If you’re only used to seeing “Georgia” on sports betting websites during college football season, you’re likely far from alone. But the Bulldogs are not playing in EURO 2024 – it’s the nation of Georgia, in its first major international soccer tournament since the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
They first started attempting qualification for European Championships back in 1996, and the eighth time turned out to be the charm. According to FIFA, they rank 75th in the world, making them the lowest-ranked team at EURO.
However, they have the player who finished 17th in Ballon d’Or voting in 2023, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who is a winger for Serie A side Napoli at the age of 23.
The Georgians finished behind Spain, Scotland and Norway in qualifying, but after a nice run at the UEFA Nations League, Georgia earned a playoff shot at a berth. They beat Luxembourg, 2-0, and advanced on penalties after a 0-0 draw against Greece, and here they are.
This is a team that feels like it’s playing with house money, so can they pull off another big win against Turkey? We will see. Check out our EURO Cup odds and preview for that match as well as Portugal’s game against Czechia.
EURO 2024 Odds & Betting On Best Matches for June 18 | Soccer Odds
Turkey -140 vs Georgia +425
When: 12:00 pm ET
Euro Cup Odds: Draw +270 // O/U 2.5
Turkey has not made it out of group play at a European Championship since 2012. Their best result came in 2008, when they rolled to the semifinals. Their last match was a 2-1 setback against Poland, and they have a five-match winless streak going, with three losses and a pair of draws.
They’re last qualification fixture for EURO 2024 was a 1-1 draw against Wales on November 21. However, they did win Group D, getting 17 points from eight matches. This is the Turks’ sixth matchup against Georgia; Turkey have three wins and two draws in those matches. However, the sides have not met since May 2012, when Turkey won, 3-1, in a friendly.
Georgia’s last action after that draw with Greece came on June 9, when they beat Montenegro in a friendly, 3-1. Will they be rusty or rested on Tuesday? Just pulling one point out of this matchup and hoping that Portugal will rest key players when they see them in their third match day could put Georgia on the brink of another historic first – advancing to knockout rounds. They also have Valencia goalie Giorgi Mamardashvili and Watford’s Giorgi Chakvetadze, so this is a team that could bring some surprises.
EURO Pick: Betting on the draw
Portugal -190 vs Czechia +500
When: 3:00 pm ET
Euro Cup Odds: Draw +320 // O/U 2.5
Portugal took first place at EURO 2016 and have made it to the semifinals three other times. At EURO 2020, though, they were sent home in the round of 16. At the 2022 World Cup, they rolled to the quarterfinals, and Roberto Martinez’s time as manager has been largely positive.
They routed the Republic of Ireland, 3-0, in a friendly going into EURO 2024, with a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal has two losses in their last four matches but are favored to win Group F handily.
Czechia beat North Macedonia, 2-1, in a friendly warm up on June 10. They have a five-match winning streak going across all competitions, including their last EURO 2024 qualification fixture against Moldova back in November. In between they have taken down Norway, Armenia and Malta.
Way back in 1996, Czechia made it all the way to the finals of the European Championship They also made it to the quarterfinals in two of the last three installments of this tournament, including EURO 2020. They got 15 points out of eight qualification matches, finishing ahead of Poland in Group E play.
Against Portugal, they have dropped two of their last four, including a 4-0 setback in UEFA Nations League play in September 2022. Portugal is on a roll right now, and I don’t see Czechia denting that momentum.
EURO Pick: Portugal to win
Odds to Win EURO 2024
- England +390
- France +390
- Germany +490
- Portugal +650
- Spain +660
- Netherlands +1400
- Italy +1550
- Belgium +2200
- Denmark +4600
- Switzerland +5000
- Croatia +5200
- Türkiye +5800
- Austria +6600
- Serbia +9000
- Romania +10000
- Slovakia +13000
- Ukraine +15000
- Czechia +15000
- Hungary +16000
- Poland +17000
- Scotland +22000
- Slovenia +26000
- Albania +48000
- Georgia +50000
✈️🌎 Did you know the #EURO2024 match schedule has been organised in a way which reduces teams' air travel by 75% compared to EURO 2016? pic.twitter.com/ad6qJ1QuxA
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 18, 2024
Euro Cup Betting Lines To Win
Bet Soccer Betting Lines in Xbet Sportsbook
EURO 2024 Odds
Love betting Soccer? | Xbet Sportsbook offers up to date Soccer lines for International Tournaments
