Will Maxwell’s best bets for England’s second group game of Euro 2024 include a win for the Three Lions with their captain finding the net.
After edging to a 1-0 victory in their opening Group C fixture against Serbia, England can seal their spot in the knockout stages if they defeat Denmark at the Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt.
The Danes are also in need of a win in order to keep their round of 16 hopes alive after being held to a 1-1 draw by Slovenia in Stuttgart.
Best bets
England to win
4/6
Under 2.5 goals
4/6
Harry Kane to score anytime
23/20
Three Lions can march into knockouts
England were last eliminated in the group stages of the European Championships in 2000 and the 2020 runners-up will be full of confidence that they can qualify for yet another knockout stage with victory in Frankfurt.
The Three Lions have lost just one competitive major tournament fixture in normal time since 2016, while their last group stage defeat at the Euros came in 2004, where two injury time strikes from Zinedine Zidane secured a 2-1 victory for France.
Denmark were poor in the 2022 World Cup as they bowed out at the group stages, while they failed to make their dominance in possession count in their draw with Slovenia, with a number of good chances wasted.
The Danes faced England in the semi-finals of Euro 2020 – a game which the Three Lions edged in extra-time – and another tight encounter is expected in Frankfurt and the attacking talents of Gareth Southgate’s squad should prove strong enough for victory.
Danes can make life difficult for England
After starting brightly against Serbia, England sat back and invited pressure for much of the second half and so they may not run away with proceedings in this one.
Five of England’s last seven matches have seen winners in the under 2.5 goals market, highlighting their lack of killer instinct to run away with games.
Denmark have also seen winners in this market in four of their last six and their wastefulness in front of goal could hamper their chances against an England side who can be a tough nut to crack – conceding just two goals in 90 minutes across the whole of Euro 2020.
Captain Kane can find scoring form again
England captain Harry Kane had just two touches of the ball in the first half against Serbia and failed to have too much of an impact in their attacking play, with Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka taking the plaudits on that front.
However, it is rare for Kane to go missing in two consecutive international games, so do not be surprised if the Bayern Munich striker is hungry to return to his clinical scoring ways.
Kane netted eight goals in eight qualifying games en route to Germany and after an emphatic debut campaign in Bavaria, the striker looks a good bet to test the Danish keeper.
Visit Betway’s Euro 2024 betting page.
