They’re here! Euro 2012 kicks off and one of the choicest picks from the opening games is the Group B clash between Germany and Portugal on Saturday.

Germany are this year’s second favourites (at 3/1) behind Spain to be crowned kings of Europe 2012, while Portugal seem to be reeling (still) from their defeat in the Euro 2004 final when (as host nation) they fell at the final hurdle to 100/1 shots Greece. The odds all point to a German victory on Saturday, despite being second favourites to lift the trophy Germany are 8/13 to reach the semi-Mullerfinals and 8/5 to reach the finals.

The Germans are just behind the Spanish in most bookie’s reckonings almost across the board, but they are ahead of Spain when it comes to the odds on being the highest scoring team in Euro 2012 at 11/4. More immediately Germany are a BFH bet of 2/7 to qualify from their group. The bookies think they will manage to qualify with ease as they have odds of 11/10 on Germany amassing 6 or 7 points from their three the group games.

What have you done for me lately!?

Portugal is a bit of a faded beauty these days and while the human action man Cristiano Ronaldo is always watchable, he doesn’t excite the way he used to (a bit like the Simpsons). The Real Madrid winger and Portuguese captain may be a victim of his own skills, as when brilliance is commonplace, anything less than exceptional is a little “ordinary”. Either way the bookies have the tournament’s highest scoring player being Portuguese at 11/1 (while a German taking the competition’s Golden Boot is at “just” 7/2). The sportsbooks also have Portugal at 25/1 to be the highest scoring team.

The 2004 runners up are a long shot these days, at an uninspiring 18/1 to win Euro 2012 (the bookies 7th favourite) and are even 7/1 to reach the final. They might be heading home even sooner than that, as the bookies also have Portugal at 4/1 to win Group B, that’s third favourites (ahead of just Denmark). They are also the bookies favourites to finish the group stages third at 17/10 and 12/5 to finish second. Regardless of their Euro 2012 future, form says Portugal will need a little luck to best the Germans.

You have to worry about Portuguese inconsistency

Portugal left it late to secure their fifth successive appearance at the European Championship finals after they failed to win either of their first two matches in their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. But when they finally did secure a place in the tournament, it was in emphatic style with a 6-2 second leg victory over Bosnia-Hercegovina. More recently Portugal's European Championship warm-up matches ended in a disappointing fashion when they went down 3-1 to Turkey, in Lisbon on Saturday.

You have to be impressed by German efficiency

Germany are 10/11 to win this match while a draw is at draw 13/5.  Allow yourself to be tempted by Germany winning 2-1 at 15/2, but Mrs Richardson’s shoe fund wants higher odds, and foresees a more “commanding” start to Euro 2012 by Germany. Germany has a bit of previous with the Euros, winning it in 1972, 1980 and 1996. I pegged them as one of the two teams to back in this competition, and I reckon they’ll start with a bang, at Portugal’s expense.

If you want more interesting soccer picks, or want to cheer on either side on Saturday you can pick up a very tasty 33/1 on Germany losing their first game (this one) but topping their group (after three matches). They may not be likely to do the former (Portugal are 18/5 to win on Saturday) but they are certainly likely to do the latter (Germany are 6/5 to win the group at time of press). While I wouldn’t recommend a heavy bet on that one, it’s certainly worth a mini-punt (a small withdrawal from Mrs Richardson’s shoe fund is going there).

Prediction: Germany win 3-1 at 14/1.