Best outright bet

England are favourites to win the Under-21 European Championships, following unprecedented success in the Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups two years ago.

It’s easy to see why the Young Lions are fancied, with 11 World Cup winners of 2017 making their squad of 23.

Supplementing them are exciting players like Aaron Wan-Bissaka, James Maddison and Demarai Gray, among others.

Aidy Boothroyd’s side dropped just four points in an unbeaten qualification campaign and come into this tournament in excellent form, having won 15 and lost just one of their last 20 matches.

They face third-favourites France in their opening match in a game that could go some way to deciding the winner of the tournament, given that only the group winner is guaranteed a spot in the semi-final.

Winnable games against outsiders Romania and Croatia follow, so England should be confident of progression if they can get a positive result against Les Bleuets.

The draw means they will face the winners of either Group A or Group B in the semi-final, which is likely to be against either hosts Italy or Germany.

But there is little for them to fear, having beaten the former 2-1 in their previous meeting last November.

Germany, meanwhile, look considerably weaker than when they won the trophy two years ago.

If not England, then who?

France are the next-best bet.

Les Bleuets qualified for the tournament with the equal-best record, winning nine and drawing one of their matches.

Their squad is stacked with potential and current stars playing at the top level.

Defenders Dayot Upamecano, who featured 37 times for RB Leipzig last season, and Nice’s Malang Sarr, who we picked out as a player who could earn a big-money move, will help form an effective back-line.

Further forward, manager Sylvain Ripoll can count on gifted Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar and Matteo Guendouzi, while Moussa Dembele travels to Italy on the back of a 20-goal season with Celtic and Lyon.

A victory against England in their opening match will see their odds tumble.

Outsider

Serbia look a big price at .

They have won 10 of their last 13 matches in the lead up to the tournament, losing just once, and have been given a kind draw.

Goran Dorovic’s side share a group with Austria and Denmark, who they should take six points from, and a Germany side hamstrung by the slow progress of their best players.

The selection of full international and Real Madrid new boy Luka Jovic should also be key for Serbia.

The 21-year-old netted 27 goals in all competitions for Frankfurt last season and can carry his side to success in Italy.

While they are unlikely to lift the trophy, Serbia could return some each-way money.

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