Euro U21 2021: key betting options for June 15. Expecting high-scoring matches
On June 14, the next fixtures of the 2021 U21 Euro will take place, and I’m offering my betting picks for these upcoming clashes. Will the favorites live up to their billing?
Spain U21 vs Romania U21: Spaniards can secure a playoff berth
In this pairing, Spain are justifiably considered favorites, with many of their players already featuring for La Liga clubs, even if not as main stars yet. La Roja cruised through qualifying, winning 9 out of 10 group matches, drawing just once, and finishing nine points clear at the top.
Spain opened their tournament against hosts Slovakia and were already 2-0 up by the 18th minute. That early lead made them complacent, and the Slovaks punished them by equalizing at the start of the second half. Spain had to step up again and eventually snatched victory in the 90th minute—3:2. A win here will almost certainly guarantee them a place in the playoffs.
Romania also won their qualifying group, finishing ahead of their Finnish and Swiss counterparts. Their Euro group is a tough one, featuring the hosts, Spain, and Italy. In their opening match, Romania put up a good fight against Italy but fell 0-1—a scoreline that didn’t reflect the game. They even missed a penalty late in the first half. I’m expecting an entertaining, high-scoring contest here.
Bet: Over 3 goals in the match at odds of 1.8.
Portugal U21 vs Poland U21: Time for Portugal to win
Portugal breezed through qualifying, recording 9 wins with only one defeat, topping their group by a 5-point margin. In friendlies, Ronaldo’s heirs managed just one win in four games, losing twice and drawing once. Portugal opened their Euro campaign against their main group rivals, France, and neither side could break the deadlock—0:0, though both had chances to score.
Poland finished second in their qualifying group behind Germany, but their ranking among the best runners-up was enough to secure a direct Euro spot, avoiding the playoffs. Poland’s tournament began with a painful 1-2 loss to Georgia, conceding the decisive goal in the 90+4th minute. I’m expecting Portugal to dominate and win confidently.
Bet: Portugal to win with a -1 handicap at odds of 1.66.
Slovakia U21 vs Italy U21: Hosts will try to grab some points
As tournament hosts, Slovakia qualified automatically and prepared with a series of friendlies. This year, Slovakia played three warm-up matches, losing to Germany and France and drawing with Slovenia.
In their first match, Slovakia faced a strong Spanish side. Trailing 0-2 at halftime, they fought back to equalize early in the second half but couldn’t hold on—Spain netted the winner in the 90th minute, handing Slovakia a 2-3 defeat.
The Azzurrini went unbeaten in qualifying, winning six and drawing four to top their group. Italy’s Euro campaign started with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Romania, a game in which their opponents also missed a penalty. I expect this encounter to be wide open—anything can happen.
Bet: Both teams to score—yes, at odds of 1.66.
France U21 vs Georgia U21: Expect a spectacle
France didn’t have the smoothest qualifying campaign, finishing second in their group, one point behind Slovenia. Les Bleus missed out on top spot by losing 1-2 at home to Austria in the final round. In their Euro opener, the French drew with a strong Portuguese side.
Georgia unexpectedly took the early lead in their group after the first round, having pulled off a shock 2-1 win over Poland. It was an end-to-end battle, with the decisive goal coming in the 90+4th minute.
Bet: Over 3 goals in the match at odds of 1.83.
I think this is a great day for betting—youth teams are unpredictable, and it’s often hard to gauge their psychological state. Every team still has motivation, as everyone has a chance to advance from the group. You can combine these events into an accumulator with odds over 9.
Manuel Chávez
Dailysports's expert
