UEFA Under-21 Championship semi-finals: Portugal duel with Germany

England may be out, but there are still plenty of fascinating fixtures ahead in the 2015 UEFA Under-21 Championship, as favourites Portugal and Germany face-off in the first semi-final, while Scandinavian foes Denmark and Sweden also scrap for a place in the showpiece finale.

Here, we bring you Coral’s most enticing bets as the enthralling competition enters the knockout stages…

Portugal v Germany

As expected, Horst Hrubesch’s Germany young-guns successfully navigated a route to the semi-finals, however, it has not all been smooth sailing, as the tournament favourites stumbled to two draws, eventually finishing second in Group A.

German sides across all levels usually come into their own when it goes down to the wire, however, so back them at 6/5 to take the spoils over 90 minutes, though both teams to score and Germany to win at 21/5 also looks like excellent value. Hoffenheim hitman Kevin Volland (11/2 to fire home first) is Germany’s top scorer so far after bagging a brace as his team took Denmark to task with a 3-0 victory, while Liverpool utility man Emre Can (6/1 in the anytime market) has also proven a decisive character.

With Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen in net, Germany are also 33/20 to keep a clean sheet, though Portugal’s potentially potent attack will surely be testing for the talented stopper. Nicknamed the ‘Hopes’, Rui Jorge’s side are 23/10 to triumph in 90 minutes, or perhaps a better price of 9/4 to draw, having split the spoils in two of their three pool duels.

The Iberian nation boast a star-studded youth side, with Monaco playmaker Bernardo Silva (11/4 to strike anytime) so far instrumental in attack, with Sporting Lisbon shield William Carvalho providing the steel in front of defence.

Denmark v Sweden

In the second semi-final, it is Scandinavian rivals Denmark and Sweden that will square-up in Prague, as the pair of underdogs aim to go all the way and take home the title.

The Blue-Yellow in particular have proven to be the surprise package in the Czech Republic, having emerged from a perilous Pool B at the expense of big-guns England and Italy, and are now evens to progress to the final.

Sweden’s spirit has seen them go undefeated so far and they are 21/10 to win in normal time, having already scalped the Azzurrini. Strikers John Guidetti (13/2 to open the scoring), of Celtic and Manchester City fame, and Isaac Kiese Thelin (7/1 to have the final say) have both already been on target and will be expecting to fire their nation to the final.

Meanwhile, the Danes are odds-on favourites at 8/11 to qualify for the next round, or 13/10 for victory in 90 minutes, with the likes of Ajax attacker Viktor Fischer (6/1 to draw first blood) and Bayern Munich-owned midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (7/2 to be on target anytime) in their ranks.

Coral’s betting tip: Favourites Portugal and Germany will face their biggest tests of the tournament yet in each other, so take a chance on the resilient German youngsters to win and both teams to score at a tasty 21/5.