EURO 2024 has been a wild ride, full of excitement at every turn. We started with 24 teams and now there are just 4 teams left! As we head into the semifinal, let’s relive the 5 most iconic moments of the tournament so far - and yes Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick makes the cut! Oh, and we have expert betting tips, served hot! Enjoy! **Arda Guler’s goal of the tournament contender against Georgia** No better place to start than a genuine wonder strike. Arda Guler’s goal against Georgia was an instant contender for goal of the tournament, and we haven’t seen a better one yet. The 19-year-old Real Madrid midfielder has been hailed as a “special talent” by manager Carlo Ancelotti, and he showed us why. With the score tied at 1-1 and Turkey struggling to break Georgia down, Guler picked up the ball from almost 30 yards and sent a stunning strike into the top corner. That is the type of goal that ignites an entire nation, and will be talked about for years to come, just like James Rodriguez’ fabulous strike at the 2014 World Cup. His performance earned him a standing ovation when he was substituted and confirmed his status as the next big thing. Unfortunately, Guler will not be able to wow us with more goals like that due to Turkey’s 2-1 loss to the Netherlands on Saturday. If the Dutch can beat England on Wednesday, they will be confident of another win on Sunday, and we have the best odds for that as well. **Turn ₦1,000 into ₦5,000 by backing our bet prediction for the Netherlands to win EURO 2024.**
**Mbappe’s nose break and return** Kylian Mbappe suffered a nasty blow to the nose in France’s opener against Austria, leaving him bloodied and requiring an early substitution. Eventually, the France captain underwent tests, which fortunately showed no need for immediate surgery, and he returned to training just two days later, sporting a new look. After missing the second group game against the Netherlands, the new Real Madrid man made a triumphant return against Poland, scoring from the penalty spot while wearing a protective mask. His return alone would’ve caused headlines but the mask he returned with earned him comparisons with masked figures like Victor Osimhen for Napoli, Zorro, Lagbaja and even Batman. Osimhen was able to lead Napoli to victory despite his injury. Can Mbappe do the same? We have the best odds for the Real Madrid forward to lead France to victory this weekend.
**Lamine Yamal: The Record Breaker** What were you doing at 16? Probably not setting the record for being the youngest player in EUROS history. That’s what Lamine Yamal has achieved against Croatia at EURO 2024 at just 16 years and 338 days. The Barcelona teenage sensation is so young that, according to German law, he’s not allowed to work after 11 pm. The La Masia graduate is still in high school too, but none of that mattered when he made Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol look like a schoolboy in their tournament opener. Spain have been a joy to watch at this tournament, and most of that has to do with the youthful talent in attack - namely, Yamal and Athletic Bilbao’s Nicolas Williams. La Roja were not favorites heading into the tournament, but their performances have certainly put them up there as strong contenders, and Yamal has played a big role. We backed Spain to go far at the EUROs in our pre-tournament betting tips and we are sticking with that.
**Diogo Costa’s penalty heroics and Ronaldo’s tears** We’ve grown accustomed to seeing great players cry. From Lionel Messi’s tears after losing the 2016 Copa America final against Chile, to Bukayo Saka’s heartbreak at EURO 2020, emotions are a part of the game. This time, it was Cristiano Ronaldo’s turn to let the tears flow after missing a penalty against Jan Oblak in extra time. He was already under enormous scrutiny for his performances leading up to that game, including some heavy criticism for continuing to take free-kicks, despite his atrocious free-kick record for Portugal (1 scored in 60 attempts). When the moment came in extra time, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to silence the haters and send his country through, but he fluffed his lines. Fortunately, Diogo Costa’s heroics earned CR7 another chance at winning the tournament. The Portugal goalkeeper saved three penalties in the shootout against Slovenia, to progress to the semis against France. That was where their journey ended, as Roberto Martinez’s men crashed out against France in yet another grueling penalty shootout but for their ‘keeper, that record-breaking attempt will remain long in the memory. **Jude Bellingham saves Southgate’s job** Talk about big players stepping up in the biggest moments. Jude Bellingham’s phenomenal year shows no signs of slowing down. The Real Madrid star saved England from a shocking exit at EURO 2024 by scoring a stunning overhead kick in the 95th minute to level the game. His goal, followed by Harry Kane’s winner in extra time, secured a 2-1 victory over a spirited Slovakia side. England have been underwhelming throughout this tournament, with fans and pundits piling on the criticism on Gareth Southgate. However, Bellingham’s heroics likely saved the manager’s job and sent the Three Lions into the quarter-final. After defeating Switzerland on penalties, the Three Lions are set for a showdown with the Netherlands and our bet prediction is a narrow win with Bellingham leading the charge to the final game.
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