Summer of Soccer best bets for Sat. 6/29: The Euros (and Argentina) return

Thanks, Flo. We adore you around these parts — don't let the haters bring you down.

June 29 of the Summer of Soccer sees four interesting matchups: two Copa America fixtures and the return of the European Championships. While the Copa is entering Matchday 3 of the group stage, the Euros are now in the knockout round — meaning that if a European team fails to win any of its upcoming games, it's eliminated from the tournament.

Here's what's on the docket for Saturday:

Switzerland vs. Italy, 12 p.m. ET: For our money, this is the most fascinating matchup of the day: these are two evenly-matched, equally wild European sides. Switzerland is a tournament workhorse who knows how to shove its way through the knockout rounds; it famously eliminated world champion France at this stage of the last Euros, and it did so after being two goals down with just 10 minutes left to play. Italy, meanwhile, just pulled off a magical escape of its own, drawing with Croatia in injury time to secure its spot in this game.

Germany vs. Denmark, 3 p.m. ET: The hosts take on their Northern neighbors in this Round of 16 matchup. Three years ago, this one would've been an unquestionable headliner, but Germany is tough these days while Denmark isn't exactly setting the world on fire. This looks like a fairly routine Germany win on paper — can Denmark flip the script and play their way into a different ending?

Argentina vs. Peru, 8 p.m. ET: Lionel Messi and friends return for Matchday 3 of the Copa America. They'll be taking on last-placed Peru, who need a win — and a lot of help from Chile and Canada — to get anywhere near a knockout spot. We're expecting Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni to let the kids and the bench players run wild in this one, which should be fun; tune in if you're a fan of up-and-comers like Monza's Valentin Carboni or vets like Benfica's Nicolas Otamendi.

Chile vs. Canada, 8 p.m. ET: Of the two Copa games this evening, this is the one with the most riding on it. Canada is in pole position for advancement with three points from two games, but Chile — with one point from three — could leapfrog Canada with a win here. Chile is definitely good for that kind of performance, especially under pressure, so this one should be a tense affair from start to finish.

Where are the best bets hiding? We think they're here:

Switzerland and Italy going the distance. Switzerland is great at making it to the Round of 16 at international tournaments; it's done so in every one of its last seven appearances. But that wild win over France in the last Euros was the only time it went any further. That doesn't mean Switzerland doesn't fight, though; three of its seven Round of 16 matches went all the way into extra time.

Italy likes to stretch games long, too. Four of its last five knockout rounds have made it past the 90 minute mark. For that reason, we like the look of an Italy win in extra time at +1000 or an Italy win on penalties at +750. Bettors who like the look of a long match but aren't sold on Italy as a winner can bet on the game going to extra time at +550 or the game going to penalties at +350 instead.

Germany hoofing it to the big man. We love tricky, technical, fast, creative players just fine here, but we'll always hold a candle for big, immovable, retro center forwards, too. Germany's Niclas Fullkrug just might be the final form of the big, immovable, retro center forward in 2024, and we think he's perfectly equipped to cause Denmark headaches in the Round of 16. We're backing him as an anytime goalscorer at +200.

Stephen Eustaquio's secret grit. When most people think of Canadian midfielder Stephen Eustaquio, they think of his impressive dribbles and mazy runs into the opposition half. They do not think of his crunching, possession-regaining tackles, but he's just as capable of delivering those: he attempted five tackles in both of his Copa America appearances this year, enough to be at or near the top of Canada's tackle list. The odds haven't quite caught up with him on that. We're backing him to make at least 4 tackles against Chile at +120.