Euro 2016 Odds – Germany Still Heads the Pack

When it comes to the odds on winner for Euro 2016 in France, not much has changed since December. Germany still heads the pack and the Netherlands still failed to qualify. France still has an extortion case on their hands and England is still marinating in its own self-loathing.

There are still a couple of months to go until the start date (June 10, 2016) and a lot can change before then. But, as it stands, there’s really nothing unexpected here.

Here are the updated odds for the 2016 Euro:

Euro 2016 Odds

Germany: 3/1 (up from 10/3)

The favorites are still the favorites. Germany has proven to be as unbeatable as national teams come when they’re on form. Captain Bastian Schweinsteiger is predicted to be fit for the start of the Euro, but with a squad as stacked as Germany’s, it probably wouldn’t make a difference either way.

Germany’s slightly improved odds are more a reflection of the state of their competitors, rather than their own play. The reliable, well-oiled German machine is looking more and more lubricated as the tournament approaches while other countries struggle to resolve their issues.

France: 7/2 (up from 3/1)

It’s still unclear whether Karim Benzema will play for France after he (allegedly) tried to blackmail team mate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape. The investigation has been slow-moving and so far inconclusive; in the court of public opinion, Benzema has already been found guilty, though. 

Whatever the investigation uncovers, France is a deeply fractured team. Only time will tell if home cooking will help them come together and bury the hatchet.

Spain: 5/1 (down from  9/2)

They may have won the last two Euros, but the aging Spanish team lacks the punch it once had. Without the playmaking maestro Xavi, Spain no longer have someone to tie the team together in quite the same way. And for a team that relies so heavily on the possession-oriented tiki-taka style of play, that’s a huge hole.

That said, Barcelona midfielders Andrés Iniesta and Sergio Busquets have been in amazing form this season and, as Barca edge closer to winning another treble, their confidence will be at an all-time high. With a few rising stars, like Bayern’s Thiago Alcântara and Juve’s Álvaro Morata, and a few veteran World Cup and Euro winners, Spain remain an excellent squad on paper.

Belgium: 11/1 (no change)

Belgium may still be at the top of the FIFA rankings, but they’re not going to top the odds any time soon, in part, because they have never won a major cup.

They have also never had a team of this calibre, though. So as June approaches, and cracks start to appear within the other squads, expect Belgium’s odds to improve. Their Achilles heel may be their captain’s Achilles tendon: Vincent Kompany has been battling injuries all season and who knows what will happen between now and June.

England: 12/1 (down from 10/1)

England have never won the Euro, and the last time they won the World Cup, it was against a country that technically no longer exists. Their hopes are pinned on a few promising young players, like Harry Kane and Ross Barkley. Expectations are low but that may be a blessing in disguise.

Portugal: 16/1 (no change)

Once again, Portugal looks to Cristiano Ronaldo to produce something magical. And once again, it looks unlikely that he will. Ronaldo has always performed better for his club than for his country and, as of late, he hasn’t been performing very well for his club. So what does that tell us about Portugal’s chances?

Italy: 16/1 (up from 20/1)

The Azzurri find themselves in the so-called Group of Death. In order to survive the group stage, they’ll have to deal with Belgium, Sweden, and Ireland. They looked comfortable qualifying for the Euro but, on paper, they’re a bit lacking.

The Field:

Croatia: 28/1

Austria: 33/1

Wales: 50/1

Poland: 66/1

Russia: 66/1

Switzerland: 66/1

Czech Republic: 80/1

Iceland: 80/1

Turkey: 80/1

Sweden: 100/1

Ukraine: 100/1

Republic of Ireland: 150/1

Slovakia: 150/1

Romania: 250/1

Hungary: 350/1

Albania: 500/1

Israel: 500/1

Northern Ireland: 500/1

(Photo credit: Football.ua [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.)