2020 UEFA Euro Group E Betting
Spain is the favorite to win Group E. La Roja are one of the most successful teams in the history of the European Championship. They are tied with Germany as the team with the most titles (three), and Spain is the only nation to win the Euros in back-to-back seasons. Sweden and Poland have proven to be giant killers at different times though, so it won’t be a cakewalk for the Spanish.
2020 UEFA Euro Betting Odds
UEFA Euro Group E Country Profiles
Spain
FIFA Ranking: 6
Best Finish: Champions (1964, 2008, 2012)
Spain was the best team in the world for six straight years from 2008 to 2013. During this stretch, La Roja claimed two Euros and the 2010 World Cup. They revolutionized the game with their tiki-taka style of play, and domestic clubs like Barcelona ended up adopting it. However, Spain has fallen off over the last three international tournaments as former standouts like David Villa, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Andres Iniesta, and Carles Puyol aged out of the roster.
This squad might be ready to bring Spain back to international prominence though. La Roja drubbed Germany 6-0 in the UEFA Nations League last November with Ferran Torres notching a hat trick in the win. Captain Sergio Ramos will become the most capped international player of all-time with five more appearances, so he has a plethora of experience in the back line. Jordi Alba has 72 caps, but no other defender has more than 50 caps.
We do need to see more out of this attack though. Alvaro Morata has been relatively reliable up top, but there isn’t another top tier forward.
Sweden
FIFA Ranking: 18
Best Finish: Semifinals (1992)
The Swedes made it to the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup after besting Mexico, South Korea, and Germany to win Group F and went on to beat Switzerland in the Round of 16 before being bounced from the competition by England. Most of that team will be back for another run at major international glory.
It hasn’t been a great last seven months for Sweden though. The Swedes lost six of their eight matches in 2020, and although they have won three in a row, victories over Georgia, Kosovo, and Estonia don’t turn a lot of heads.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic recently came out of retirement to suit up for international play and could be selected to the final roster. That could give a boost to a team that doesn’t have another goal scorer aside from Marcus Berg. This team’s fate rides on a back line helmed by captain Andreas Granqvist and goalkeeper Robin Olsen though.
Poland
FIFA Ranking: 21
Best Finish: Quarterfinals (2016)
Poland had its best showing in this competition yet in 2016. The Poles allowed just two goals in five matches before losing in penalties to eventual champions Portugal in the quarterfinals. For Poland to improve on that finish, we need to see Robert Lewandowski show the form that has made him incredibly successful with Bayern Munich.
Lewandowski has 66 goals in 118 caps with Poland, but he has just two goals in three major international tournaments. Arkadiusz Milik and Krzysztof Piatek will provide a boost alongside him as they have improved, and the goaltending is solid whether Lukasz Fabianski or Wojciech Szczesny is in net.
Slovakia
FIFA Ranking: 36
Best Finish: Round of 16 (2016)
Slovakia made its Euros debut at the last tournament. They qualified thanks in large part to the expanded field and the expanded knockout stage led to them making it out of the group stage. However, the Falcons were trounced by Germany in the Round of 16.
This team is picked to finish last in Group E. Captain Marek Hamsik is the major goal scoring threat, but there isn’t much talent aside from him. Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is solid, and Milan Skriniar is a quality defender.
Group E Schedule
GROUP STAGE
Monday June 14
Poland vs. Slovakia (Dublin; noon ET, 6 p.m.)
Spain vs. Sweden (Bilbao; 3 p.m. ET, 9 p.m.)
Friday June 18
Sweden vs. Slovakia (Dublin; 9 a.m. ET, 3 p.m.)
Saturday June 19
Spain vs. Poland (Bilbao; 3 p.m. ET, 9 p.m.)
Wednesday June 23
Slovakia vs. Spain (Bilbao; noon ET, 6 p.m.)
Sweden vs. Poland (Dublin; noon ET, 6 p.m.)
*Top two in each group plus four best third-placed teams advance
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