Euro 2008 Pick - Czech Republic v Portugal

Czech Republic v Portugal

Euro 2008 – Group A

Wednesday 11 June, 5pm (UK time)

After opening wins in their respective games Portugal and the Czech Republic meet on Wednesday with a chance to assure a quarter-final place at Euro 2008.

Portugal is fresh after a solid 2-0 victory over Turkey, while the Czechs comes boosted by a difficult 1-0 win over co-host Switzerland. The winner at Stade de Geneve will move into a good position to advance from Group A, which is currently led by Portugal on goal difference.

The Portuguese impressed more than the Czechs in their opener, with Cristiano Ronaldo and teammates pressuring the Turks from the beginning and staying in control throughout the match.

Meanwhile the Czech Republic, which reached the semi-finals at Euro 2004, opened with a workmanlike 1-0 victory over Switzerland in Basel following a first international goal from Vaclav Sverkos.

These teams have plenty of form with the Czech Republic (including Czechoslovakia) winning four times and Portugal three times on 11 occasions.

The Czechs will be hoping for a repeat of the 1996 European Championship, when they eliminated Portugal in the quarter-finals with a goal by Karel Poborsky in extra time.

The Czechs have won their last six competitive matches and are unbeaten in their last eight while by beating Turkey in their opening match Portugal extended their unbeaten streak in competitive matches to 12 – their joint second best ever.
Between September 2004 and July 2006, Portugal were unbeaten in 17 competitive matches. Their last defeat in a competitive match was in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Poland (2-1) on 11 October 2006.
We believe Portugal will have the edge here and it could pay to bet on a couple of likely scorelines. Also, it is only a matter of time before Ronaldo gets on the score sheet so have a bet on him to score first too.


Betting Recommendations:
1pt on Portugal to win 1-0 at 5/1
1pt on Portugal to win 2-1 at 7/1
1pt on Ronaldo to score first at 9/2