Thursday 09 June 2016 6:25 pm

Euro 2016 betting: Hazard can make up for quiet season with Euro Golden Boot

Sports Editor

The list of European Championship Golden Boot winners is an illustrious one.

From Gerd Muller in 1972 to Marco van Basten in 1988 and Alan Shearer in 1996, being the top goalscorer at a tournament guarantees a player a place in history.

This summer, the race for the Golden Boot is as wide open as ever.

Germany’s Thomas Muller picked up the award for the 2010 World Cup – and came second in Brazil two years ago.

Having scored nine times in qualifying, and at the head of a ruthless German side, he shouldn’t be discounted at 7/1 with Betway.

I am tempted to go each-way on Eden Hazard, however.

While the Belgian endured a torrid term for Chelsea, he did recover some form towards the end of the campaign, grabbing four goals in the final five matches of the season.

He also scored in Belgium’s 3-2 win over Norway on Sunday, and given that he’ll be on penalty and free-kick duty for his country, the 40/1 offered by Betway provides real value.

There’s also money to be made in predicting who will finish where in the groups.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal should finish ahead of Iceland and Hungary in Group E, but I think Austria will top the lot. Betway make an Austria/Portugal straight forecast 9/2.

The EU Referendum won’t be the only Brexit we’ll be worried about this month. Sporting Index have a market on how many days until England, Wales and Northern Ireland are all knocked out of the Euros.

They price it as 24 days, which takes us to the end of the quarter-finals. Putting my patriotic hat on and thinking the Three Lions can make the semis, I will be buying.