Euro 2021 Betting: Four Players to be carded in the Semi-Finals

The Semi-Finals of Euro 2021 get underway this evening with Italy facing Spain at 8pm, before England take on Denmark tomorrow at Wembley. Since the year 2000 there has been an average of 4.83 cards per game in European Championship Semi-Finals, and we’ve picked out a player from each side who we like the look of to be carded.

For punters playing the singles, it will be profit if any of the four players do pick up a card across the two games. However, we’ll be using the bet builder features with bet365 and placing a 33/1 bet builder for tonight’s game, with Jorginho and Cesar Azpilicueta to be carded followed by another 33/1 shot with Harry Maguire and Martin Braithwaite to be carded in tomorrow’s game. The double on both pays 1155//1 with bet365.

Italy v Spain - Jorginho - 5/1 Bet365

First up in this quartet of players to pick up a booking is Jorginho of Italy who has been having a successful summer and has consequently been cut to as short as 12/1 with Paddy Power to be named Player of the Tournament. 

The defensive midfielder has a superb record of being carded, picking up 62 yellows in 304 appearances since the 2013/2014 season. The Italian was booked four times in 12 matches in Chelsea’s most recent Champions League campaign and picked up 10 in the Premier League in 31 matches in the 2019/2020 season. 

Jorginho looks a good prospect here for a player who picked up the 3rd highest number of yellow cards in the Premier League two seasons ago with ten in 31 appearances. Betfair are offering just 11/4 on this same selection and considering the significance of the game 5/1 with bet365 looks a fair price.

Italy v Spain Cesar Azpilicueta - 6/1 BetVictor

I recommended Cesar Azpilicueta to be carded against Switzerland last weekend and was pretty disappointed not to see it land after three fouls in the match, two of which I thought could have been a yellow card offence. I’m going back in on the Chelsea right-back against Italy in what will be a really tough game where I fancy the Azzurri to come out on top. 

The 31-year-old picked up five yellows and one red card in just 24 starts in the last Premier League season, with two further bookings coming in cup competitions for Chelsea. 

With no leadership skills on show from Sergio Ramos like in past years, I feel Azpilicueta has been really stepping up to rally the troops, but his heavy handed approach may land him in trouble and I can see Spanish heads going in the second half should they tire and Italy start to dominate. 

England v Denmark - Harry Maguire - 10/3 bet365

After avoiding a booking against the Ukraine in the Quarter-Finals, Harry Maguire is free to start England’s key game with Denmark at the heart of defence with previous yellow cards now having been wiped. 

Only John McGinn picked up more yellows in the Premier League last season than Maguire, who in total was shown a remarkable 18 yellow cards in all competitions for club and country this season. Two of those yellows came for Southgate’s side when the Three Lions faced Denmark in the Nations League last October with Maguire being sent off in the 32nd minute.

Bet365 are currently 10/3 for Maguire to be carded on Wednesday evening and the referee for the game will be Danny Makkelie who has shown 12 yellows in three games at Euro 2021. This really is as big as it bets for England and with Manchester United’s captain having been such a prolific offender over the last 12 months with 18 yellows in total, we’re happy to have him onside for a booking in this mammoth fixture.

England v Denmark - Martin Braithwaite - 6/1 Bet365

Rounding off this quarter is ex Middlesbrough man Martin Braithwaite who actually was shown a yellow card against England nine months ago when the two sides met in the Nations League last October. He may find himself doing more defensive work on Wednesday compared to past games in this tournament and has been booked in three of his last 15 International matches.

The 30-year-old picked up a further four cautions for Barcelona last season taking his tally to seven in total for club and country. With a relatively generous referee in charge when it comes to cards, I’m getting behind Braithwaite to be booked at 6/1 with bet365, while BetVictor take a slightly more cautious approach at 4/1.

Remember, it will be profit for those playing singles if any of the four players do pick up a card across the two games. Although as mentioned above, we’ll be using the bet builder features with bet365 and placing a 33/1 bet builder for tonight’s game, with Jorginho and Cesar Azpilicueta to be carded followed by another 33/1 double with Harry Maguire and Martin Braithwaite to be carded in tomorrow’s game. The double on both pays 1155//1 with bet365.

Best of luck to those following the selections, enjoy the Semi’s and please always gamble responsibly.