The primary Euro 2024 semi-final is the star attraction on Tuesday evening as Spain and France head for Munich to battle for a spot within the continental decider against England or Netherlands.
There may be also the prospect of the Champions League qualifiers starting, a sure sign that domestic club football is over again beginning to loom on the horizon.
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Bet of the Day
Vikingur Reykjavik and Shamrock Rovers to attract @ 5/2
The Champions League qualifiers get underway on Tuesday evening and amongst the teams in motion are Airtricity Premier Division champions Shamrock Rovers because the Irish outfit head for Iceland and a date with Vikingur Reykjavik.
Vikingur’s manager Arnar Gunlaugsson shall be familiar to many for his time as a 32-cap Iceland international and an extended English Premier League profession with the likes of Bolton Wanderers and Leicester City. His team sit top of the Icelandic league and have suffered only one defeat in 14 games thus far.
Shamrock Rovers’ quest for five Irish titles on the trot has floundered as they trail leaders Shelbourne by 13 points. That will tempt manager Stephen Bradley into piling his eggs into the European basket, given they’ve lost seven times within the league already.
They arrive into this game after a morale-boosting win over Dundalk on the weekend, with Celtic loanee Johnny Kenny netting the winner to take him into double figures for the season. He’s vigorous and will get an all-important goal in Reykjavik that will aid Rovers’ quest for a positive result to bring back to the Tallaght Stadium. Some extent will not be beyond them.
Special of the day
Spain and France to attract 1-1 @ 22/5
The clash of Spain and France in Munich looks exceptionally tough to call. Les Bleus have struggled to attain in Germany, with their last 4 games all goalless on the interval. Their last six games have produced only one solitary first-half strike and that was an own-goal from Austria’s Maximillian Wober. 4 of France’s last six games have ended level after 90 minutes.
Spain have looked one of the best team at Euro 2024 but got a correct workout by Germany of their last-eight clash, one they were fortunate to survive.
They may allow France to retain possession at times, while Didier Deschamps’ cautious approach may even see this grow to be a standoff or sorts.
There may be, though, enough attacking talent on display to assume that classic tournament football end result – the 1-1 draw – is a serious possibility at the top of 90 minutes.
Longshot of the day
Jules Kounde to be booked @ 5/1
Jules Kounde has repeatedly been deployed at right-back for France thus far in Euro 2024. The 25-year-old Barcelona player has been excellent but likely faces his hardest test now against a dynamic Spanish outfit, capable of injuring Le Bleus down the flanks.
Kounde has spoken of the danger posed by his Barca teammate and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, whilst stressing that Spain possess a complete host of threats.
Kounde is adept at getting forward but must be challenged defensively here. Within the La Liga season just gone he only had 4 bookings, though interestingly they arrived in games against Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Girona – the 4 teams that surrounded Barca in the ultimate standings, giving a touch he could be susceptible in such an evenly-balanced game comparable to this.
He’s decent value to search out a primary caution at these Euros coming his way against a potent and pacey Spanish attack.
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