Tom McGarry’s best bets for Wednesday’s group games at Euro 2024 include a shock result for Albania and another Scotland defeat.
The second round of group fixtures at Euro 2024 get under way on Wednesday, with hosts Germany and Scotland among the teams in action.
After thrashing the Scots 5-1 on the opening night, Germany will be looking to make it two wins from two when they take on Hungary in Stuttgart.
Group A’s other fixture will see Scotland aim to bounce back from their Munich mauling and get their qualification hopes back on track when they face Switzerland at the Cologne Stadium.
Before all that, Group B takes centre stage, with Croatia and Albania aiming to get their first points on the board in Hamburg.
Wednesday’s Euro 2024 acca
Albania to win or draw v Croatia
13/8
Germany to beat Hungary and both teams to score
9/5
Switzerland to win to nil v Scotland
15/8
Acca pays 22/1
Albania can surprise wilting Croatia
Croatia were World Cup semi-finalists in Qatar but after they were comprehensively beaten in their Group B opener by Spain 3-0, there are suggestions that this could be one major tournament too far for Zlatko Dalic’s side.
Saturday’s defeat in Berlin was Vatreni’s third loss in their last five competitive games, as many as they suffered in their previous 29 such matches, and they are facing an Albania team who were perhaps unfortunate to lose their opening contest against Italy.
Sylvinho’s side led after just 23 seconds in Berlin, Nedim Bajrami scoring the fastest goal in Euros history, before succumbing to a 2-1 defeat.
That was Albania’s first competitive loss for well over a year and they look overpriced to avoid defeat in this one, especially as they are facing a Croatia side who lacked quality in the final third in their group opener.
Hosts set for another eye-catching win
It was a near-perfect performance from Germany on Friday night, with the only slight blot on their copybook being Antonio Rudiger’s own goal in the second half.
Conceding that goal should not have surprised Die Mannschaft supporters though, as they have now registered just two clean-sheets in their last 15 matches.
Hungary were beaten in their tournament opener by Switzerland, going down 3-1, but they did at least extend an impressive scoring record that has now seen them net in 12 matches on the spin.
The Magyars have scored in their last three meetings with Germany as well, a record they can extend on Wednesday, but that should not stop the hosts from making it two wins from two in Group A.
More misery expected for Scotland
It was a night to forget for Scotland on Friday, as they produced a toothless display in Munich that yielded no shots on target, just two touches in Germany’s penalty area and an xG of 0.02.
The fact they scored in the match – through German defender Rudiger’s own goal – was the biggest surprise based on their performance and it is difficult to see much changing when they face Switzerland.
Murat Yakin’s side impressed in their victory over Hungary and they have lost just once in 16 matches since exiting the last World Cup.
The Swiss have conceded no more than one goal in each of their last eight games and they are fancied to shut out Steve Clarke’s Scotland on their way to recording another victory.
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