Euro 2012 Group A betting

With Poland already decided as the “first seed” team to be a part of this group, there is no doubt the three teams that joined them were happy to do so. No stellar names have been drawn into the group, even recent winners of the Euros Greece are not a great side (and they were not much better when they won it).

Euro 2012 Group A odds

RUSSIA

As the teams were assigned their places the Russians will have been smiling from ear to ear. Ranked 12th in the FIFA rankings, and with the likes of Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko in their forward line, top spot should be theirs for the taking, and for them not to qualify is unthinkable. They won seven of their ten qualifying games, conceding only four goals, and will expect to justify odds of 2.6 to win this group.

POLAND

For Poland to be second favourites to win this group you can only look on their home advantage to carry them through. Ranked 66th in the world, they showed in a recent friendly against Italy that they have the ability to keep possession and looked reasonably solid, yet there is an obvious lack of star quality to their play that holds them back. They never looked like beating Italy, even when they were on top. If they are to succeed then young, emerging talents of goalkeeper Wojnech Szczesny and Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski will have to be at the top of their game.

CZECH REPUBLIC

The Czech Republic may have qualified through the playoffs, but a qualification group with Spain made second place their objective. A spirited Scotland side ran them close, but they won half their games, and two of their three defeats were at the hands of European and World champions Spain. They may not have the big names of their past, but Tomas Rosicky is a much better player for his country than domestically for Arsenal, and they brushed aside a decent Montenegro side in the playoffs (a Montenegro side that made England a little uncomfortable).

GREECE

Last but not least is Greece. One of the world’s most boring sides, who suffocated their way to Euro 2004 glory, lifting the trophy when no one expected it. Luckily for them they have been drawn into a group of mediocre sides, most of whom would have been the pick for other teams to draw. Since replacing Greece’s legendary coach Otto Rehhagel, new man Fernando Santos lead the Greeks through a quite fantastic qualifying stage. They remained unbeaten, beaten Croatia to top spot and beating the Croats 2-0. Some of the old guard remain, Karagounis still turning out in their midfield, but they have goalscorers now and are the team they once were, although the mentality of this Greek team will always be a touch negative. However, they are 14th in the FIFA rankings.

Recommended Bets: Russia to win Group A – 2.6. Greece to qualify 2.52

Russia are easily the best side in the group, and have the quality players in their side that none of the others can match. They recently played another of the sides in this group, a 1-1 draw with Greece. And it could well be Greece who join them in the knockout stage. A wonderful qualifying campaign, easily outdoing a good Croatia side, and a weak group give Greece the chance to progress in a competition they will always love. As outsiders in the group to qualify they are easily the best value. It may even be more pertinent to lay Poland to qualify. They are the worst team in the group, and as South Africa showed in the 2010 World Cup, you need more than support to qualify in group stages like these.

Odds to win Group A:

Russia – 2.6 Poland – 4.1 Czech Republic – 5.00 Greece – 5.2

Odds to Qualify from Group A:

Russia – 1.42 Poland – 1.82 Czech Republic – 2.24 Greece – 2.52