The European Under 21 Championships get underway on Wednesday at 5pm, with England setting out to defend the trophy they last won two years ago. Predictably, England’s squad has evolved dramatically in that period, but Lee Carsley remains in charge. Will the likes of James McAtee and Ethan Nwaneri show more of the potential that brought them to the fore in recent months, or is it time for another starlet to come to our attention?
European Under 21 Championship free bets & betting offers
Opening new betting sites at the start of a big tournament is a good idea, as you can use the free bets you’ll receive as the event progress. With that in mind, we’ve listed a few of our recommended betting sites, focusing on those which would give you a longer expiry time on your free bets.
| UK Betting Sites | European Under 21 Betting Offers |
| Sky Bet | £30 in free bets when you place any bet |
| Paddy Power | £30 in free bets when you place a £5 bet |
| Betfair | £50 in free multiples – when you place a £10 bet |
| Spreadex | Bet £10, get £60 in free bets |
| Zetbet | Bet £10, get £10 in free bets |
| Mr Mega | Bet £15, get £10 in free bets |
Under 21 Euros free bets & betting offers – Key T&Cs
- Sky Bet: New customers only. First single &E/W bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 3 X £10 bet tokens. Free bet tokens not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtuals. Free bets are non withdrawable. Free bets expire after 30 days. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply. 18+
- Paddy Power: New Customer offer – Use promo code YSKAST. Place a min £5 bet on the sportsbook at odds of min EVS (2.0) and get £30 in free bets. Free bet rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via Debit Cards & Apple Pay will qualify for this offer. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly
- Betfair: Place a min £10 bet on Sportsbook on odds of min EVS (2.0), get £50 in Free Bet Builders, Accumulators or multiples to use on any sport. Rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly. GambleAware.org
- Spreadex: Spread betting losses can exceed deposit. Place a qualifying £10 fixed odds bet at odds of 1/2 or greater and get 3x £10 free fixed odds bets in consecutive days and 6x £5 free spread bets across consecutive days. Qualifying bet cannot be placed in-play or cashed out early. Free bets expire in 28 days if unused. T&Cs apply. 18+. GambleAware.org
- Zetbet: 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £10 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible.
- Mr Mega: 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible. T&Cs apply.
Where and when can I watch the Under 21 European Championship?
The Under 21 European Championship will run from Wednesday 11th June, with the final scheduled for Saturday 28th June. The good news is you’ll be able to watch the entire tournament for free, as Channel 4 has secured the UK TV rights.
You can expect all of England’s matches to be screened on Channel 4 itself, while other matches can either be found on the Freeview channel 4seven or on Channel 4 Sport’s YouTube channel.
European U21 Championship predictions
England head to Slovakia for this summer’s Under-21 European Championships aiming to defend the title they won in 2023.
However, the Young Lions have suffered some selection blows for the tournament, with Liam Delap, Rico Lewis, and Jamie Gittens among the eligible players who are heading to the Club World Cup instead.
Despite that, this tournament is still set to feature some of the best prospects in European football. Spain, Germany, England, and France are almost neck-and-neck in the betting, but it could be another superpower lifting the trophy later this month.
Italy to lift the trophy
Italy are sixth in the betting, having been housed with Spain and hosts Slovakia in Group A. Their senior side is in a state of flux with Luciano Spalletti departing and there are fears they’ll miss a third World Cup on the spin.
Italian football could use a boost, and they have a talented crop of young players heading to the Euros.
The squad is led by manager Carmine Nunziata, who guided Italy to the final of the Under-20 World Cup in 2023. He has stepped up to take charge of a group of under-21s that have experienced plenty of success in recent years.
Not only were 13 members of this squad at the U-20 World Cup, but the group also includes key members of Italy’s 2023 U-19 Euros winners, including Brentford loanee Michael Kayode, who scored the winning goal in the final.
The Italians have enjoyed plenty of strong runs at youth level of late, making the last four at the under-19 championships in 2022 and 2024, along with that impressive run at the World Cup.
As under-21 squads go, this Italy side has plenty of experience. All but four players in their squad are 21 or older, while those four players all featured in that under-19 title win.
Their youngest player, Roma midfielder Niccolo Pisilli, played 41 times in 2024/25, while he has also been capped by the senior side. He’s joined by teammate Tommaso Baldanzi, who has also broken into the Roma team.
The Italians have a solid defensive set-up, including Olympiakos’s Lorenzo Pirola, who is captaining this side. He is joined by Atalanta’s Matteo Ruggeri, along with Brighton target Diego Coppola, another player who has been capped by the senior setup.
Former Chelsea midfielder Cesare Casadei offers a scoring threat from midfield, while former Benfica and PSG midfielder Cher Ndour is seen as a rising star.
Up front, English fans may be familiar with Leeds striker Wilfried Gnonto and Burnley’s Luca Koleosho.
With an impressive collection of talent, a group of players who are used to deep tournament runs and a manager who has already taken them there, Italy offer real value at 8/1.
Italy to lift the trophy – 9/1 with BetGoodwin
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Woltemade to be top goalscorer
Joint-favourites Germany are set to be a real threat for the title, but backing them for the trophy isn’t the best way to get behind them.
The 2023 tournament saw three players share the golden boot with three goals, so the top scorer betting is a good market to look at.
Germany forward Nick Woltemade scored a hat-trick against Spain’s under-21s in a friendly in March, underlining Germany’s qualities heading into this tournament.
Woltemade has enjoyed a strong season domestically, scoring 17 times in his debut season with Stuttgart. He scored five goals in five games as his side lifted the German Cup, including a goal in the final.
After scoring just twice in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen in 2023/24, he netted 12 times in the German top-flight with Stuttgart. He’s already been capped twice by the senior team, while the 6ft 6in forward will prove a real test for young defenders. If Germany are to go the distance, Woltemade is expected to play a big part. Instead of backing Germany at 4/1, take him in the top goalscorer betting at 7/1.
Nick Woltemade to be top goalscorer at 7/1 with bet365
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