Our favorite bets for North Macedonia vs. Netherlands, Russia vs. Denmark (June 21)

Two other Euro 2020 groups close their first round matches on Monday, with four nations reserving places for the tournament’s round of 16.

Group C starts first, with both games scheduled for 12 p.m. ET. The Netherlands, at the top of the table, appear to finish undefeated after three games against North Macedonia. The other competition pits Ukraine against Austria in a battle for second place.

The Group B games will follow at 3 p.m. ET, marked by Russia’s game against Denmark. Finland face title-favorite Belgium in the other competition. Belgium only needs a draw to secure first place, while the other three countries have a chance of securing second place in the round of 16.

Our Action Network Football Analysts have you covered when it comes to your tournament needs, providing match previews, in-depth analysis and selections.

Disabled BJ Cunningham, Anthony Dabbundo and Jeremy Pond make their best bets from two of the meetings. Let’s take a look at their favorite picks on the loaded slate.

Monday’s best bets

Quotes as of Sunday evening.

BJ Cunningham: North Macedonia vs Netherlands – Total on 3 goals (-121)

I love this North Macedonian team, not necessarily in this game, but I really respect the way they played those first two games. It’s playing like a team that has nothing to lose. He tries to move forward, looking to create opportunities from open play. Plus, the nation’s games are really fun to watch.

Now, North Macedonia’s defense has been terrible as they have allowed Austria and Ukraine a combined expected 6.1 goals. Now he faces the team that created more than 5.5 xG against the two countries that defeated him.

From the Netherlands perspective, they have already won Group C as they have the tiebreaker against Ukraine and Austria. Plus, I’m sure we’ll see manager Frank deBoer spin a lot of his top players to avoid potential injury. But, even though the Dutch don’t really need to do anything in this game, I think the substitutes will be motivated.

I don’t see a scenario in which North Macedonia comes out and says they’re just going to play for a 0-0 draw, so I’m actually going up the tally to go over the three goals as the best team encountered. I threw 3.30 goals, so I like that number more than anything more than money.

Anthony Dabbundo: Denmark ML (-139) v Russia

At every major international tournament, there seems to be a team that is unlucky and gets all the variance to oppose it. In Euro 2020, it would be Denmark.

The Danes outscored their opponents, 42-7, and have the fifth-best xG differential and have dominated the midfielder in their previous two games.

No one could fault them for a lackluster second half against Finland after Christian Eriksen’s medical situation, but Denmark also dominated Belgium for 90 minutes. His midfielder duo Thomas Delaney and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are expected to overwhelm a Russian side who have looked very poor so far in their group stage matches.

Russia played Belgium much worse than Denmark and failed to control the ball. Against Finland this allowed almost a full xG and was barely the best team over 90 minutes. There are major question marks over their defense, which made many individual mistakes leading to chances.

Russian forward Artem Dyzuba will be isolated from the rest of the attack and the Danes will find the goals to advance to the knockout stage, becoming an even more dangerous dark horse with a solid midfield and defense.

Jeremy Pond: Denmark ML (-139) v Russia

Is there anyone other than the Finn or the Russian who won’t cheer on the Danes in their decisive home game in Copenhagen?

As someone who supported Denmark to finish second in Group B before the start of the tournament, I place all my chips in the center of the table there and support Kasper Schmeichel and his teammates to find a way to overtake Russia and to work. his way to the knockout stages.

The Danes, who haven’t had star midfielder Christian Eriksen since suffering a medical emergency against Finland, are winless in two games. However, an important win here – plus a little help from Belgium, likely group winners, in their game against Finland – could propel Denmark to second place.

What I find specifically promising is how it performed in the xG column in both losses. The Danes held a 1.9-0.4 xG advantage over Finland on their debut, then followed with a 1.8-1.1 xG advantage over the powerful Belgians.

Now Denmark face a Russian side that were set on fire for three goals in a rout against Belgium, so it’s not the sharpest back line the favorite has come across.

I expect the Danes to come out eager to leave, with a whole nation of fans doing their part to help them achieve a little miracle. That said, support Denmark to triumph there at -145 odds or better and enjoy the game.