David Ramos/Getty Images. Pictured: Spain standout Álvaro Morata.
We start a new week at the 2020 European Championships, with plenty of questions to be answered at the halfway point of the opening set of matches.
There are three games on the Monday schedule, featuring: Scotland vs. Czech Republic (Group D); Poland vs. Slovakia (Group E); and, Spain vs. Sweden in the Group E nightcap.
Our Action Network soccer analysts have you covered when it comes to your Euro 2020 needs, providing game previews, in-depth analysis and selections during the tournament.
As for these latest tournament matches, handicappers Jeremy Pond, Matthew Trebby, BJ Cunningham and Anthony Dabbundo have unveiled their best bets that cover every match on the card.
That said, let’s take a look at their top selections on the slate.
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Sunday’s Best Bets
| ANALYST | PICK | ODDS | BEST BOOK |
|---|---|---|
| BJ Cunningham | Czech Republic — Draw No Bet (-113) | DraftKings |
| Anthony Dabbundo | Czech Republic — Draw No Bet (-113) | DraftKings |
| Jeremy Pond | Robert Lewandowski (Poland) To Score Anytime (-105) | BetMGM |
| Matthew Trebby | Spain vs. Sweden — Over 2.5 (+108) | DraftKings |
Odds as of Sunday afternoon.
BJ Cunningham: Czech Republic — Draw No Bet (-113) vs. Scotland
- Odds available at DraftKings
Czech Republic is an underrated team in this tournament. Over their last 10 Euro and World Cup qualifying matches, it has won the expected-goals battle in every match. Included in that was a 2-1 win over England in Prague and a 1-1 draw with Belgium in World Cup qualifying in late March.
The Czechs have a solid roster, featuring a lot of guys that play in one of Europe’s major five leagues. Their best player is West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek, who was one of the club’s key players in its sixth-place finish in the Premier League.
They also have a fantastic center forward in Patrik Schick, who plays for Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in the German top flight. Schick put up a 0.45 xG per 90 minutes this season.
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That said, Czech Republic has a couple of guys who can penetrate the middle of the Scotland defense, which is really weak in my opinion.
Scotland has some talent at the back in the form of Andrew Robertson, Kieran Tierney and Scott McTominay. However, the nation is going to be relying on Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes up front to provide the goal scoring and they’re not going to put the fear of God into the Czech defense that allowed only 0.86 xG per match over its last 10 Euro and World Cup qualifying matches.
I have the Czechs project at +117 odds, so I think there is some good value on their Draw No Bet line of -113 odds.
Anthony Dabbundo: Czech Republic — Draw No Bet (-113) vs. Scotland
- Odds available at DraftKings
I’m not quite as high on the Czech Republic as BJ is this tournament, but I do like the nation in this meeting with Scotland.
While there are defensive concerns for the Czechs that keep me from backing them long term, I’m really low on Scotland as a unit. It doesn’t have many quality attacking pieces that can be trusted to get shots and produce chances to take advantage of the Czech’s defensive woes.
Scotland’s creative output comes from Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney, which means most of its attack will come down the left side against quality right back Vladimir Coufal of West Ham United.
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Scotland does have a deep and complimentary midfield in John McGinn, Scott McTominay and defensive midfielder Callum McGregor, but Che Adams is the main man up top for Scotland and hasn’t proven his consistency.
This game won’t be fun for the neutral, but Czech Republic has a much clearer way of getting at Scotland on set pieces and transition. The Czechs are the better team in this matchup and have the more reliable goal scorer in Patrick Schick of Bayer Leverkusen.
Scotland is lucky to have even made this tournament, while Czech Republic rolled through qualifying for a reason.
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Jeremy Pond: Robert Lewandowski (Poland) To Score Anytime (-105) vs. Slovakia
- Odds available at BetMGM
When you have a guy like Robert Lewandowski on your roster, you’re going to have a chance in any match you play at this tournament. It’s as simple as that.
The Bayern Munich talisman is coming off a record-setting season with the Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich, scoring a stunning 41 goals to break German soccer icon Gerd Müller’s mark that stood for close to five decades. Lewandowski actually missed a batch of games due to injuries as well, so who knows what the tally would have been if he was healthy the entire campaign.
That being said, you have to think Lewandowski is going to enter the Euro 2020 showcase hungry and looking to prove he can deliver for Poland as well as he can for his club.
Lewandowski had a beyond disappointing 2018 edition of this tournament, going scoreless through three group-stage games. Suffice it to say, a hot start against a Slovakian side that conceded at least one goal in three of its five matches this year would be ideal.
And let’s be honest. Slovakia doesn’t feature one of the finest defenses in this competition. Case in point via its 2-2 draw against Malta in a World Cup qualifying match back in March. Yes, that’s the same Malta currently parked 175th in the latest FIFA rankings.
Put all of that together and you have a perfect situation facing Lewandowski, with the chances of him opening his account (and maybe even bagging a brace) strong at -105 odds via BetMGM pretty solid. Take this number and run.
Matthew Trebby: Spain vs. Sweden — Total Over 2.5 Goals (+108)
- Odds available at DraftKings
I was surprised to see this matchup with a plus number for the over when it comes to the total.
Spain is the chance-creation overlord of this tournament. La Furia Roja averaged 2.96 expected goals per game in qualifying, which led all countries. The Spanish squad has changed a lot over the past few years, but it still has plenty of playmakers in midfield.
Thiago Alcântara didn’t have the best year for Liverpool, but he and Dani Olmo should create plenty of scoring opportunities for the attack. Ferran Torres didn’t feature much down the stretch for Manchester City, but he tended to score goals when he saw the pitch.
The big concern is Álvaro Morata, who has struggled with finishing for years.
On the Swedish side, Dejan Kulusevski and Alexander Isak will be a dynamic duo when Kulusevski is out of COVID-19 protocol. That means Isak will have to star by himself for now, with the likelihood he’s partnered with 34-year-old veteran Marcus Berg. Emil Forsberg will provide the link between midfield and attack for the Swedes, who have darkhorse potential.
Keep living and back the over in this spot. The chances will be there with Spain involved. We just need the finishing to be on point as well.
