Euro 2016 is the feature international football tournament this year and we are set for almost a month of outstanding football action!
The tournament has been underway for over a week and we are still being treated to three games of football every single day!
I will be analysing every single game during 2016 and below you can find recommended bets for all first round fixtures.
Both these teams have already secured passage through to the second round of the tournament and it would surprise if either team came out chasing a victory too aggressively.
France have two wins from as many matches at Euro 2016 to date, but there is still a number of question marks over their performance as well as their best line-up and formation.
They have created plenty of chances – particularly Dimi Payet – without taking advantage and it looks as though they will go into this contest without Payet in the starting XI.
Switzerland will be happy with where they stand at this stage of the tournament, but they have been far from convincing against either Albania or Romania.
They struggled to create chances in their final third against Romania and they will have far less possession in this contest.
Topping this group will not mean a great deal for Switzerland and I expect them to take a very conservative approach into this fixture.
A win will not be the priority for either of these sides and in that position a draw is always the best betting play.
Recommended Bet: Back The Draw @ $3
Albania have lost both their games at Euro 2016 to date, but they have been far from disgraced in either fixture and have a great chance to record their first ever win at a major tournament.
Scoring goals has proven to be an issue for Albania, but they have created plenty of chances and looked far more dangerous going forward than would have been predicted at the start of this event.
It took France 90 minutes to break then down and Romania don’t have anywhere near that level of quality in their side.
Romania have been tough defensively during Euro 2016 to date and they have scored goals in both of their games to date, but it should be remembered that these both came from the penalty spot.
Bogdan Stancu has been in fairly hideous form and his inability to convert his opportunities has already cost Romania on a number of occasions during this tournament.
Romania will be forced to open themselves up in this clash and that could prove to be their downfall as this will allow Albania to attack them on the counter-attack.
Romania are far too short at their current odds and the $3.50 currently on offer for a Albania victory is big overs
Recommended Bet: Back Albania To Win @ $3.50
Slovakia kept their tournament alive with a 2-1 victory over Russia on Matchday 2, but they will likely need to take at least a point from this match to have any chance of qualifying for the second round.
Marik Hamsek was outstanding for Slovakia against Russia and he will be key to their chances once again, while the Slovakian defence will need to be at their best to shut down what is likely to be a fairly attacking England line-up.
Slovakia played at their best against Russia when they took the attack to their rivals and they were horrid when they tried to sit on their lead.
England required over 90 minutes to find the winner against Wales, but it is fair to say that they were the better team throughout and they deserved the three points.
They were a much better team when Jamie Vardy, Daniel Sturridge and Marcus Rashford entered the fray and at least two of that trio are expected to start against Slovakia.
There has been plenty to like about the way that England have played during this tournament to date and if they are able to take advantage of their chances they will prove very tough to beat.
This is a tough game to analyse as there is plenty to like about both sides, but the market seems to have got it just about right and I am happy to stay out from a betting perspective.
Recommended Bet: No Bet
This is a crucial game for both sides and they can both still advance to the second round of the tournament with a victory.
Russia have been very poor and negative during Euro 2016 to date, but they may finally show some sign of life in this fixture as they require a victory to have any chance of making it to the round of 16.
They played their best football in the final 10 minutes against Slovakia after they went 2-0 down and if they play at that level throughout they are a genuine chance, but they could end up reverting to the negative football that has seen them struggle during this tournament.
Wales would have considered themselves unlucky to have conceded a late goal against England, but they outplayed throughout and the fact that they took the early lead overshadowed what was a relatively lacklustre performance.
This is a Wales side that has plenty of talent and an x-factor in the form of Gareth Bale, but they can’t just rely on the Real Madrid superstar and the likes of Aaron Ramsay needs to try and have more influence on proceedings.
In saying that, there is no doubt that the speed of Bale will worry what is an ageing defensive group and Wales definitely do have the ability to break down their rivals.
