Portuguese to get checkmate in 90 minutes

Equipped with the best player in the tournament, bet on Portugal reaching the Euro 2012 semi-finals for the third time by beating the Czech Republic in normal time.

Big players win big matches and, with Lionel Messi absent because Argentina is not part of Europe, Cristiano Ronaldo is the biggest name on show in Poland and Ukraine.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man and Ronaldo came alive in the Portuguese team`s 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in Kharkhiv, running amok and scoring both of his side`s goals as they eliminated the 2010 World Cup silver medallists.

Portugal survived the Group of Death having improved with every game and, while the Czechs improved with every match that they played in Group A, they started from a considerably lower base than the Portuguese.

You would have got long odds about the Czech Republic making the last eight after its opening 1-4 loss to Russia in which everything that could go wrong went wrong for the Czechs.

Michal Bilek made several tactical adjustments to the Czech Republic for its subsequent games - a 2-1 defeat of the Greeks and a 1-0 victory over the Poles - but they do not match up well versus Portugal who, if its key players click, could run out exceedingly comfortable winners.

One of the stars of Euro 2012 for the Portugese has been Miguel Veloso, the Genoa defensive midfielder who has snuffed out the likes of Mesut Ozil, Christian Eriksen and Robin Van Persie in Portugal`s three matches so far.

If Veloso`s fine form continues - you would expect him to get the job of shutting down Tomas Rosicky if the Arsenal man`s troublesome Achilles tendon do not prevent him from lining up - it will go a long way to ensuring that the Portuguese face either Spain or France in the semi-finals.

Portugal is around 8-11 to qualify for the next round after 90 minutes in Warsaw and that seems like a fair price. There is a considerable difference in quality between the teams, a gulf that will become even wider if Rosicky does not start.

The Czechs struggle to keep clean sheets against quality opponents and the Portuguese, after a run of outs, have found their shooting boots and playing with confidence.

Take Portugal at around 8-11 and, if you are looking for a bet on one of the many exotic markets, back Paulo Bento`s side to win either 1-0 or 2-0, which works out at around 5-2 once your split your stakes on the generally available odds.

In Euro 2012 futures betting, Germany has replaced Spain as the tournament favourite, primarily because of how the draw for the knockout phase has developed, with the Greeks and possibly the English standing between the Germans and the final. The Spaniards face the Frenchs in the quarter-finals and then, if successful, most probably the Portuguese.

With three goals in the bag and opportunities for more, unlike Russia`s Alan Dzagoev and Croatia`s Mario Mandzukic, Germany`s Mario Gomez is the Golden Boot favourite at around the 13-8 mark, ahead of Portugal`s Ronaldo at around 4-1.

Some bookmakers have revised their markets on the player of the tournament and, not surprisingly, Ronaldo is the general frontrunner at around 6-1. Steven Gerrard has been England`s star performer and he is trading in the 16-1 territory.

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20/06/2012     © Frixo 2024