The first Euro 2024 semi-final is the star attraction on Tuesday evening as Spain and France head for Munich to battle for a spot in the continental decider against England or Netherlands.
There is also the prospect of the Champions League qualifiers beginning, a sure sign that domestic club football is once more starting to loom on the horizon.
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Bet of the Day
Vikingur Reykjavik and Shamrock Rovers to draw @ 5/2
The Champions League qualifiers get underway on Tuesday evening and amongst the teams in action are Airtricity Premier Division champions Shamrock Rovers as the Irish outfit head for Iceland and a date with Vikingur Reykjavik.
Vikingur’s manager Arnar Gunlaugsson will be familiar to many for his time as a 32-cap Iceland international and a long English Premier League career with the likes of Bolton Wanderers and Leicester City. His team sit top of the Icelandic league and have suffered just one defeat in 14 games so far.
Shamrock Rovers’ quest for five Irish titles on the trot has floundered as they trail leaders Shelbourne by 13 points. That may tempt manager Stephen Bradley into piling his eggs into the European basket, given they have lost seven times in the league already.
They come into this game after a morale-boosting win over Dundalk at the weekend, with Celtic loanee Johnny Kenny netting the winner to take him into double figures for the season. He’s lively and could get an all-important goal in Reykjavik that would aid Rovers’ quest for a positive result to bring back to the Tallaght Stadium. A point is not beyond them.
Special of the day
Spain and France to draw 1-1 @ 22/5
The clash of Spain and France in Munich looks exceptionally tough to call. Les Bleus have struggled to score in Germany, with their last four games all goalless at the interval. Their last six games have produced just one solitary first-half strike and that was an own-goal from Austria’s Maximillian Wober. Four of France’s last six games have ended level after 90 minutes.
Spain have looked the best team at Euro 2024 but were given a proper workout by Germany in their last-eight clash, one they were fortunate to survive.
They will allow France to retain possession at times, while Didier Deschamps’ cautious approach may see this develop into a standoff or sorts.
There is, though, enough attacking talent on display to imagine that classic tournament football outcome – the 1-1 draw – is a major possibility at the end of 90 minutes.
Longshot of the day
Jules Kounde to be booked @ 5/1
Jules Kounde has regularly been deployed at right-back for France so far in Euro 2024. The 25-year-old Barcelona player has been excellent but likely faces his toughest test now against a dynamic Spanish outfit, capable of hurting 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 whole host of threats.
Kounde is adept at getting forward but should be challenged defensively here. In the La Liga season just gone he only had four bookings, though interestingly they arrived in games against Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Girona – the four teams that surrounded Barca in the final standings, giving a hint he might be susceptible in such an evenly-balanced game such as this.
He’s decent value to find a first caution at these Euros coming his way against a potent and pacey Spanish attack.
Odds correct at time of publish and subject to change*
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