Spain v Italy
First goalscorer
A glance at this list gives an indication of perhaps why Spain are poor value to win this tournament. For all the brilliant passing, pressing and movement, the two strikers whose names appear first do not instil confidence: Fernando Torres and Fernando Llorente. The pair are both 7.206/1.
Torres is a shadow of his former self and despite an upturn in form at the end of the season with Chelsea, it was still a campaign which brought only six goals in 32 league appearances. That is a paltry return. Llorente is better. He has 17 goals in 32 for Athletic Bilbao but his international strike rate is poor. Seven goals in 20. David Villa, out with a broken shin, will be missed.
With Spain expected to dominate the ball and Italy happy to sit back, it is a Spaniard who is most likely to notch first. The value, therefore, could lie with David Silva. Four goals in qualifying and a chunky price of 12.0011/1 appeals.
To score
Andrea Pirlo is Italy's star man. He will orchestrate. That is if Italy want to play. They may be happy to frustrate Spain and look at the odd breakaway or set piece. Mario Balotelli could be set free then or make a nuisance from a set piece. He also takes the penalties now and again. He is 5.409/2.
Sending off
We think of Italians as dirty so and sos. Think again. In qualifying only Spain, Germany, Liechtenstein and Norway committed fewer fouls. Still, we await our first red in the tournament and despite that stat no-one would be surprised if it was an Italian in a back-to-the wall performance. It's 4.2016/5 for a red.
Recommended Bet
M Balotelli to score 5.409/2
Ireland v Croatia
First goalscorer
Ireland could rival England in being the most organised (boring) and disciplined (un-adventurous) in the tournament so Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle might have a thankless task in this Group C encounter against Slaven Bilic's outfit.
Keane, who still managed three goals in six appearances in a dreadful Aston Villa side last season, is 9.4017/2 while Doyle, who played for an even worse Wolves outfit, is 13.5025/2.
Croatia are likely to pair Nikica Jelavic and Mario Mandzukic up front in a two. Jelavic notched nine goals in 13 league games for Everton last term and is one of the most impressive finishers in the tournament.
He comes under the radar somewhat because he did not make an impression during qualifying , playing nine times and failing to find the net. Perhaps it is the step up in class which negates his threat but is Ireland's backline of Ward-St Ledger-Dunne-O'Shea high quality? Nope. He is 8.007/1 for the first goal and 3.7011/4 to score at any time.
Look out also for Niko Kranjcar, once of Tottenham Hotspur and now of Dynamo Kiev. He scored four goals in qualifying, two of them the first goals in the match and may also take penalties. He is 17.5033/2 for the first goal and 8.207/1 to score.
Bookings Points 1
With 176 fouls in qualifying Ireland were the third dirtiest team. Croatia were seventh. Ireland averaged 1.58 yellows per game and Croatia 1.92. With ten points awarded for a yellow, this market is value by wagering 25-45 points at 2.3411/8. A red card is worth 25 points.
Recommended Bet
Back 25-45 points on Bookings Points at 2.3411/8