With the Nations League quarter-finals officially getting underway on Thursday night, a host of European heavyweight will steal centre stage.
Watching reigning European and Nations League champions Spain travel over to historic rivals Holland, the likes of France and Portugal will be looking to collect their own respective first-leg advantages.
In what promises to be an action-packed night of European action, we have taken a glance at some of Thursday’s most appealing Nations League betting tips.
19:45 Denmark vs Portugal
While Portugal might have suffered EURO 24 heartbreak over in Germany last summer as they watched their European adventure come to an end at the quarter-final stage, Thursday’s guests haven’t shown any signs of a hangover. Despite signing off their Nations League group stage campaign with a 1-1 stalemate away at Croatia on November 18th, Roberto Martinez’s men were unbeaten in all of their six League A appearances. Breezing their way to a knockout stage ticket last year and not really having to get out of third gear, the former Belgium boss finds his squad pencilled in as a genuine title contender in 2025. In fact, despite their EURO 24 penalties loss against France eight months ago, Portugal have suffered just a sole defeat from any of their previous 21 competitive appearances across all competitions within 90 minutes. Clearly enjoying life since Martinez’s appointment back in January 2023, the Navigators should be relishing a trip to Copenhagen on Thursday night.
Coming under a huge amount of scrutiny last summer as they failed to muster a single victory from any of their four EURO 24 showdowns over in Germany, Denmark have failed to find any kind of stability over recent times. Although Thursday’s hosts might have snatched a Nations League quarter-final spot, Brian Reimer’s squad limped their way over the finishing line. Failing to win any of their final four League A appearances, the Danish Dynamite have recorded just a pair of wins from any of their previous 11 competitive matchups across all fronts. Signing off their European Championships qualifying campaign back in November 2023 with a 2-0 loss at the hands of Northern Ireland, the ex-Anderlecht boss will be bracing himself for another stern challenge on Thursday night. In fact, falling to a 1-0 defeat when they last met Portugal back in 2015, they have lost each of their previous three meetings against the former European champions by an aggregate score of 5-2.
Denmark vs Portugal Betting Tip: Cristiano Ronaldo over 1.5 shots on target @ 7/5 with Pribet
19:45 Croatia vs France
Although France might have got their Nations League adventure underway with an infamous 3-1 drumming at home against historic rivals Italy last year, France did come roaring back in an eye-catching fashion. Gaining some immediate revenge back in November as they claimed their own thumping 3-1 victory in Milan, Les Bleus signed off 2024 in the midst of another flurry. Including an impressive 2-1 win away at fellow European giants Belgium on October 14th, Didier Deschamps’ men registered 13 points from their final five League A appearances. Despite failing to find much of a clinical edge while away in Germany for EURO 24 last summer, France’s superstar attack had turned a welcomed corner. Including a 4-1 romp against Israel, Thursday’s guests recorded 11 goals on their five-match unbeaten run. Suffering just a pair of competitive defeats since their infamous World Cup final defeat against Argentina back in December 2022, Les Bleus will be confident of getting their hands on a second Nations League crown this year.
Although Croatia might have underlined their status as one of world football’s ultimate surprise packages over the past decade, Thursday’s hosts have shown some real issues since their EURO 24 exit last summer. Failing to book a knockout stage ticket over in Germany and limping their way out of the tournament without a single win from their three group stage appearances, Zlatko Dalic’s ageing squad find themselves at a real crossroads. Getting their Nations League campaign underway with a 2-1 defeat against Portugal back in September, Croatia have registered just a pair of wins from their previous nine consecutive showdowns across all competitions. Not mustering a sole competitive clean sheet since November 2023, the former World Cup finalists have gained a reputation for their glaring defensive struggles. It should be noted, continuing on from the maiden Nations League tournament back in 2018, the Blazers have registered just a pair of clean sheet on home soil.
Croatia vs France Betting Tip: France win & Both teams to score @ 100/30 with Luckster
Thursday’s Nations League Double
Denmark vs Portugal – Cristiano Ronaldo over 1.5 shots on target @ 7/5
Croatia vs France – France win & Both teams to score @ 100/30
Place a £10 bet on our Daily Double with Vegas Land and pocket £100.40 if all predictions are correct.
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