Russia are ridiculously short at their current price and the $3.10 on offer for a Wales victory is a great bet.
Recommended Bet: Back Wales To Win @ $3.10
Ukraine were the first team eliminated from Euro 2016 and they will have nothing left to play for but pride in their final game of the tournament against Poland.
Ukraine showed promising signs in the first half of their tournament opener against Germany, but they were dreadful against Northern Ireland and it is tough to see them improving on that performance now they have been eliminated from the tournament.
Poland were able to control their Euro 2016 opener against Northern Ireland and they seemed more than comfortable to play out a fairly dull draw in their second game of the tournament against Germany.
I think that Poland still have another gear that they can go to in this tournament and it would not surprise if we see that in this fixture.
Robert Lewandowski has been very quite during the tournament to date, but it is tough to keep him without a goal for an extended period and he can lead Poland to their second win of the tournament.
Recommended Bet: Back Poland To Win @ $2
In terms of squad quality this could be the biggest mismatch of Euro 2016, but Northern Ireland have defied expectations during this tournament to date and will no be pushovers against Germany.
Northern Ireland had no ambition in their opening game of the tournament against Poland, but Michael O’Neill made plenty of changes to his side for the second game of the tournament and their positive approach paid dividends with a big victory over Ukraine.
They will likely go into their box against Germany, but they have been well-organised in defence and Germany have problems scoring without an out and out striker in their side.
Germany have been fairly efficient in their two pool games to date, but their lack of a proven striker has proven to be an issue and neither Mario Gotze or Mario Gomez is the answer.
This would be the time for Joachim Lowe to experiment with his side, but whatever team he puts out there there is still a question mark over where the goals will come from.
Germany should still have too much quality for Northern Ireland, but there is no value at their current price, while it is tough to see Northern Ireland coming away with all three points.
Another low-scoring game looks likely in this contest and the $2 on offer for under 2.5 goals looks like a good bet.
Recommended Bet: Back Under 2.5 Goals @ $2
Both these teams have been fairly disappointing during Euro 2016 to date, but Czech Republic will give themselves an excellent chance of progressing to the second round if they are able to beat Turkey in their final pool game.
Czech Republic were outplayed by both Spain and Croatia and their tournament looked just about over, but they showed signs of life in the last 20 minutes against Croatia and scored two late goals to keep their hopes of progression alive.
They will need to take the game to Turkey in this clash and we have not really seen them play in this manner during Euro 2016 to date, with their midfield comprehensively outplayed in both their games.
There was a fair bit of hype surrounding Turkey heading into this tournament, but they were unable to control the football against Croatia and they gave up the fight very quickly against Spain.
It is tough to see them improving now that they have just about been knocked out of the tournament, but there is still a fair bit of talent in this side and they would win this clash if they came to play.
I don’t fancy the chances of the Czech Republic being able to break down their rivals and the $3.50 currently on offer for the draw is easily the best best betting value in this clash.
Recommended Bet: Back The Draw @ $3.50
Top spot in Group D will be on the line when Croatia and Spain do battle on Wednesday morning, but whether both teams will be chasing the victory is a big question mark.
Croatia were excellent for the majority of their clash with Czech Republic, but they completely fell apart when Luka Modric came off the field and they conceded two late goals.
Modric will likely be rested fro this clash and this means that we won’t get to see a battle between two of the strongest midfields in this competition.
Modric is the creator for Croatia and it is very tough to see them breaking down the almost impenetrable Spanish defence without him in the side.
Spain were at their brilliant best against Turkey and if they play that type of football for the rest of this tournament than they will prove very tough to beat.
They will dominate possession again in this clash and they are highly unlikely to concede with the only real question mark over whether they will be able to score against Croatia.
The Czech Republic showed just how vulnerable that Croatia’s defence can be when they are under pressure and I am confident that Spain will be able to come away with the victory.
