Euro 2016 is underway and everyone has an opinion on everything from who will win it, where the Golden Boot is going or when the home nations will get knocked out.
The tournament in France is all anyone has been talking about since the Champions League final and we all know some know-it-all at work or in the pub who tends to always clean up when it comes to gambling on the beautiful game.
Whether it’s that dark horse nation who are all set to spring a major surprise or a young playmaker about to take the continent by storm, it’s time to put your money where your mouth is.
Here are five sneaky bets that could help you win big this month…
Marko Arnautovic to win the Golden Boot (100/1 to 150/1 e/w)
Austria are dark horses to go far and big striker Arnautovic is a whopping outside price for the Golden Boot.
He might not be reliable enough to back outright but you would be mad not to take him each way – especially when you consider that Fernando Torres was the top scorer at Euro 2012 with just three goals – and Spanish pal David Villa won it in 2008 with just four, so it might not take much.
Most bookies will do a quarter the odds for the top four places, so £10 could still net you upwards of £250.
Stoke City boss Mark Hughes demanded that he add goals to his game this season and he duly obliged with a respectable 11 league strikes.
He has also held off signing a new Potters contract and goes to France eager to impress potential buyers.
Click next to see who’s ill discipline could be your gain…
England to have someone sent off (9/2 Betfair)
Only 13 players have been sent off in England’s history but the current squad boasts two of them -Wayne Rooney and Raheem Sterling.
It does seem the Three Lions are often seen as an easy target to wind up and this summer there are a wealth of candidates in a young inexperienced squad who lose their heads.
Captain Rooney has seen red twice for England, the only other man to do that is David Beckham.
You would like to think he has learned his lesson but Tottenham’s Dele Alli is a live wire and was banned for three games for lashing out late last season – and his Spurs pals Kyle Walker and Danny Rose are both liable to get wound up.
Carry on to see a sneaky quarter-final shot…
Northern Ireland to reach the quarters (16/1 Coral)
This might sound crazy but bare with me.
Northern Ireland are unbeaten in 11 games going into the Euros – and they are the ONLY team in the tournament who can say that.
Michael O’Neill has his side playing good football with a solid mentality and, at their first ever European Championship finals, their morale levels are through the roof.
We think they can sneak a draw against Poland in their opener and see off Ukraine in the second game – meaning they may have qualified before they even face Germany in their final group game.
If they do tip-toe into second in Group C, they will likely face Switzerland or Romania in the next round. And with the run they are on,do not be surprised if they continue to upset the odds.
Next page to see how a no show could mean big dough…
Rashford not to play at all (7/1 Betfair)
England boss Roy Hodgson may have been praised for taking a youthful squad but he has also named five strikers and you can cash in on it with this Betfair special – it was originally 12/1, so if England get an injury then watch the odds go back up.
Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Daniel Sturridge and Marcus Rashford are vying for one spot up front and the further the tournament goes, the less likely he is to throw Manchester United rookie Rashford into the fray.
The 18-year-old may well have scored minutes into his debut against Australia but Hodgson is already hinting that he is leaning towards his tried and tested favourites in taking Sturridge, Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson.
Rashford can definitely do a job, but don’t bank on him getting a chance.
Lastly, click next for the big one, the tournament winner…
France to win/Olivier Giroud top scorer (25/1)
It is difficult to look past hot favourites France to take neighbours Spain’s Euro crown.
Not only do they have home advantage but they have a terrific record at home tournaments – winning the World Cup in 1998 and the Euros back in 1984.
The country and fans are on a wave of emotion following last November’s terrorist atrocities and, not only would victory be fitting and well-deserved but few would begrudge them of it either.
Les Bleus have stars all over the field in Atletico’s Antoine Griezmann, West Ham’s Dimitri Payet, Juve’s Paul Pogba and Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud.
At 3/1 you are not going to make much money on France but with Giroud hitting form at the right time, we think he is likely to confound the critics who have slated him all season – proving so by getting off the mark in France’s opening game win over Romania.
Or if you fancy Harry Kane instead then a France/Kane double is about 66/1.
