The UEFA European Championship, also known as “The Euros,” is a football tournament held every four years to determine the continental champion of Europe. The popularity of this event is only surpassed by the World Cup, with the 2012 finals drawing an international audience in excess of 300 million.
Between the qualifying rounds and the multitude of matches in the tournament, European Championship betting offers an incredible number of possibilities. And since football (or soccer) is the most popular global sport, you can count on every decent sportsbook to post odds.
This article takes a look at some of the most popular betting types for Euro 2023, as well as the biggest upsets in tournament history. We’ll close with a brief preview of the event, although I suggest doing your own research before risking any money.
Our Top Recommended European Championships Betting Sites
Betting Options for the Euros
If you like a multitude of wagering options, you’ll be delighted by what the European Championship 2023 has to offer. With 24 teams and a total of 50 matches, there are plenty of bets to choose from. The following are the most common:
- Outright Tournament Winner – This is the simplest form of betting, as the punter must only choose a single national team to emerge victorious.
- Group Winner – In order to receive a payout, the bettor must pick the winner of a specific group within the tournament.
- To Finish Second – This wagering option allows a bettor to predict which team will finish second in their respective group. Options also exist for third and fourth place.
- To Qualify – If your team advances to the round of 16, then you collect a payout.
- Top Goalscorer – The player who scores the most goals in a specific match or throughout the tournament.
- Winner/Top Goalscorer – A bet that combines a team and one of their players.
- Name the Finalists – A challenging-yet-profitable wager that requires the bettor to name both finalists in the tournament.
- Highest Scoring Team – The objective here is to pick the team with the most overall goals during the tournament.
- Winning Group – Wager on which group the winning team comes from. My personal prediction is Group C.
UEFA Euro 2023
As always, the UEFA European Championship is shaping up to be a thrilling event. Twenty-four teams have qualified for the French-hosted contest to begin on June 10th, and this is the first time that 16 squads are able to advance to the knockout rounds. With the four best third-place teams added into the mix, it’s a perfect opportunity for some underdogs to shock the football world and make some lucky bettors wealthy.
Group A is comprised of France, Albania, Switzerland, and Romania, and I expect the host country to easily come out on top. Romania and Albania showed a lack of firepower during their qualifying matches, although Switzerland could still advance with strong play from Xherdan Shaqiri.
In Group B, England should make it to the final 16 without much trouble, as they went undefeated during their qualifying matches. It’s going to be a dogfight between the remaining squads, however, as Wales, Russia, and Slovakia all have reasons to expect success. The second match between England and Wales should be entertaining, and I expect the Euro 2023 betting sites to be busy with that one.
Northern Ireland qualified for their first European Championship, but they’ve been placed in Group C with a murderer’s row of Germany, Poland, and the Ukraine. I expect the latter three to advance, while Northern Ireland can at least be proud of getting as far as they did. Still, if you’re looking to spend a few dollars on a major underdog…
Group D looks to offer a lot of competitive matches, as each squad has enough talent to move forward and be successful. Spain seeks to claim their third consecutive tournament title, while Turkey, Croatia, and the Czech Republic are no pushovers. Keep an eye on Turkey, as they appear to be on a hot streak going into the event.
Group E is comprised of Sweden, Italy, Belgium, and the Republic of Ireland. I expect this group to offer the toughest matches, as each team has its fair share of strengths and weaknesses. FIFA ranks Belgium as the best in the world at the moment, but I’m betting on Sweden to come out on top (assuming 6’5” striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic plays up to form).
Group F features Hungary, Iceland, Austria, and Portugal. A coaching change has allowed Portugal to win seven consecutive qualifiers, so I like them to emerge on top. Don’t count out Iceland and Austria, as both could slip into the final 16 and do some damage. Hungary makes their first appearance in three decades, but nobody is giving them much of a chance to advance.
Biggest Upsets and Underdogs in the European Championships
In any tournament format, there are bound to be a few underdogs that defy the odds and pull off a shocking upset. If you need some extra inspiration when picking your next long shot, keep the following history-making events in mind.
- In 1996, the Czech Republic competed in the tournament for the first time since becoming an independent nation following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. Led by then-unknown players such as Karol Poborsky, Patrik Berger, and Pavel Nedved, they rebounded from an initial loss to Germany to defeat Italy, Portugal, and France. They faced Germany again in the finals, ultimately falling short despite leading during the second half. This was an amazing accomplishment for both the team and fledgling nation, and a perfect example of the out-of-nowhere underdog.
- In the 2008 Euros, Russia was ranked 16th and lost their first match to Spain 4-1. They were expected to fold at this point, but the team rallied, racking up wins against both Greece and Sweden. The biggest upset was yet to come, however, as Russia beat the highly-touted Netherlands squad 3-1 to advance to the last four. While they fell to Spain in the semi-finals, their unexpected run still ranks among the most impressive feats in tournament history.
- 1976 was the last year to see only four teams in the Euros, and it will long be remembered for the superior play of Czechoslovakia while facing overwhelming odds. With no real stars on their squad, the Czechs claimed victory in the semi-finals over the Netherlands, a team that nearly captured the World Cup just two years prior. Their luck appeared to be over in the finals, as they were matched against a West German team that had won the Euro in 1972 and the World Cup in 1974. That wasn’t the case, however, as they won a penalty shoot-out 5-3 to secure their place in history.
- Nobody liked the chances of Greece in the 2004 Euros. Their odds of winning the tournament were set at 66-1, and only Latvia was considered a bigger long shot. Despite a lack of superstars, the team displayed discipline and endurance while defeating Portugal, France, and the Czech Republic. When they defeated Portugal once again in the finals, a grateful Greek nation made German-born coach Otto Rehhagel an official citizen.
- During the 1992 championships, Yugoslavia qualified for the tournament but was removed following the dissolution of the country and resulting wars and UN sanctions. Denmark was tabbed as a replacement, and their squad had just one week to prepare. To add to their challenge, coach Richard Moller Nielsen was at odds with a number of his players, and several had walked out on the team during their original bid to qualify. Despite a rough start, the team quickly formed a cohesive unit and dispatched France, Holland, and Germany on the way to their first-ever Henri Delaunay Trophy.