Brazil offer great value at 3.6

Holders Argentina are the favourites but were dealt a big blow yesterday when the Court of Arbitration in Sport allowed Barcelona the right to block Lionel Messi from competing…

Argentina (2.96) were victorious in 2004 but not since Hungary in 1968 has a nation retained gold. The last six winners have failed to reach the semi-finals four years later.

Brazil (3.6) are in Group C, which could prove to be a lucky omen because the last two winners were drawn there.

The Netherlands (8.2) have won the last two Euro Under 21 Championships. The last five Olympic gold-winners all failed to reached the quarter-finals of the last World Cup; in 2006 the Netherlands lost out to Portugal in the Second Round.

Italy (8.4) took bronze in 2004 and the last time they took bronze - 1928 - they won gold the next time around. However, the last five gold-medalists have all been first time winners.

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