(See the full news item here: rdg.ac/euro2020)
*Submit your predictions using the links below*
Football fans are being invited to take on experts at the University of Reading at predicting the results of Euro 2020 matches.
A brand new predictions game from the University is challenging the public to predict scores in the upcoming Euro 2020 championships better than a computer model developed by academics in the Department of Economics.
Players will be asked to input their predicted score for each fixture, with the option to join a league table to see how they rank against other players. The table will also include the Reading computer model, which uses data on squad strength combined with recent form and historic results to calculate the most probable score.
Professor James Reade, a University of Reading football economist behind the predictions game, said: “It’s that time again where England fans either build up their hopes to unreasonable levels, or refuse to entertain the possibility they might win a game. The beauty of economics is it allows us to use real data to predict what could really happen.
“This new game invites players to use whatever tactics they like – be it trawling through the form books or going out on whim – to try and come out on top in the battle between man and machine.”
The computer model, which beat Football Focus pundit Mark Lawrenson at his own game in 2019, has calculated the most likely results for the entire Euro 2020 tournament – including plotting out a scenario where Denmark emerge as shock champions.
Players will also be asked about how confident they feel in their predictions to earn more points, and to provide the researchers running the game with new data to analyse how fans balance the likelihood of results on paper with their personal hunches.
Score predictions for each match should be submitted before kick-off using the links below (to be updated as tournament progresses).
GROUP STAGE
Friday 11 June
Group A: Turkey vs Italy (20:00, Rome)
Saturday 12 June
Group A: Wales vs Switzerland (14:00, Baku)
Group B: Denmark vs Finland (17:00, Copenhagen)
Group B: Belgium vs Russia (20:00, St Petersburg)
Sunday 13 June
Group D: England vs Croatia (14:00, London)
Group C: Austria vs North Macedonia (17:00, Bucharest)
Group C: Netherlands vs Ukraine (20:00, Amsterdam)
Monday 14 June
Group D: Scotland vs Czech Republic (14:00, Glasgow)
Group E: Poland vs Slovakia (17:00, St Petersburg)
Group E: Spain vs Sweden (20:00, Seville)
Tuesday 15 June
Group F: Hungary vs Portugal (17:00, Budapest)
Group F: France vs Germany (20:00, Munich)
Wednesday 16 June
Group B: Finland vs Russia (14:00, St Petersburg)
Group A: Turkey vs Wales (17:00, Baku)
Group A: Italy vs Switzerland (20:00, Rome)
Thursday 17 June
Group C: Ukraine vs North Macedonia (14:00, Bucharest)
Group B: Denmark vs Belgium (17:00, Copenhagen)
Group C: Netherlands vs Austria (20:00, Amsterdam)
Friday 18 June
Group E: Sweden vs Slovakia (14:00, St Petersburg)
Group D: Croatia vs Czech Republic (17:00, Glasgow)
Group D: England vs Scotland (20:00, London)
Saturday 19 June
Group F: Hungary vs France (14:00, Budapest)
Group F: Portugal vs Germany (17:00, Munich)
Group E: Spain vs Poland (20:00, Seville)
Sunday 20 June
Group A: Italy vs Wales (17:00, Rome)
Group A: Switzerland vs Turkey (17:00, Baku)
Monday 21 June
Group C: North Macedonia vs Netherlands (17:00, Amsterdam)
Group C: Ukraine vs Austria (17:00, Bucharest)
Group B: Russia vs Denmark (20:00, Copenhagen)
Group B: Finland vs Belgium (20:00, St Petersburg)
Tuesday 22 June
Group D: Czech Republic vs England (20:00, London)
Group D: Croatia vs Scotland (20:00, Glasgow)
Wednesday 23 June
Group E: Slovakia vs Spain (17:00, Seville)
Group E: Sweden vs Poland (17:00, St Petersburg)
Group F: Germany vs Hungary (20:00, Munich)
Group F: Portugal v France (20:00, Budapest)