Simon Barlow picks out a treble for a day of Euro 2024 action that includes Spain v Croatia.
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Saturday’s Euro 2024 acca features tips from all three games in Germany with the general theme of the bet being that the underdogs can have their day.
Day two of the tournament features one of the marquee clashes of the opening round, as Spain and Croatia go head-to-head in Berlin in what could be a cagey affair.
Saturday’s Euro 2024 acca (pays 7/2)
Hungary or Draw v Switzerland
7/10
Spain v Croatia: Under 2.5 goals
7/10
Albania +2 v Italy
13/20
Hungary’s press can disrupt the Swiss
Saturday’s action gets underway in Cologne where two nations that had contrasting fortunes in the last European Championships begin with a pivotal clash in Group A.
Hungary could not make home advantage pay off for them three years ago after being drawn in the toughest group and they were eliminated with only two points.
Marco Rossi’s men are not easy to play against, as both England and Germany found out in the last Nations League.
They breezed through qualifying without losing a game and will be a tough nut for Switzerland to crack.
Nati knocked favourites France out on their way to penalty shoot-out heartbreak against Spain in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 and they are still sore about the red card decision that killed their late-game momentum.
This Swiss squad is more controlled in the midfield and solid in defence, but Murat Yakin’s men lack individual brilliance that might unlock a stubborn backline like Hungary’s.
The Magyars will run all day to close off spaces and they can force the Swiss into some mistakes at the back with their targeting pressing, which makes them the bet not to lose this opening clash.
Back Croatia to keep Spanish at bay
Spain might be the hipster’s tip to go all the way again this year, but they will find it tough to break down or dominate a reshuffled Croatian defence that might itself become the bedrock of a deep run in the tournament.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has copied Pep Guardiola and switched Josko Gvardiol, the team’s best central defender at the last World Cup, to left-back.
And by ditching some other defenders who had grown long in the tooth, he has created a more press-resistant side that can continue to compete with the bigger nations.
Croatia produced the third-highest clean sheet ratio in qualifying, blanking their opponents in five of eight games, and that trend has continued in their recent friendlies.
Spain only had one shutout fewer and given these sides played out a 0-0 in 120 minutes last year when they contested the Nations League Final, this game is unlikely to have a surfeit of goals.
Fewer than three goals were scored in six of Croatia’s eight qualifiers and that trend looks likely to continue in this clash.
Albania can make the Azzurri sweat
Albania’s second-ever qualification for the European Championships was no fluke as Sylvinho’s side finished above Czech Republic and Poland in their section.
They conceded only four times in eight games en route to Germany and will provide a stern test for an Italy side that still have not got an elite centre forward.
Gianluca Scamacca looks like their best option to deliver goals ahead of the tournament, but his return of one goal from 16 caps does not inspire confidence.
Midfielder Nicolo Barella is the top scorer in the squad with just nine international goals and may need to add a few more if Italy are going to emulate their success of three years ago.
The Azzurri may still have the nous and the temperament to come out on top in this clash, but their record in qualifying suggests they should not be as heavily favoured as they are.
Backing Albania +2 on the handicap could come up trumps to finish off the acca on Saturday night because Italy have won only four of their last 14 internationals by a margin of greater than one goal.