Recommended Bet: Back Spain To Win @ $2.05
Iceland have been one of the biggest stories of Euro 2016 and they can secure a position in the second round of the tournament with a victory against Austria.
There is no doubt that Iceland deserved at least a point from their clash with Hungary and they way that they have been set-up in each of their fixtures is a credit to managers Heimir Hallgrimsson and Lars Lagerback.
The surprising aspect has been how dangerous that they have looked when they do get the rare opportunity to press forward and they almost managed to steal winners against both Portgual and Hungary.
Austria have been one of the biggest disappointments of Euro 2016 and they need to win this clash to avoid what would be a fairly embarrassing elimination.
In both their games to date they have had problems hanging on to the football and they have created very little chances going forward.
Finding goals will not be any easier against Iceland and it is tough to have any faith in these teams whatsoever on the back of their two performances to date.
This will likely be a very low-scoring fixture and it is the $3.50 on offer for the draw that is clearly the best betting play.
Recommended Bet: Back The Draw @ $3.50
This is a huge game for Portugal and potentially the international legacy of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo created plenty of chances against Austria but he was unable to put the ball in the back of the net – while in an onside position – and it is clear that he is extremely frustrated with the way that this tournament has gone to date.
There is speculation that Portugal Manager Fernando Santos will throw caution to the wind and pack his midfield with attacking weapons, which might be what this team needs to play at their potential.
There was still some positives to take from their performance against Austria and with a bit of luck they could score plenty of goals in this fixture.
Hungary have arguably been the biggest surprise packets of Euro 2016 to date and they are all but assured of passage through to the second round of the tournament.
It is no surprise that this Hungarian side has been tough to break down in their two fixtures to date, but it has been the way that they have passed the football and created opportunities that has been the biggest shock.
This is their stiffest test to date as neither Austria or Iceland have a player as talented as Ronaldo and they need to maintain the level that they have performed at during this tournament to date.
I expect Ronaldo and company to bounce back in this fixture, but there is absolutely no value whatsoever at their current price of $1.40.
Recommended Bet: No Bet
Italy have been one of the form teams of Euro 2016 to date, but they will likely go into this clash with a very different team to the one that was seen against Belgium and Sweden.
Manager Antonio Conte has made it clear that he wants to give as many players as possible game time and there has been speculation that the majority of his usual starting team will be rested.
This might not prove to be that much of a difference maker as the Italians will still be very well-drilled and tough for Ireland to break down.
Ireland showed plenty of promising signs in the first half of their opening game against Sweden, but they have gone backwards significantly since and they were completely outplayed against Belgium.
They need three points from this game to have any chance of progressing to the second round so they will be forced to take the game to Italy, but it is very tough to see them scoring against this very strong defensive side.
This should be another very low-scoring contest and the $3.25 for a draw as well as the $6.50 for a scoreless both appeal.
Recommended Bets: Back The Draw @ $3.25
Belgium were savaged by football experts right around the world following their opening game against Italy, but they bounced back in emphatic fashion against Ireland.
The Belgians were able to create a number of scoring opportunities in a brilliant display of counter-attacking football , while Romelu Lukaku returned to his best form to score two impressive goals.
Belgium will be keen to build on they momentum as they enter the knockout stages of this tournament and if they play like they did against Ireland they will prove very tough to beat.
Sweden have been one of the most disappointing teams at Euro 2016 and Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been a non-factor in what is likely to be his final major tournament.
This could be the match that Ibrahimovic really explodes as there are genuine question marks over this Belgian defence, but he simply does not receive a great deal of support when the side pushes forward and he often finds himself isolated.
While Sweden have struggled with the football, they are another team in this competition that has proven difficult to break down and it took a moment of brilliance from Eder to cost them a point against Italy.
The Sweden defence could frustrate Belgium in this fixture and the $3.60 for the draw as well as $8 for a scoreless stalemate both represent a fair bit of value.
Recommended Bet: Back The Draw @ $3.60