The opening game odds

Historically the opening game of a tournament can be a nervy heavy affair with neither side fully warmed up, both cautiously believing that a draw is better than a defeat and the champagne football can wait a bit while they hoof the ball into the stands.

The Czech Republic looked in good form in the friendlies and have the air of fancied outsiders. With Petr Cech in goal the question is who can score against him? The bookies currently have them at 11/2 to squeak it 1-0. Milan Baros is 6/1 to score the first goal but equally 6/1 buys you a 0-0.

Switzerland though are at home and a strong defensively. Goals could be their problem so a 1-1 is currently 5/1 but 2-2 is 17/1. There is another problem for the hosts which is that the Czech Republic have one of the meanest defenses in Europe and no side conceded fewer goals then them in qualification. Hence the3 Swiss to take the lead for Half Time but the Czech’s to win at full time is long odds at 21/1

It would be great to open the tournament with a goal fest fanfare of free flowing football which if it is going to come from either side surely it would be the Czechs and 4-1 offers an Eve sized seduction at 59/1.

But Switzerland have moved up to 19/1 to win the competition which is pretty unlikely. They were much longer odds in the winter. If they could steal a point here, that would give them Turkey to play on Wednesday and potentially put out of the competition. You have to go to quite a few bazaars to find any takers on Turkey being anything but make weights here to the chagrin of their loyal and boisterous supporters. The bookies have them out at 39/1. The Czech Republic then play Portugal which they could not afford to lose, although a strategic draw and a thumping of Turkey would see them through. On that scenario Switzerland would then have the tall order of beating Portugal in the last group game.

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