European Championship betting preview: Free tips & best bets for Thursday's Euro 2020 qualifiers including an international acca
Paul Higham has a four-team accumulator for Thursday's Euro 2020 qualifiers and says Austria could be the bet of the night to start their campaign with a win.
Recommended bets
1pt Austria to beat Poland at 11/8
For advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Northern Ireland v Estonia (1945 GMT Sky Sports Main Event)
Michael O’Neill’s men lost all four games during their Nations League relegation, but Estonia also suffered the drop from League C and now languish in the bottom sector of the new competition.
With the Netherlands and Germany looming in this group, a good start is imperative but the absence of Will Grigg is a blow to the hosts.
Estonia failed to score in four of their six Nations League games and in a must-win game for the Northern Irish they can just edge out a low-scoring contest, possibly with just a single goal.
Best bet: Northern Ireland to win & under 2.5 goals 6/4
Netherlands v Belarus
The Dutch have lost just once in their last nine after responding to missing out on the World Cup by producing some hugely improved performances to make the nations League finals this summer.
Ronald Koeman’s side have won seven of their last eight at home scoring over 2.5 goals in half of those games and winning by a two-goal margin in five of those victories. Belarus did not concede a goal in their Nations League campaign but the standard was poor to say the least.
Best bet: Netherlands win to nil at 8/13
Euro Quiz
Belgium v Russia
These two World Cup stars clash having both lost last time out – notably Belgium suffering a 5-1 humiliation against Switzerland. They’ve not lost consecutive competitive games for nine years though.
They’re also top of the FIFA rankings, for what that’s worth, but more importantly will be keen to make amends for that Swiss defeat and face a Russian side on a poor run away from home who are winless in five games against Belgium, conceding nine goals in the process.
Best Bet: Belgium to win & under 2.5 goals at 5/2
Austria v Poland
The top two in their qualifying group clash in the very first game and Austria are unsurprisingly favourites having gone seven games unbeaten and losing just once in 13 games at home.
Poland boss Jerzy Brzęczek is also yet to taste victory having drawn three and lost three of his six games in a disastrous Nations League campaign, so this represents a prime opportunity for the Austrians to take charge of this group from the start.
Best bet: Austria to win at 11/8
Sporting Life Acca: Northern Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium and Austria all to win - Price Boosted to 5/1 by Sky Bet (available only through this link)
Odds correct as of 1435 on 20/3/19