistics and the tactics demonstrated by the English, which I already described in the description of the first bet. If in friendly matches with opponents like Norway or Belgium, the ratio of ball possession was 56:44 and 59:41 in favor of England, one can certainly expect that the French will spend no less time with it.
Ukraine - Sweden Sweden to win (odds 2.85). Bet - 10 Lt.
I simply believe in Sweden and do not agree with my colleague Nerijus Kesminas, who predicts a draw in his video blog. And the proposed odds are very pleasing to the eye.