There are innumerable impossible debates in the sporting world. One of the most enduring flared up again this week when France’s Kylian Mbappe suggested that winning the UEFA European Championships was more challenging than winning the FIFA World Cup.
His comments drew the ire of South Americans as they prepare for Copa America, which kicks off next week – Brazil’s Raphinha and Argentina’s Lionel Messi both had responses, one more measured than the other – but regardless of where one sits on the matter, Mbappe and two-time European champions France will kick off their participation at EURO 2024 on Monday.
3:00 p.m. ET Headliner: Austria vs. France
| Austria Win | +510 | France Win | -175 | Draw | +350 |
| Over 2.5 Goals | -139 | Under 2.5 Goals | +115 | Broadcast | TSN |
There is a lot to like about this French side. Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, who won their third-straight Ligue 1 title with PSG, Eduardo Camavinga, both La Liga and UEFA Champions League winner with Real Madrid, and Serie A champion Marcus Thuram of Inter Milan, to name but a few of the winners in the group, all come into the summer’s action on the back of strong seasons.
Add in the veteran nous of Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud and the calming midfield presence of N’Golo Kante, and Les Bleus rightly take the field as one of the favourites to win it all in Germany (level with England at +400).
With a near-perfect record through qualification, France arrives poised to make a deep run in Germany. As 2018 World Cup winners and 2022 runners-up, Didier Deschamps’ side knows what it takes, but as Mbappe said, winning in Europe is never a foregone conclusion. The French will be tested. Their only two losses in the last two calendar years came against hosts Germany, while Argentina bested them in the final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Austria is neither Germany nor Argentina, but with German manager Ralf Rangnick at the helm, Das Team has turned itself into a side not to be overlooked. A progenitor of the Gegenpressing style developed during his tenure at Red Bull, Rangnick has brought that cohesion and energy to a side that has too often underwhelmed on the international stage.
The Austrians make the short trip across a single border in good form, unbeaten in seven matches, including a win over neighbours Germany last November. However, captain David Alaba will miss the competition due to an injury. The mercurial Marko Arnautovic can change games on his own, should the mood strike, while Marcel Sabitzer, coming off an excellent year with Dortmund, will marshal the midfield and look to fill the void left by Alaba’s absence.
Don’t sleep on Austria in Group D, but opening against France will not be an easy task.
Game Bets To Consider
- This game will go one of two ways: either France will dominate from start to finish, announcing their intentions, or Austria will frustrate, perhaps even finding a counter as the French try to force the issue. The former is more likely: Correct Score 0-3 France at +1050.
- Should France indeed prove too much for the Austrians to handle, both Mbappe and Griezmann will be in the middle of it. Betano is offering enhanced odds on Both players to score – Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann at +460.
Bet on Austria vs. France
AUT +510
FRA -175
Other EURO 2024 Games On June 17
Romania vs. Ukraine, 9:00 a.m. ET
While lacking some of the star power on display in many of the other opening-round matches at EURO 2024, the Group E opener between Romania and Ukraine will be pivotal to either team’s hopes of advancing to the knockout rounds. Safe money has Belgium taking the top spot in the group, winning all three matches, so results between the other three will more directly factor in who moves on.
The Tricolorii topped a qualification group that included Switzerland, going unbeaten through all ten matches, but head to Germany winless in four matches played this year. Edward Iordanescu’s side has experience (captain Nicolae Stanciu), goals (George Puscas), and talent (Ianis Hagi, son of the legendary Gheorghe Hagi), but will need to rely on group effort to find success at the finals.
Ukraine comes to Germany having taken the long road. Qualifying via the playoff path, the Blue and Yellow needed goals in the final ten minutes to defeat both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland en route. They arrive battle-tested and while every team carries the hopes of their nation, Ukraine’s weight is more.
With talent spread around Europe, playing at the highest level in top leagues – Chelseas’s Mykhailo Mudryk is the most prominent example, Serhiy Rebrov’s side has the ability to turn some heads in Germany.
Game Bet To Consider: Through the opening two days of action, no match has yet gone scoreless. And though this one is a candidate to break that streak, Ukraine’s Artem Dovbyk as goal scorer (Anytime +160, First +430, Last +430) looks a good bet. Dovbyk was the top scorer in Spain with Girona this past season and had three goals in the last five matches internationally.
Belgium vs. Slovakia, 12:00 p.m. ET
With the golden generation beginning to age out—Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens, and Toby Alderweireld have either retired or not been selected—and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois not involved, the hype around Belgium is lesser than in recent tournaments. Gone too is coach Roberto Martinez. In his stead comes Domenico Tedesco, who has rejuvenated the Red Devils since taking charge.
Belgium are unbeaten in 12 matches under Tedesco, still have world-class talents in the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, have retooled with fresh blood – watch for Jeremy Doku and Johan Bakayoko to break out in Germany, and might just have the best kits at EURO 2024 with their Tintin-inspired blue and brown combo.
Their opening-round opponents, Slovakia, led by Francesco Calzona, are one of those sides who arrive at a big tournament without the weight of expectation. Marek Hamsik, their former talisman, has retired – he’s a member of the coaching staff in Germany – and without the star power of other nations, the Falcons will rely on unity rather than raw talent. That makes them dangerous in their own way. Their only loss in qualification came against Portugal.
Game Bet To Consider: It’s hard not to see a Belgium win in this one and given how much they are favoured one has to stretch to find some value there. Considering how replete EURO 2024 has been with goals – the average per match is sitting around four at the moment, a Game Result with Over/Under of Belgium and Over 2.5 at +118 brings some.
| Away Team |  | Draw | | Home Team | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romiania | +335 | +240 | +100 | Ukraine | 9:00 PM |
| Belgium | -200 | +355 | +620 | Slovakia | 12:00 PM |
| Austria | +510 | +350 | -175 | France | 3:00 PM |
Latest EURO 2024 Futures Odds
Here are the latest EURO 2024 Futures odds, heading into the matches on June 17:
| Team | | Yesterday | Team | | Yesterday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | +400 | +400 | Spain | +650 | +900 |
| France | +400 | +400 | Italy | +1400 | +1400 |
| Germany | +500 | +450 | Netherlands | +1500 | +1700 |
| Portugal | +600 | +550 | Belgium | +1900 | +1900 |
On the second day of the competition, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland won their matches against Croatia, Albania, and Hungary, respectively. That impressive 3-0 result over Croatia, with all three goals coming in the flurry towards the end of the first half, has shown what a flying Spanish side can do against even top opposition and narrowed their odds to win it all (+650).
