Monday’s itinerary is as follows:

• 🇷🇴 Romania vs. Ukraine 🇺🇦
  Group E, Round 1
  Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
  Referee: Glenn Nyberg 🇸🇪
  Channel: BBC One

• 🇧🇪 Belgium vs. Slovakia 🇸🇰
  Group E, Round 1
  Venue: Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt
  Referee: Halil Umut Meler 🇹🇷
  Channel: ITV

• 🇦🇹 Austria vs. France 🇫🇷
  Group D, Round 1
  Venue: Merkur Spiel-Arena, Dusseldorf
  Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano 🇪🇸
  Channel: ITV

💰 Punt: Artem Dovbyk Player of the Match
📗 Bookie: Bet365
🎲 Odds: 6.50 (11/2)
⚽️ Game: Romania vs. Ukraine

I was debating whether to back Artem Dovbyk to score anytime or to win the Player of the Match award. Cody Gakpo, Christian Eriksen and Jude Bellingham all scored and all three were the winners of the UEFA Player of the Match in Sunday’s fixtures. This swayed my thinking into having a smaller bet on Dovbyk winning the award rather than sticking it in the back of the onion bag. The chances are if he scores and Ukraine get a result, he’ll be in the running for POTM. Shock horror!

Ukranian hitman (am I allowed to say that these days?) Artem Dovbyk finished as top scorer in La Liga last season, scoring 24 goals for his high-flying Girona side. He warmed up for the tournament by bagging against a decent Poland side and padding his stats against a hapless Moldova.

Punt: Artem Dovbyk to be Player of the Match @ 6.50 (11/2) - Bet365

💰 Punts:
Peter Pekarik to commit 1+ fouls on Jeremy Doku
Peter Pekarik to commit 2+ fouls on Jeremy Doku
Peter Pekarik to commit 3+ fouls on Jeremy Doku
📗 Bookie: Betfair/Paddy Power
🎲 Odds: 2.63 (13/8), 9.00 (8/1) & 36.00 (35/1)
⚽️ Game: Belgium vs. Slovakia

Slovakian right-back Peter Pekarik will be tasked with stopping Jeremy Doku in Slovakia’s opening game of Euro 2024 vs Belgium. Many have tried, many have fouled.

The tricky winger who plies his trade at Premier League champions Manchester City has been fouled 27 times during his last 9 international appearances. Over the course of his career, Doku is fouled 2.5 times per90 minutes played.

Although Peter Pekarik doesn’t have the most impressive foul stats for a bet that relies on him, err, fouling. It’s definitely worth a tickle at the odds on offer considering who he’s up against and the fact he’s bloody 37 year-old for crying out loud. Kick him a couple of times and get yourself retired Pedro!

You’ll have just finished pretending that you weren’t hungover at work all day. It’s time to sit back, relax & lose some disposable income whilst screaming at the referee after he plays advantage. This is what we live for, isn’t it?

It might be wise to wait for team news to see that they’re in direct opposition with each other but you’ll be able to cash out if not.

To find the bet, load up your Betfair or Paddy Power account, go to the Fouls/Cards tab > scroll to Player Foul Matchups > Select Peter Pekarik to foul Jeremy Doku.

💰 Punts: Stefan Posch To Be Carded, Marcus Thuram To Be Carded & The Double
📗 Bookie: Betfair/Paddy Power & Bet365
🎲 Odds: 4.20 (16/5), 11.00 (10/1) & 32.00 (31/1)
⚽️ Game: Austria vs. France

France’s predicted XI is the following, according to Get French Football News.

France likely lineup v Austria

Mike Maignan; Théo Hernandez, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Jules Koundé; Adrien Rabiot, N’Golo Kanté, Antoine Griezmann; Kylian Mbappé, Marcus Thuram, Ousmane Dembélé. 

It’s a formation that will likely see Kylian Mbappe and Marcus Thuram interchanging positions quite frequently, however, Thuram is expected to start out on the left-wing. Sometimes the jokes just write themselves.

So, we’ve got a pacy, politically correct left-winger in Marcus Thuram who picks up a card once every couple of months and his opposite number is Bologna’s Stefan Posch, who gets more cards than Eddie Murphy on Father’s Day. So, why the double? What’s the craic?

espnfc

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Whilst at Borussia Monchengladbach back in December 2020, Marcus Thuram was banned for 6 games and fined a month’s wages for spitting in Hoffenheim defender Stefan Posch’s face. The video’s quite funny to be fair, Posch goes down like he’s been headbutted, realises he’s got saliva all over his kipper so gets back to his feet and proceeds to lose the plot.

Let’s hope they have another spat on Monday evening, eh?

• Stefan Posch To Be Carded @ 4.20 (16/5) - Betfair/Paddy Power

• Marcus Thuram To Be Carded @ 11.00 (10/1) - Bet365

• Stefan Posch & Marcus Thuram To Be Carded @ 32.00 (31/1) - Betfair/Paddy Power

#CheekyPunt 

• Stefan Posch & Marcus Thuram Both To Be Sent Off @ 1001.00 (1000/1) - Bet365
  It’s been requested on William Hill and will likely be bigger than Bet365 but shorter than Boyles but they’re yet to price it up. It’s 3501.00 (3500/1) for anyone with a BoyleSports account. It doesn’t really matter anyway, it’s not as if it’s gonna win…OR IS IT?!