Euro 2020 Group D odds: England big favourites to top table
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The delayed European Championship is under way as 24 teams begin their quest to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy and we’re taking a look at all six groups.
England are the 6/1 second favourites behind to win the tournament for the first time, with Scotland and Wales regarded as long shots.
We kick off our preview with the one fans in the UK have most interest in as well as looking at the Euro 2020 Group D odds.
England
Coach: Gareth Southgate
Key player: Harry Kane
England are heavy favourites to win Group D having won seven of their eight games to reach the finals and all three of their recent World Cup qualifiers, one of which came against Poland.
✅ Premier League Golden Boot
✅ Premier League Playmaker AwardWell done, @HKane! 👏 https://t.co/E42jBmpR0U
— England (@England) May 23, 2021
Southgate has an excellent blend of experienced and youthful players, led by skipper Kane who was the top scorer of all the qualifying nations with 12 goals.
The Three Lions have a few injury concerns and they lost to the Czech Republic in qualifying and Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals but topping the group should be a formality.
Croatia
Coach: Zlatko Dalic
Key player: Luka Modric
Croatia finished runners-up at the last World Cup but they took just one point off England in the Nations League a few months later and have lost to Sweden, Portugal, Slovenia and Belgium since November.
Much will depend on skipper Modric pulling the strings in the heart of midfield but the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner is 35, two years older than Ivan Rakitic who retired last year.
Dinamo Zagreb striker Bruno Petkovic was Croatia’s top scorer in qualifying with four goals and he will hope to get good service from Wolfsburg winger Josip Brekalo.
Scotland
Coach: Steve Clarke
Key player: Andy Robertson
Scotland needed two penalty shoot-outs against Israel and Serbia to qualify for a major tournament for the first time in 23 years and they will have to be on top of their game if they are to reach the knockout stage.
The 26 players picked to represent Scotland at UEFA #EURO2020. pic.twitter.com/uV5epmAEJc
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) May 19, 2021
The Scots lost all four games against Belgium and Russia but they won home and away against Cyprus and avenged their matchday one defeat against Kazakhstan to finish in third place.
Scotland have lost eight of their last 11 meetings with England, their only success coming in qualifying for Euro 2000, but they beat the Czechs twice in last year’s Nations League.
Czech Republic
Coach: Jarsolav Silhavy
Key player: Tomas Soucek
The Czechs were ripped to shreds by England at Wembley but surprisingly fought back from an early Kane penalty to win 2-1 in Prague almost seven months later.
That win ensured the Czechs finished four points clear of third-placed Kosovo and more recently they drew 1-1 with Belgium in World Cup qualifying only to lose 1-0 in Wales three days later, so their form has been mixed.
Soucek has had a superb season with West Ham and Patrik Schick’s nine goals helped Bayer Leverkusen qualify for next season’s Europa League but an overall lack of quality means they are expected to struggle to make it to the knockout phase.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
