Euro 2012 Betting

The 14th European Championship will be held in Poland and Ukraine from 8th June to 1st July 2012. The Group Stage draw was revealed in early December as the participating 16 countries learnt their fate. England were the very last team out the pot and they were placed in Group D with France, Ukraine and Sweden.

Euro 2012 Odds

The European Championships is always an exciting and hugely popular betting tournament and Euro 2012 is predicted to be the biggest yet. 16 teams will take part and, as Greece proved in 2004, anyone can win it. However, it will the European heavyweights Spain, Netherlands and Germany who will head to the Finals as the favourites in the Euro 2012 Odds.

As always England will be well backed as they strive to prove to their devoted and patient supporters that they have both the mental and physical strength to cope with the overwhelming expectation and pressure and win a major tournament. After a hugely disappointing World Cup 2010 England manager Fabio Capello will want to prove his credentials and go out with a bang.

Euro 2012 Group Stage

England have been drawn in Group D alongside Ukraine, Sweden and France. Their opening Euro 2012 Fixture is against rivals France on 11th June 2012 at the Donbass Arena (Donetsk). They will then play Sweden four days later at the Olympic Stadium (Kiev), with their last match against co-hosts Ukraine back at the Donbass Arena on 19th June 2012. The Group D winners will play the runners-up of Group C, while the second placed team in Group D will play the winners of Group C.

Euro 2012 Groups

• Group A: Poland, Greece, Russia, Czech Republic
• Group B: Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Portugal
• Group C: Spain, Italy, Republic of Ireland, Croatia
• Group D: Ukraine, Sweden, France, England

England Top Goalscorer Euro 2012

The England Top Goalscorer betting market is always extremely popular and Euro 2012 will be no different. England's key player Wayne Rooney currently tops the odds but due to his suspension it may be wise to back one of England's other strikers such as Darren Bent or Andy Carroll. In form midfielder Ashley Young looks like a tempting bet as does Steve Gerrard.

England European Championship record

You will need no reminding that England do not have the best of records at European Championships. Having failed to even qualify for the last tournament in 2008 England will be gunning to make amends in Poland and Ukraine next summer. The Three Lions best showing came on home soil in 1996 when they reached the semi-finals...only to lose on penalties to their fierce rivals Germany.

• France 1960 - Did not enter
• Spain 1964 - Did not qualify
• Italy 1968 - Third Place
• Belgium 1972 - Did not qualify
• Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1976 - Did not qualify
• Italy 1980 - Group Stage (5th)
• France 1984 - Did not qualify
• West Germany 1988 - Group Stage (8th)
• Sweden 1992 - Group Stage (7th)
• England 1996 - Semi Final (3rd)
• Belgium Netherlands 2000 - Group Stage (11th)
• Portugal 2004 - Quarter Final (5th)
• Austria Switzerland 2008 - Did not qualify
• Poland Ukraine 2012 - Qualified

FIFA World Rankings

It is little suprise to find the World and European champions Spain sitting pretty at the top of the rankings. They are followed by Netherlands and Germany, with these three teams the favourites in the Euro 2012 odds. England are currently 7th in the rankings.

Correct as of 19/10/2011 - Will be updated on 23/11/2011:

1. Spain - 1624 points
2. Netherlands - 1425
3. Germany - 1352
4. Uruguay - 1230  
5. Brazil - 1144
6. Italy - 1135
7. England - 1101
8. Greece - 1040
9. Portugal - 1040 
10. Argentina - 1030

European Championship Winners

England, of course, have never won the European Championship with their only major trophy coming in 1996 when they won the World Cup. Germany have won the tournament a record three times while Spain have won twice.

• 1960 - Soviet Union
• 1964 - Spain
• 1968 - Italy
• 1972 - Germany
• 1976 - Czech Republic
• 1980 - Germany
• 1984 - France
• 1988 - Netherlands
• 1992 - Denmark
• 1996 - Germany
• 2000 - France
• 2004 - Greece