Sportsbook.com Euro Cup 2008 Betting Odds

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EURO 2008: Dutch odds on the rise

Dutch supporters have seen their team’s odds rise since the 3-0 demolition of Italy in Monday’s Euro 2008 Group C opener.

Many tournament pundits had the Netherlands as one powerhouse team in the so-called Group of Death that would miss the quarterfinals. But, after an impressive opening win, the Dutch are now listed as the odds-on favorite to win the group (2-5) and they are slightly favored for Friday’s match with France at 2.60 odds.



Netherlands backers have also seen the team’s odds to win the Euro 2008 Championship shift from 12-1 to 11-2 while France’s and Italy’s odds have dropped after poor opening contests.

Sportsbook.com is your Euro 2008 headquarters for all the best betting options with odds for all games along with a wide array of futures odds. After placing your bets, you can follow Friday’s action on ESPN2, beginning with Italy vs. Romania at noon ET, followed by the Netherlands vs. France at 2:45 pm ET.

Consisting of the defending World Cup champs from Italy, the 1998 World Cup champs from France, along with the Netherlands and Romania, Group C earned its nickname because two of the world’s top soccer nations will fail to even qualify for the tournament’s quarterfinals.

All four teams rank among the Top 12 in the world with Italy, France and the Netherlands in the Top 10.

As the only team with a victory, the Netherlands have a significant advantage heading into the final two contests and a win over the French on Friday could seal a quarterfinal berth depending on the result between Italy and Romania.

The Dutch, an exciting team with excellent scoring ability, showed just how dangerous they can be, scoring three times against Italy in what could’ve been an even more lopsided score but for a few unlucky bounces.

The knock on the Netherlands has been their inability to defend a lead and while the Italians had some chances in the game, the defenders played tight and keeper Edwin Van der Sar made several key stops.

Stopping the French may not be difficult either. France showed no signs of offensive life in their 0-0 draw with Romania, a contest that was the snoozer of the tournament so far.

France was without captain Patrick Vieira who has a small thigh tear and the injured Thierry Henry, the nation’s top scorer with 44 international goals. This is also the first tournament in years in which France is playing without three-time FIFA World Player of the Year and two-time World Cup MVP, Zinedane Zidane.

The status of Vieira and Henry for Friday’s game is still unknown, but without them, the 2.70 odds for France to win seem generous.

Bettors may also want to have a close look at the Totals of 2.5 for each game. After four straight Unders to open the tournament, four of the six games played between Monday and Wednesday went Over the Total.

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