Euro 2016 bettingexpert preview: Who will be victorious in Monday’s last-16 games?

Now that the group stages are done and dusted, we have started the intense knockout competition with the last 16 set to be whittled down to eight - finishing with two Monday games.

smartbets.com have tracked how the best performing teams have fared in terms of their Euro 2016 trophy chances over the course of the first two weeks as a handy guide into the bargain.

Monday, 27 June

Italy v Spain
Due to Croatia’s victory over Spain in the group stages, Vicente del Bosque’s side have had to play one of the other top-tier nations earlier than expected in the last 16. Even though Italy were beaten by the Republic of Ireland last time out, they looked impressive in their first two wins over Belgium and Sweden.

With the immense Juventus backbone of Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci showing no signs of wear and tear after a long season, Del Bosque will need every ounce of ingenuity from his playmaker Andres Iniesta to unlock the Azzurri defence. The Barcelona maestro looks in fine nick, however you sense he will need help if Spain are to triumph.

Alvaro Morata has continued his excellent Juve form too this tournament up front for Spain, yet Italy can point towards the likes of Alessandro Florenzi and Graziano Pellè as the type of players who can cause the Spanish trouble on their own. Antonio Candreva will be missed, if injured, nevertheless it will be an evenly matched tie which has extra time or dreaded penalties written all over it.

Prediction: Spain win 2-1 after extra time

England v Iceland
England somehow managed to avoid nemesis Portugal in the last 16 thanks to Iceland’s last-gasp heroics in their final group game. This is not an easy tie, whatever the press may say about a limited Iceland team who are punching well above their weight. They play with a fierce pride, are no pushovers physically and have proven flair in the form of Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson.

If Sigurdsson and Birkir Bjarnason can get early at an English defence who often lapse in concentration in crunch games, then Roy Hodgson’s team could find it hard to break Iceland down especially if they park the bus. However if England take the lead, you get the feeling that their mercurial attacking prowess (albeit on paper more than reality thus far in France) could fill their boots over the 90 minutes.

There has been a great deal of talk over Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling ahead of the match, both in dire need of a good game to silence their international doubters. Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy will pose a big threat too whether starting or off the bench, while Dele Alli and Adam Lallana will be keen to impress after a mixed competition so far. Whatever group of men each coach fields, the atmosphere should be amazing for this David v Goliath battle.

Prediction: England win 2-0

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