Euro 2016 Predictions for Group C – Northern Ireland to finish bottom

Euro 2016 Group C betting tips and predictions for the outcome of the group containing Germany, Poland, Ukraine and Northern Ireland.

 

Group C is a very intriguing group. There are three teams within it who will be quietly confident of being able to qualify out of the group – Germany, Poland and Ukraine and then there’s the underdogs of Northern Ireland who after winning their qualification group, will be keen to make an impression in their first ever European Championships.

 

Euro 2016 Group C Predictions

 

Germany

Germany enter the tournament as one of the favourites to win – the best odds for Germany to win Euro 2016 are currently 4/1 with Coral. After winning the 2014 World Cup in Rio Joachim Low will be keen to get the Euro’s won as well so he has both trophies for when he steps down as Germany manager. They played that tournament mainly with a false 9 type of formation in that there was no real recognised striker, however the scintillating form of Mario Gomez means he has forced his way back into the setup, which is positive as they now have a focal point of their attack, as well as a poacher with a killer instinct in front of goal. He’s fired an impressive 25 goals in 32 league games which looks almost certainly to have secured the league for Besiktas.

 

Poland

Poland have named a preliminary 28 man squad which needs to be whittled down to 23 before the upcoming friendlies against the Netherlands and Lithuania. He’s named almost pretty much the same squad that went through Euro 2016 qualifying, though he has omitted Lukas Szukala, which is no real surprise as he’s been struggling at Osmanlispor this season. They have named a Benfica youngster yet to play for the first team, but I’d expect he will be one of the five players who will be dropped at the 23-man announcement. It’s all about keeping Robert Lewandowski well supplied in front of goal and Krychowiak will be a key man in defensive midfield making sure he breaks up play and gets the ball out wide.

 

Poland have revealed a 28-man provisional squad for #EURO2016. Five will have to be cut for their final selection. pic.twitter.com/Y4MVn1zdqb

— UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) May 12, 2016

 

 

Ukraine

Ukraine have some worries coming into this tournament. A fiery match in the domestic league between Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk ended with Andriy Yarmolenko kicking Shakhtars’ Taras Stepanenko. Stepanenko quickly released a statement declaring his international team mate and his ‘friendship is over’ and it’s left national team boss Mikhail Formenko with a real headache in order to get this resolved and bring back squad harmony. Yarmolenko is the pin up boy of Ukrainian football, he is their star man and everything positive goes through him, or Yevhen Konoplyanka, a quick and direct winger who loves to cut in from the opposite flank to Yarmolenko and wreak havoc in the opposition final third. I expect a big tournament from Yarmolenko, as this is a chance to showcase his talents on the big stage, in order to finally get his move to a top European club, as he is 26 now and certainly ready for the challenge.

 

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland topped their fairly average Euro 2016 qualification group to get into this summers’ tournament, but regardless of opponents, Michael O’Neill has done an incredible job since taking over. He’s instilled belief and confidence within their limited resources, and for a small nation to be ahead of Romania in qualification speaks volumes. They only lost one match all through qualifying, and they conceded just eight goals in 10 matches as well so defensive organisation is key. Kyle Lafferty got seven of the 16 goals in the group stage and even though he has struggled for game time with his clubs, O’Neill has kept the faith in him, and Lafferty has relished the chances he’s been given and taken the opportunity with both hands. I do think against a higher grade opponent such as the three they face in the group; this tournament may be slightly too tough for Northern Ireland but you can be sure they will be well supported in France.

Watch – the moment Northern Ireland secured qualification to Euro 2016.

 

My first betting tip for Euro 2016 Group C is going to be Ukraine to finish 3rd. I think top spot will go to Germany, and in a head to head game I think Poland have the better quality overall in the starting XI’s. I think a lack of a clinical striker may be Ukraine’s undoing, and with the added worry over two important players dramatically falling out, this kind of preparation is the last thing you need going into a big tournament. They should have too much for Northern Ireland in their match, and Paddy Power are offering 7/4 for Ukraine to finish 3rd, which I believe to be excellent value.

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My other Euro 2016 prediction for Group C is going to be Northern Ireland to finish bottom. I just cannot see where they can challenge the other teams in the group. They rely on defensive strength but it’s one thing keeping the likes of Hungary, Romania and Finland at bay compared to Germany, Poland and Ukraine. They rely too much on Kyle Lafferty and I don’t think he can step up and compete with much stronger defences than he’s used to. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t score a goal in the group, but they won’t get turned over too easily either. Coral are offering 4/6 for Northern Ireland to finish bottom.

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Euro 2016 Betting Tips Group C

Ukraine to finish 3rd – 7/4 with Paddy Power.

Northern Ireland to finish bottom – 4/6 with Coral.

 

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