IT has been a year like no other for football fans, forced to watch on from home as the players run out in empty, cavernous stadiums.
But with supporters making a tentative comeback to grounds towards the end of 2020, there should be a return to some sort of normality over the next 12 months.
And the team at bettingworx football betting promises to be a feast of football for punters, with the delayed European Championships the highlight of a packed fixture calendar.
Euro 2020
With Wembley hosting the final, England fans will be dreaming about “football coming home” again as they look to hail a tournament win for the first time since 1966.
But the Tartan Army will be hoping Steve Clarke’s Scotland can put a spoke in the wheels as they grace a major finals for the first time since they graced the opening match against Brazil at France 98, a full 23 years ago.
That Auld Enemy clash will be one of the games of the tournament and there will also be some titanic matches in Group F as holders Portugal take on world champions France and Germany.
It’s a star-studded Belgium squad who are bookies’ favourites at 5/1 though, with England and France 6/1 with most firms, followed by Spain and Germany at 7/1.
Dark horses included Portugal, who are as big as 14/1 with Betway, and an improving Italy side at 12/1 with most firms.
Copa America
The kings of South America will also be crowned this summer and the tournament is being co-hosted by Argentina and Colombia.
The Copa America has brought plenty of hurt to the Argentines who are bidding to lift the trophy for the first time since 1993 when a Gabriel Batistuta double secured the trophy in the final against Mexico.
They have finished runners-up in four of the last six Copas but are 2/1 favourites to end their long wait for glory.
Champions League
The knockout stages of the Champions League get underway in February with Barcelona v PSG the highlight of some cracking last-16 ties.
Champions Bayern Munich still look like the team to beat and are 11/4 favourites with most firms.
Europa League
There’s plenty of British interest in the Europa League with Manchester United joining Leicester, Spurs, Arsenal and Rangers in the draw for the last 32.
The likes of AC Milan, Roma, Ajax and Napoli will also fancy their chances of glory in what should be a thrilling knockout stage.
Premier League
The title race in England is shaping up to be a cracker this season with no team pulling away at the top.
Champions Liverpool are still up there despite suffering an injury crisis but the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City look set to match them stride by stride.
SPFL Premiership
Celtic’s quest for a record-breaking 10th consecutive Scottish title has got off to a dismal start with rivals Rangers racing clear at the top of the table.
But Gers have collapsed in the new year for the past two seasons so we could still see a twist to the tale.
European leagues
We could also see a changing of the guard in some of Europe’s top leagues. Juventus have won the last nine Serie A titles but it’s AC Milan who are setting the pace this term while Atletico Madrid stand a chance of winning La Liga after poor starts by Barcelona and Real Madrid.
PSG and Bayern Munich still top the table in France and Germany but they don’t boast the massive leads they’ve held in previous seasons.
2020 may have the strangest year on planet football but 2021 has plenty to lookward to.
TOPICS Football
