Sports Blog 15/06/2016: UEFA Euro 2016 Preview – Romania vs Switzerland + France vs Albania, Wednesday 15th June 2016

With both Switzerland and France securing unsurprising victories in their Euro 2016 opening games can either side secure a place in the last 16 this Wednesday?

The Swiss get to go first this afternoon, as they take on Romania at 5pm on ITV. As expected Switzerland dispatched of Albania with relative ease last Saturday, a 5th minute goal from Fabian Schar enough to secure all 3 points. Yet there will be questions over the effectiveness of this Swiss side; for nearly an hour Albania were playing with only 10 men, something Vladimir Petkovic’s men failed to take advantage of. That front of goal reticence may come back to haunt them against better sides meaning Petkovic will be looking for more from Xherdan Shaqiri, the country’s top scorer in qualification, with the Stoke winger heading to the Parc des Princes at a Super Mega PGM spread of 18-22.



Romania, meanwhile, may feel bitterly disappointed that they came away from the tournament-opener with nothing, but will take solace from the fact that they ran France damn close. Bogdan Stancu’s 65th minute penalty saw Romania draw level, only to be sunk by Dmitri Payet’s 89th minute stunner, leaving Anghel Iordanescu’s men with everything to do in their 2nd game. Worringly, however, Romania only managed 2 shots on target in that game against France, a figure they will desperately need to improve on if they are to break down a fairly solid Swiss defence.

Euro 2016 has been a surprisingly goal-light affair so far, and by the looks of things that won’t change in Paris, with Spreadex offering a Switzerland/Romania Goal Supremacy spread of 0.05-0.25 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.05-2.25.

Hosts France will then be looking to step it up a gear when they face Albania at 8pm on ITV. While they will be happy with 3 points the French performance against Romania didn’t necessarily do much to confirm the nation’s status as favourites. Nevertheless the opener did see Olivier Giroud score his 8th international goal in 6 starts for France, leaving the Arsenal forward at a Super Mega PGM of 42-49. Of course the game was arguably most memorable for Dmitri Payet’s winner, the West Ham wizard heading into Tuesday’s match at a Super Mega PGM of 23-28 after leaving the pitch last Friday in tears as the denizens of Saint-Denis chanted his name in admiration.



It was a far more ignoble start to the tournament for first-timers Albania. With their captain Lorik Cana sent off after 36 minutes the Eagles were lucky to only cede 1 against the Swiss, the low score line more down to Swiss ineptitude than Albanian ability at the back. They face an even tougher task in Marseille, especially with their lack of a killer threat going forward. Armando Sadiku appears to be the country’s best chance for nabbing a goal against France, the 25 year old heading into Wednesday evening with a Super Mega PGM of 9-12.

Given the strength of the French squad, and the meekness of their opponents, it is hard to imagine the hosts won’t be in the last 16 by the end of the day. Our traders certainly seem to think so, Spreadex offering a France/Albania Goal Supremacy spread of 1.7-1.9 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.7-2.9.

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