Euro 2024 Group B Odds, Tips, Fixtures & Betting Preview

In this post, we’re taking a look at the Euro 2024 Group B odds as we give you tips and preview all the betting and fixtures.

Teams In Euro 2024 Group B

Spain | Croatia | Italy | Albania

Spain

Nickname: La Roja

FIFA Ranking: 8th

Manager: Luis de la Fuente

Previous Best Finish at the Euros: Winners (1964, 2008 and 2012)

Finish at Euro 2020: Semi-Final

Spain qualified for Euro 2024 automatically following their Group A victory with 7 victories and 1 loss from their games against Scotland, Norway, Georgia and Cyprus. Their sole defeat came against Scotland who they finished 4 clear of. During the qualifying group, they scored 25 goals and conceded just 5 goals.

Spain throughout 2023 and 2024 employed 4-2-31 and 4-3-3 as their go-to formations. Typical of a Spanish side, they’re likely to dominate possession heavily no matter who they come up against in Germany. This may not be the vintage Spanish side of yesteryear but they’ve some strong defenders and exciting attacking talent throughout their squad.

Key to the Spanish success at Euro 2024 will be Man City midfielder Rodri (27) who is the best single pivot midfielder in the world and will ensure they win the ball back quickly when they lose possession. Another man to watch will be Nico Williams (21) of Athletic Club whose electric pace and showstopping skill will be a key threat for them in the summer.

Spain, when at their brilliant best, often would flood the team with midfielders rather than playing a natural striker. While Morata has a solid strike rate of 34 goals in 71 games for them I still don’t think he is an elite striker. There is also a huge drop off in replacements with Moreno, Joselu and Sarabia solid yet unspectacular choices.

Croatia

Nickname: Vatreni

FIFA Ranking: 10

Manager: Zlatko Dalić

Previous Best Finish at the Euros: Quarter-finals (1996, 2008)

Finish at Euro 2020: Round of 16

Croatia qualified for Euro 2024 by finishing runner-up qualifying from Group D by coming 1 point behind Turkey with a record of 5 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses from their games against Turkey, Wales, Armenia and Latvia. They scored a meagre 13 goals but had a watertight defence conceding just 4 goals.

Croatia tend to favour either a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation and will likely head to Germany with one of the older squads in the tournament with most of their main players in their later twenties or thirties. It’ll be particularly interesting how they incorporate Luka Modric now 38 years old and whether they put him further up the pitch or put legs in and around him deeper.

While the aforementioned Modric will receive the bulk of the attention, it’s for the reasons mentioned above that I believe Man City midfielder Kovačić will be far more influential in the summer. He’s likely to be the main passing and carrying link for Modric. The second player to watch is another City player Josko Gvardiol (22) who will be one of the younger players in the squad but is a top-class defender.

Other than their lack of goals during qualifying, my primary concern will be the age profile of the Croatian squad. With plenty of their more influential players advancing in years, I can see them being overrun by the Spanish and Italian sides if not set up well in midfield.

Italy

Nickname: Gli Azzurri

FIFA Ranking: 9

Manager: Luciano Spalletti

Previous Best Finish at the Euros: Winners (1968 and 2020)

Finish at Euro 2020: Winners

Italy qualified for Euro 2024 by finishing runners-up in their qualifying Group, 6 points back of winners England and only coming ahead of Ukraine by goal difference following their 14-point tally against England, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta. During qualifying they scored 16 goals and conceded 9.

Italy during their qualifying campaign almost exclusively used a 4-3-3 formation. However, they’ve switched to a 3-4-2-1 for their two friendlies in 2024 and having come out with two wins I think this is what they could stick with in the summer. This formation allows them to pack the midfield with quality while staying defensively stable.

Inter Midfielder and Captain Nico Barella (27) is in his prime and will be a huge part of how they play both in attack with 8.08 Progressive Passes Per 90 in the 94th percentile and while his defensive numbers on the surface look less than impressive, he is more than competent in that role if asked to do so. Another man to watch in the summer is Tottenham LB Destiny Udogie (21) who isn’t even guaranteed a start, but I can see him having a breakthrough tournament if given the chance to shine.

Italy won this event in 2020 (something I predicted at the time). However, heading into this tournament their qualifying campaign has been largely underwhelming, limping over the line and not coming close to England. They will need to step it up in the bigger matches if they’re to stand a chance of going far in this tournament.

Albania

Nickname: The Red and Blacks

FIFA Ranking: 66

Manager: Sylvinho

Previous Best Finish at the Euros: Group Stage (2016)

Finish at Euro 2020: N/a

Albania qualified for Euro 2024 as Group E winners with 15 points, although they can consider themselves rather lucky with their group containing Czech Republic, Poland, Moldova and Faroe Islands. They topped the group by goal difference at +8 ahead of the Czech Republic at +6 after scoring 12 goals and conceding 4.

This Albanian side regularly employ a 4 at the back formation with 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 as the mainstays. I'd expect them to use the latter in the summer for greater defensive solidity. They’re likely to sit back and try and catch teams on the break in the summer especially when coming against possession-heavy opponents.

Despite their status as “minnows” (in this group anyway), they will have an interesting squad make-up in the summer with a nice base of Italian-based talent. Their vice-captain and right-back Hysaj has the talent to match most defenders. Meanwhile, Inter midfielder Asllani could make a name for himself at the tournament.

The worry with Albania is the quality of opposition faced in qualifying relative to their group opponents. With defeats against Chile and Sweden in March and games penned against Liechtenstein and Azerbaijan pre-tournament, I’m not sure they will have the know-how to face the better sides.

Euro 2024 Group B Odds

The favourite to win Group B is Spain at 3/4 with big things expected of this Spanish side this summer in Germany.

Italy are very worthy second favourites at 5/2 despite an underwhelming qualifying campaign. Croatia at 4/1 do have quality but may not have the legs and Albania look to be cannon fodder at 25/1.

Euro 2024 Group B Fixtures

Group B Matchday 1

Spain vs Croatia - 5 pm, 15th June 2024, Olympiastadion, Berlin

Italy vs Albania - 8 pm, 15th June 2024, BVB Stadion Dortmund, Dortmund

Group B Matchday 2

Croatia vs Albania - 2 pm, 19th June 2024, Volksparkstadion, Hamburg

Spain vs Italy - 8 pm, 20th June 2024, Arena Auf Schalke, Gelsenkirchen

Group B Matchday 3

Albania vs Spain - 8 pm, 24th June 2024, Düsseldorf Arena, Düsseldorf

Croatia vs Italy - 8 pm, 24th June 2024, Leipzig Stadium, Leipzig

Euro 2024 Group B Tips & Prediction

Group B Winner

Spain should have enough to win this group, although it could come down to their game against Italy on matchday two.

While this Spanish side isn’t quite at the level of previous squads with Rodri the best DM in the world along with some electric pace on the flanks led by Williams I can see them winning the group.

Group B 2nd Place

Italy may be defending Champions and have some quality footballers throughout their side, their underwhelming performances during qualifying make me cautious of them.

However, I still think they should be more than good enough to snatch second spot from Croatia.

Group B 3rd Place

Croatia have been consistent performers at the big international tournaments for some time now with plenty of that squad returning for Euro 2024.

Despite this, that’s the same reason I don’t fancy them with some of their stars at the tail end of their careers.

Group B 4th Place

Albania have been given the role that the Republic of Ireland famously played at Euro 2012, glorified cannon fodder, it’ll take a seismic shock for them to get out of the group.

However, they do have some talented players in their ranks so never say never.

*Prices are subject to fluctuation.

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