Euro 2024 Tips: The Panel's 3 Best Bets And Predictions for Saturday's Games

The Panel's Predictions For Saturday, June 15: 

• The Panel Tip 1: Italy To Beat Albania To Nil - 21/20 BetVictor 
• The Panel Tip 2: Hungary Vs Switzerland: Over 2.5 Goals - 13/10 Unibet
• The Panel Tip 3: Spain To Win & Both Teams To Score Vs Croatia -10/3 Bet365

Euro 2024 is up and running and we have three mouth-watering matches to enjoy on Saturday.

Defending champions Italy dip their toes in the tournament with a potentially tricky opener against Albania.

Before that, Spain, who are 9/1 with UK betting sites to win the Euros, get their campaign under way against Croatia while Hungary and Switzerland meet in the early game.

While getting off to a winning start is top of each country's wish list, taking a point is the next best thing.

Get yourself comfortable for the first full day of football from Germany and check out these great bets from our Euro 2024 experts.

Italy Vs Albania, Saturday, 8pm 

Italy, currently 16/1 to win Euro 2024 with football betting sites, have been the epitome of inconsistency in recent years, missing out on the last two World Cups, but winning Euro 2020 in between.

The defending champions have a habit of starting tournaments well, and have avoided defeat in their last five tournament openers.

In their last two appearances at a European Championship, the Azzurri have got off to winning starts while keeping clean sheets against Turkey (3-0) and Belgium (2-0).

This is a much-changed squad from the one that Roberto Mancini guided to glory at Wembley in 2021 after beating England on penalties in the final.

This will be Albania's second appearance at a major tournament and they opened Euro 2016 with a 1-0 defeat to hosts Switzerland. 

Confidence will be high in the camp after topping Group E ahead of the Czech Republic and Poland, but a lack of tournament football within their squad could be crucial.

Luciano Spalletti's Italy have the experience to grind out a win to get the reigning champions up and running.

The Panel Tip: Italy To Win To Nil - 21/20 BetVictor

Hungary Vs Switzerland, Saturday, 2pm

Hungary topped their qualifying campaign unbeaten with five wins and three draws, four points clear of England’s Euro 2024 rivals Serbia, so it is slightly surprising they are 5/2 with BetMGM to pick up three points in their opening game in Cologne.

Switzerland qualified automatically for Euro 2024 with a game to spare, but still finished well behind Romania in what was surely the poorest of all the groups, so expectations are probably not high among supporters.

That said, the Swiss have reached the knockout stages of the last five major finals and have beaten Hungary in their last three meetings, the latest coming in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

All three of those victories produced at least three goals and Hungary have ticked that box in six of their last eight outings.

Gone are the days when the Magyars were the whipping boys of Europe as they proved in the Group of Death at Euro 2020 when they were six minutes away from getting out of a pool containing France, Portugal and Germany.

Both teams will fancy their chances in the group opener, but rather than pick a winner, The Panel have gone with the goals to flow.

The Panel Tip: Over 2.5 goals  – 13/10 Unibet

Spain Vs Croatia, Saturday, 5pm 

Group B kicks off with a tasty looking clash between three-time European champions Spain and perennial dark horses Croatia in Berlin.

Many regard this as the toughest group in the competition, with holders Italy also vying for a spot in the knockout stages – so a positive result for either of these two could prove crucial.

Spain are the 9/10 favourites to win the game with Bet365, having lost only two of their last 22 matches at the Euros, excluding penalty shootouts. 

La Roja have reached the knockout stage in six of their last seven Euros and recently scored five goals against both Northern Ireland and Andorra, but have only managed one win in their last five normal-time encounters with Croatia. 

Zlatko Dalic's side go into the match in excellent form, having won their last six games, including an impressive 2-1 victory over Portugal.

Spain have been prolific in front of goal recently, scoring 35 goals in their last 11 matches across all competitions. But they've kept just one clean sheet in their last six games, which might benefit Croatia, who have scored nine goals in their last three outings.

That's why The Panel have gone with Spain to be victorious and Both Teams To Score on Saturday evening.

The Panel Tip: Spain To Win & Both Teams To Score – 10/3 Bet365