With the two Eurovision semi-finals concluded, and the countries that will compete on Saturday in the final at the Malmö Arena, the pavilion in the Swedish city of Malmö that hosts this 68th edition of the festival, being reduced to 26, the betting houses show their latest predictions about possible winners, based on the preferences of bettors, who usually do not miss the mark. In recent years, the winner has been, if not the first of the favorites, then someone who scored among the first places. In the two semifinals, only the audience voted, without the intervention of the professional juries.

The second semi-final, held on Thursday night, has shaken the board and introduced a great novelty in the quintet of countries that has the most possibilities. Israel has suddenly placed itself in second place, between the leader Croatia and the now third in options, Switzerland. In fourth place is Ukraine, and in fifth place, Ireland has entered.

The Spanish song Zorra, by the duo Nebulossa, although with little prospect of victory, has risen after its performance as an exhibition; The bets now place them in 18th place after having been always below 20th place during the weeks, even in 28th place.

These are now the five best-placed songs, in this order, to win the crystal microphone in this musical and television contest which is – let us remember – a song contest:

Croatia, Rim Tim Tagi Dim, from Baby Lasagna

Mixing elements of techno, heavy metal, pop, trap and traditional Croatian dance, and seasoned with rural humor, the song Rim Tim Tagi Dim is inspired by the exodus abroad of young people from Croatia: the protagonist says goodbye to his cow, his cat and other familiar items in your town to set sail for another destination in the city. If Baby Lasagna (stage name of singer and songwriter Marko Puriši?) manages to win the festival this year, it would be Croatia’s first Eurovision victory, although the Croatian band Riva won in 1989 with Rock me when Yugoslavia still existed, so the 1990 festival was held in the Croatian capital, Zagreb.

Israel, ‘Hurricane’, de Eden Golan

The Israeli representative, Eden Golan, has been the focus these days of great attention for Israel’s controversial participation in this year’s festival, which many reject in rejection of the military offensive of the Israeli army in Gaza, which has caused the death of more than 34,900 Palestinians, most of them women and children. Golan, 20, received boos – but also applause – at the rehearsal of the second semi-final and also in the second semi-final itself, which were partially drowned out by the production of the Swedish public television SVT. The singer, accompanied by five dancers, performed the ballad Hurricane, the third of the lyric proposals presented by Israel, after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) rejected the previous two as it was considered political.

Switzerland, ‘The code’, by Nemo

The Swiss representative, Nemo, recounts in The code his process of self-understanding as a non-binary person, defending gender fluidity. In the second semi-final, Nemo gave a spectacular performance standing on a rotating platform and mixing drum and bass, opera, rap and rock. Switzerland is a veteran with honors in this competition, but has not had a repeat victory for many years. The first Eurovision Song Contest in history was held in Switzerland, and Switzerland won it. It was in 1956 in Lugano and the winner was Lys Assia with Refrain. The second Swiss victory came in 1988 at the hands of a then unknown Céline Dion (Ne partez pas sans moi).

Ukraine, ‘Teresa

The Ukrainian song, Teresa

Irlanda, ‘Doomsday blue’, Bambie Thug 

The Irish song Doomsday blue, by the singer, writer and dancer Bambie Thug – artistic alias of Bambie Ray Robinson – seeks to break socio-political and gender stereotypes with a sound that borders on elements of pop, rock, electronic and others with no little stridency. . She coined the term Ouija-pop to describe her sound, and in the second semi-final she performed a staging between gothic and witchcraft, with religious elements. Doomsday blue is an ode to the queer community. Ireland has won the festival seven times since its first triumph in 1970, and includes double winner Johnny Logan, who became the first person to win the contest twice (1980 and 1987). Ireland also won Eurovision in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996.