Can England U21s emulate their World Cup-winning U20s colleagues and romp to victory in the European Championship?

Aidy Boothroyd’s side, who have a middling Outright Index spread of 14-17, actually kick-off the tournament on Friday, facing Sweden at 5pm on Sky Sports 1. Like their senior team counterparts England managed a typically unbeaten qualifying campaign, winning 6 and drawing 2, if admittedly in a group that contained the likes of Norway, Switzerland, Kazakhstan and Bosnia & Herzegovina.



Chelsea midfielder Lewis Baker – who was instrumental Vitesse’s KNVB Cup victory last season – is arguably England’s most promising youngster, while the squad also includes Premier League regulars like Jordan Pickford, James Ward-Prowse and Nathan Redmond.

2015 champions Sweden finished ahead of competition favourites Spain in qualifying and, despite a limp Outright Index spread of 8-11, will be looking to prove their mettle as title-holders. Yet the Young Lions have the quality to nab an early win, at an England U21/Sweden U21 (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.7-0.9 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.45-2.65.

Group A is rounded out by Poland, at an Outright Index spread of 12.5-14.5, and Slovakia, who qualified ahead of the Netherlands and sit at 6-8. The hosts need to get off to a good start if they are to escape the group, and head into their opener at a Poland U21/Slovakia U21 Goal Supremacy spread of 0.3-0.5.

Standing atop the Outright Index at 36-39 are Spain, who feature in a Group B that also includes 2015 runners-up Portugal (at 11-14), play-off winners Serbia (at 7.5-9.5) and Macedonia (at 0.5-2), who bafflingly knocked out France in qualifying. The Macedonians may be in for a bit of a battering in their first game, with Spreadex offering a Spain U21/Macedonia U21 Goal Supremacy spread of 1.85-2.05 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.9-3.1. The group’s other opening game may be a bit more hotly contested, with a Portugal U21/Serbia U21 Goal Supremacy spread of 0.55-0.75.

Finally Group C sees 2nd and 3rd favourites Germany and Italy, who sit at Outright Index spreads of 33-36 and 22-25 respectively, joined by the Czech Republic (at 6-8) and Denmark (at 5.5-7.5). The Germans were the only side to win all of their games in qualifying, and shouldn’t have too many problems in their first game in Poland, sitting at a Germany U21/Czech Republic U21 Goal Supremacy spread of 0.8-1. And though the Danes were semi-finalists in 2015 they may struggle to escape the group, with Spreadex offering an Italy U21/Denmark U21 (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.65-0.85.