Del Potro back at last

I had thought of writing a detailed analysis of Euro 2016 but, to be honest, my thoughts have not changed much over the past few months. Once again, England seem in an ideal section to progress serenely to the second week but we never take anything for granted. The vital thing is for Roy Hodgson to play an attacking team where as many of the players as possible adopt a role similar to the one they take on for their clubs.

That was not the case against Portugal, though I seldom take too much notice of friendlies. The game against Russia may be the most awkward of the three but I shall back England to win the group and have a smaller bet on them to win the tournament outright, with the habitually under-performing Belgium a decent saver. There is no outstanding team this time around and France looked laboured against Rumania. It is to be hoped that not every game produces as many cynical, one might even say automatic, fouls.

Wimbledon looms and there is nothing, it seems, to stop Novak Djokovic. I keep getting it wrong when he plays Andy Murray, the latter once again going through a poor spell in Paris at exactly the time Djokovic hit his stride. Then, when it was all too late, Murray seemed to relax and all but came into it again. They play often, they practise together, they’ve known each other since they were nine but, when it really comes down to it, the Serb invariably produces something that Murray cannot counter. In a nutshell, the very nest of Murray over a long period would make a game of it but anything less is immediately punished by the world number one.

If there is to be an upset this year, it may be provided by Juan-Martin Del Potro, who is finally back and playing well after a long spell away with injury. His game is ideally suited to grass and he looked in very good nick indeed in Stuttgart this week, his serve as powerful and accurate as ever.
The year Murray won Wimbledon, his task was made a good deal easier by the five-hour marathon semi between Djokovic and Del Potro. If the Argentine is right back to his best he will give anyone a game and we should be looking at the spreads as well as a small each-way price that will be quite exotic, because very few have spotted the sort of form he is in. Have a good look at the prices as soon as they come out.