European U21 Championship Tips: Don't write off Portugal U21

Portugal U21 v Germany U21
Saturday, 17:00
Live on BT Sport 1

Match Odds: Portugal U21 3.60, Germany U21 2.24, The Draw 3.45

Portugal U21 haven't quite performed to their full potential yet at the European U21 Championship, but this writer suspects that they are the best team at the tournament if they get to that level.

Even though they haven't quite been as impressive this month as they were in winning all ten of their qualifiers, thrashing Netherlands U21 7-4 over two legs for the big finish, they have still been very accomplished in Czech Republic.

Rui Jorge's kids won Group B, the trickier of the two, by beating England U21 and holding Italy U21 and Sweden U21. They are the only participants yet to trail at any stage and didn't concede a goal until the 269th of the 270 first-round minutes that they contested.

Even more enticingly, Portugal U21 haven't lost a European U21 Championship qualifier or finals fixture since October 2011, winning 14 and drawing four of their 18 encounters in the ensuing three years and eight months.

For that reason, the opportunity to lay Germany at not too far shy of evens appeals immensely. They didn't top their group on account of being held 1-1 by two sides that didn't get through, Serbia U21 and Czech Republic U21.

Recommended Bet: Lay Germany U21 to win @ 2.26

Denmark U21 v Sweden U21
Saturday, 20:00
Live on BT Sport 1

Match Odds: Denmark U21 2.28, Sweden U21 3.65, The Draw 3.40

Germany U21, England U21, Portugal U21 and Italy U21 were the four frontrunners at the start of the tournament, but one of Scandinavia's finest will be gatecrashing Tuesday's final at the Eden Arena, competing to claim the trophy for the first time.

Again, this columnist's inclination is to take on the favourites. Throughout the past two years, Sweden U21 have shown exceptional fortitude to dig out results in moments of adversity.

From the injury-time winner that sunk Turkey U21 in their final group qualifier to the 88th-minute strike that saw off France U21 in the play-off to the triumph from behind with ten men against Italy U21 on arrival in the Czech Republic to the 89th minute goal against Portugal U21 that sealed their semi-final spot, they have consistently refused to be defeated.

This clash shouldn't daunt them after what they achieved against France U21, Italy U21 and Portugal U21. Though Denmark U21 finished first in Group A, they flopped in their toughest test against Germany U21, slumping to a 3-0 loss, hinting that they aren't as formidable as appearances suggest.