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Outright and top goalscorer betting: Spain leapfrog England as favourites
Outright and top goalscorer betting: Spain leapfrog England as favourites

Outright and top goalscorer betting: Spain leapfrog England as favourites

The final four have been confirmed - Spain will face France in the first Euro 2024 semi-final on Tuesday, before England will meet the Netherlands 24 hours later.

 

The winners clash in Berlin on July 14 and La Roja look the form team, so it's perhaps no surprise to see them usurp England as the new 15/8 tournament favourites.

 

Luis de la Fuente's side have played the best football at the tournament and, on Friday, showed they also have the fibre to match their flair by grinding past Germany in extra time.

 

The injury to playmaker Pedri is a blow. 

 

Still, they have been boosted by the news that captain Alvaro Morata, a semi-final goalscorer three years ago, will be available after erroneously being credited with a second yellow card of the tournament in the aftermath of his team's celebrations of Mikel Merino's winner against the hosts.

 

Their expansive play is at odds with the French, who beat Portugal on penalties in a drab affair and despite the attacking talent available, Didier Deschamps is unlikely to change his approach as he seeks a fourth major final of his tenure.
 

France are third in the market at the time of writing at 11/4 with England 5/2 and the Dutch the 5/1 outsiders.

 

Like Les Bleus, the Three Lions have been stodgy and rode their luck again before beating Switzerland on penalties in the last eight.
 

Their final defeat to Italy at the last Euros means they have experience of this scenario and will be determined to go one better.
 

First, they have to beat the Netherlands, who only managed to finish third in Group D. 

 

They have improved in knockout wins over Romania and Turkey but look less polished than the other sides still in the draw.

 

In fact, it is the less entertaining teams that are perhaps best set up to reach the final and France's added nous may see them edge past first Spain and then England.

 

One thing in the Oranje's favour is Cody Gakpo's form. He is one of four players to have netted three times, but the only one still involved in the competition and he's 5/4 to finish as the top goalscorer.

 

Teammate Donyell Malen, Spain duo Dani Olmo and Fabian Ruiz, and England's Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have all scored twice. 

 

Of those, Olmo is the most interesting as he has started just once at the tournament but looks set to come into the side following Pedri's injury. The Spanish midfielder is 8/1 to top the charts.