Ireland 80/1 TO LIFT TROPHY

Niall Cronin

We are now within days of seeing Robbie Keane lead out Ireland for our opening Euro 2012 game against Croatia and, after Monday night, Ireland now head to Poland and Ukraine with a 14-match unbeaten run and a clean bill of health.

Despite being written off in the 'Group of Death', Ireland go into the championships with the second longest unbeaten streak of any team in the competition, bettered only by France, whose win over Estonia last night brought them to 21.

France are 10/1 with Boylesports to win Euro 2012 and confirm that form, while Ireland are the longest price bar Greece (100/1) at 80/1.

Spain are the obvious favourites at 11/4, with the Germans at 3/1 and Holland an interesting bet at 6/1.

Spain look to be on a crest of a wave at the moment and are worthy favourites, but maybe for a bit of value Holland are worth a small punt.

England can be backed at 12/1, which probably represents little value, while the Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal are 18/1.

Naturally, Ireland are 16/1 outsiders to top Group C, with Spain 8/13 favourites, but at 4/1 to qualify from the group, there will be many fans willing to part with a patriotic few quid and have a punt.

Italy are in a bit of disarray at the minute and are surely poor value at 4/6 to emerge.

Ireland are 6/1 to get knocked out at the quarter-final stage, 12/1 the semi-final, and 50/1 to be beaten in the final.

elimination

With so many injuries, it'll be interesting to see how England fare under Roy Hodgson. With a number of big names absent and suggestions of some divisions in the camp, England may well be a prospect to face early elimination and to exit at the group stage they are 6/4.

Robbie Keane to score a goal at the tournament is 11/10, which is surely a decent bet, as is Cristiano Ronaldo to bag at least two at 5/6.

Ireland are 8/11 to score under 2.5 goals, but 1/1 to score more, and that will have to be the case if they are to progress.

A Spain win over Germany in the final is 12/1 favourite in the straight forecast betting, while Germany to beat Spain is 14/1. Holland to beat Spain at 25/1 is worth a fiver in that market.

Euro 2012 Outright

Spain 11/4, Germany 3/1, Holland 6/1, France 10/1, England 12/1, Italy 16/1, Portugal 18/1, Russia 22/1, Ukraine 50/1, Poland 50/1, Croatia 50/1, Sweden 66/1, Czech Republic 80/1, Denmark 80/1, Republic of Ireland 80/1, Greece 100/1

Top Goalscorer

Mario Gomez 7/1, Robin Van Persie 10/1, Cristiano Ronaldo 14/1, Miroslav Klose 14/1, Fernando Llorente 14/1, Karim Benzema 14/1

Group C -- Outright

Spain 8/13, Italy 14/5, Croatia 5/1, Ireland 16/1

Group C -- To Finish Bottom

Ireland 3/4, Croatia 9/4, Italy 4/1, Spain 25/1

Group C -- To Qualify

Spain 1/7, Italy 4/6, Croatia 11/8, Ireland 4/1

Top Irish Goalscorer

Robbie Keane 5/2, Kevin Doyle 7/1, No Irish Scorer 7/1, Jonathan Walters 15/2, Shane Long 8/1, Damien Duff 10/1, Aidan McGeady 12/1, Simon Cox 14/1

Group Betting Straight Forecast

Spain/Italy 7/4, Spain/Croatia 7/2, Italy/Spain 4/1, Spain/Rep of Ireland 8/1,

Croatia/Spain 11/1, Italy/Croatia 18/1, Croatia/Italy 22/1, Republic of Ireland/ Spain 25/1, Italy/Rep of Ireland 50/1, Rep of Ireland/Italy 50/1, Rep Of Ireland/Croatia 66/1, Croatia/Rep of Ireland 80/1.

Ireland Match Betting

•Ireland 14/5, Croatia 6/5, Draw 9/4

•Spain 4/11, Ireland 9/1, Draw 10/3

•Italy 20/23, Ireland 33/1 Draw 13/5