Euro 2012 kicked off on Friday when co-hosts Poland took on Greece in an eventful opening fixture. Greece next takes on Russia’s 4-1 victims, the
Czech Republic, in Group A’s second round of competition.
The match against Poland was a game
that Greece couldn’t afford to lose, but then again Greece can’t really afford
anything these days. “Passionate” was the word of the day as both sides had a man sent off in an hectic first match that saw Greece come from behind and
snatch a vital point.
Euro 2012 starts as it means to go on
Poland’s Robert Lewandowski used his head
to score Euro 2012’s first goal, and Greece look destined for a double dip recession with the sending
off of Sokratis (massive score at scrabble) Papastathopoulos before the
break. The green shoots of recovery
sprouted when Dimitris Salpingidis fired in the equaliser, and then there was
sustained growth when he was brought down by Poland’s keeper Wojciech Szczesny,
who was duly shown a straight red. Greece almost made a full recovery but
Giorgos Karagounis's subsequent penalty was saved by substitute net minder
Przemyslaw Tyton and the game ended 10-10 (men on the pitch) and 1-1 (goals on
the board).
Before we had a chance to get our
collective breath back, Russia dismantled the Czech Republic with an impressive
(and odds slashing) 4-1 victory. Russia are now 12/1, compared to the 25/1 they
stood at before a ball was kicked to be crowned kings of Europe. By comparison
the Czechs have gone from 66/1 long shots to 150/1 longest shots to win Euro
2012.
After a drubbing by Russia the Czech need
to bounce back
With just 180 minutes of Group A played, Greece are third favourites at 13/8 to qualify while the Czech Republic are
dead last at 9/4. Poland seem to be the side to chase and are Evens to qualify.
Naturally, Russia are way out ahead at 1/12 (a BFC bet). Following Russia’s 5
goal tournament opener, Group A is now 11/10 to be the highest scoring group, a
clear favourite ahead of Group C at 3/1.
Unburdened by the weight of expectation, the
Czechs have nowhere left to go but up (or home) and their sports manager
(working alongside coach Michal Bílek) Vladimir Smicer will be hoping history
repeats itself. Back in Euro 1996, the Czech Republic were regarded as rank
outsiders, and lost their opening game 2-0. A pitch side Smicer helped the
Czechs then take Euro '96 by storm beating Italy, Portugal and France, before
eventually losing (in the final no less) to Germany on a golden goal. It was
all the more impressive as Euro 96 was the first tournament they had entered
following the separation of Czechoslovakia. But now the Czech are 1/3
favourites not to qualify from Group A, close behind are Greece at 4/9.
Time tide and second games wait for no man
Greece will see their point against Poland as
a baby step in the right direction and know that, should Russia do to the Poles
what they did to the Czechs, and if Greece can get ANYTHING out of their games
against the Czech Republic, they will go into their third and final group game
(against Russia, who may well have already qualified) with a decent shout of
seeing action in the quarters. On top of that, from a purely morale point of
view, Greece will fancy their chances against a side that looked utterly out of
their depth against Russia
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts
Despite the defeat at the boots of the
Russians, the Czechs are favourites to win their second game, at 13/10 while a
Greek victory is at 23/10. The bookies have the Half time/Full time odds at
3/1 for Czech winning both halves, 4/1 for a pair of draws and 9/2 on Greece
winning at the 45 and 90. For me a draw is a “neither fish nor flesh” bet at
11/5, as I don’t think the Czechs would settle for a draw, they’ll either boss
the game, or get caught out as they over commit. Greece beating the Czech
Republic 2-0 is certainly worth a punt at 14/1 while 2-0 to the Czechs is at
10/1.
The bookies have this game at 11/1 to be
the highest scoring in Group A so stay away from big scores. The shortest
correct score odds are on 1-1 at 5/1, followed by a 1-0 Czech victory at 6/1
then 0-0 and a 1-0 Greek victory at 7/1. I fancy Greek glory in game two,
especially as the bookies have the Czechs at 11/10 (favourites) to finish
bottom of the group while Greece are favourite to finish
third at 1/2.
If I was a rich man…
Much as my ever loving wife loves humus,
she loves shoes more and she has forbidden me from backing the Greeks too
highly. So a sliver of the shoe fund (just enough for a sandal) is going on a
Greek victory, while the BFH goes forward with our Russian comrades. However
don’t tell ‘er indoors, but anyone who fancies a draw (or indeed a Greek
victory) in this match should double up and accumulate their bets on Greece to
make it through to the Quarters at 7/4.
Prediction: 2-1 to Greece available at
11/1.