Germany announce provisional squad...

Euro 2008 favourites Germany have announced their provisional squad for Switzerland and Austria. Coach Joachim Löw surprised many by included a hat-trick of players who don't even play in the top flight of German football by calling up Marko Marin, Oliver Neuville and Patrick Helmes. Mari and Neuville both play for Borussia Mönchengladbach while Helmes stars for Cologne.

One shock omission was Valencia goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand, who has been replaced by Bayer Leverkusen's René Adler. Other omissions include the experienced Tim Borowski through injury, Manuel Friedrich, Jermaine Jones and Piotr Trochowski.

The full provisional German squad is, with three of these players set to miss out when the squad gets it's final cut to 23 for the 28th May deadline...

Goalkeepers
Jens Lehmann Free Agent
Robert Enke Hannover
René Adler Bayer Leverkusen

Defenders
Christoph Metzelder Real Madrid
Per Mertesacker Werder Bremen
Philipp Lahm Bayern Münich
Arne Friedrich Hertha Berlin
Marcell Jansen Bayern Münich
Clemens Fritz Werder Bremen
Heiko Westermann Schalke

Midfielders
Michael Ballack Chelsea
Thomas Hitzlsperger VfB Stuttgart
Simon Rolfes Bayer Leverkusen
Torsten Frings Werder Bremen
Bastian Schweinsteiger Bayern Münich
Piotr Trochowski Hamburg
Tim Borowski Werder Bremen
Jermaine Jones Schalke
David Odonkor Real Betis
Marko Marin Borussia Mönchengladbach

Forwards
Miroslav Klose Bayern Münich
Lukas Podolski Bayern Münich
Mario Gómez VfB Stuttgart
Kevin Kuranyi Schalke
Oliver Neuville Borussia Mönchengladbach
Patrick Helmes Cologne

On announcing his squad Coach Joachim Löw said "In the last couple years we have watched around 200 Bundesliga games and have had numerous practice sessions watched. We also staged international matches and held meetings with the coaching staff. It was a tough decision, but we have now decided to give these players our confidence for this important tournament."

Euro 2008... Top Goalscorer betting

With the domestic season now over the bookies will be going into overdrive to try and get your wagers on Euro 2008. A popular market during any big tournament is who will be the Top Goalscorer and some of the firms have already priced up on this one with some huge differences of opinion between their respective odds compilers. Here's some of the players who are quoted and the best prices on offer...
Miroslav Klose 9-1 Bet365
Cristiano Ronaldo 11-1 Betfred
Luca Toni 12-1 SkyBet
Lukas Podolski 14-1 SkyBet
Fernando Torres 14-1 Bet365
Thierry Henry 16-1 SkyBet
Ruud v. Nistelrooy 16-1 SkyBet
David Villa 20-1 Betfred
Mario Gomez 25-1 Bet365
Kevin Kuranyi 33-1 SkyBet
David Trezeguet 33-1 SkyBet
Robin Van Persie 33-1 Betfred
Karim Benzema 40-1 Bet365
Nicolas Anelka 40-1 Bet365
Michael Ballack 50-1 SkyBet
Milan Baros 50-1 SkyBet
Jan Koller 66-1 SkyBet
Franck Ribery 80-1 Betfred
Sidney Govou 100-1 SkyBet
Cesc Fabregas 100-1 Betfred

As I say, though there are only three bookies giving odds just now, their compilers differ greatly with some of these players having very different prices with different firms.

Miroslav Klose is the firm favourite with both SkyBet and Betfred at 9-1, but Bet365 have plumped for Luca Toni as their favourite at 8-1. If you fancy the big Italian, to score the most goals that is, the you can get 50% more for your money by betting him at SkyBet and Betfred.

One of the other interesting differences is Liverpool's lethal young Spaniard Fernando Torres. OK, the Spaniards are regularly fancied in big tourneys to do well and always let everyone down, but Torres is quoted as 9-1 joint favourite with Ronaldo and Klose with SkyBet, but is available at a huge 14-1 with Bet365.

Others are Spain's David Villa who is 20-1 with Betfred but only 12s at Bet365, Arsenal's Robin Van Persie at 33-1 with Betfred, but only 20s at Bet365 and Karim Benzema who's generally 25-1 but is 40-1 with Bet365.

Good Luck with whoever you go for and if you don't have a Skybet account then take advantage of their £20 free bet to new customers by signing up using the link below.