France U21 vs Ivory Coast U21
FreeToday’s featured game is the Toulon Tournament U21 game between France and Ivory Coast. Both sides have already qualified for the latter stages of this competition following respective back-to-back victories over their opponents and look set to play out an interesting game tonight to decide the group winner.
As hosts, you have to give France the advantage already for this game but consider that they’re also the superior of these two sides so they’re worthy of respect no matter what side that they field. I say this, of course, because with France and Ivory Coast having both already qualified for the latter stages of this competition, both will look to rest key players. However, with France having the stronger options all over the field in both their first and second string, you have to favour them to inflict more damage tonight. France have looked good so far in this competition without firing on all cylinders. It took them a while to get started against Colombia in their opening game but they eased to victory in the end and they were troubled by a feisty 10-man Japan side for a while before France cruised to a flattering 4-1 victory due to incisive finishing and the brilliance of then-substitute Brahimi. The hosts have been efficient, whichever way you look at it, and I’d expect nothing less than a committed display from them tonight, particularly as hosts.
Ivory Coast make this look an interesting game because a lot of their players are either based in France or have been based in France. They’ve also impressed during the tournament thus far which again would normally make this a more difficult game. However, they’re going to be resting players for this game because they don’t have the strength in-depth to field the same line-up as their previous two games and then field a second string in the next stage. If the Ivorians were to field a first team of their U21 then I’d be more concerned because the odds would look a bit short on France as the Ivorians have been physical, competitive, clinical, and well-organised so far in this competition. However, I expect their fringe players to be somewhat overcome by their hosts tonight because they’ve got more strength in-depth and home advantage, basically!
I don’t think France will walk this game – the spirit of the Ivorians is a tenacious one and I’m sure they’ll match France for strength. However, as far as class goes and the overall level of ability throughout each squad, you have to favour France on quite a large scale, something that isn’t reflected in odds of 10/11, which should really be about 8/11 in my book. Either way, there should be value on the home win tonight and I’ll be covering it on the live commentary section of the forum should anyone wish to hear what’s happening in-play without watching it!
Verdict: France U21 to win at 10/11.
Saturday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Bayern Munich vs Internazionale – Internazionale to win at 5/4.
I had to write a preview for the UEFA Champions League Final, didn’t I? It’s not my favourite bet of the day due to the grandiose amount of pressure staked on this game but it’s one I still quite like.
I could talk for hours about these two sides, why one has a slight edge over the other for tiny matters etc. but frankly I don’t think it’s necessary so I’ll keep this as short as I can. I simply feel that Internazionale are the better of these two sides, as indeed do the bookies. Bayern have played extremely well to get here so I’m not disrespecting them here but they’ve had a lot of fortune – let’s be honest here! They’ve earned it by scoring lots of goals but this side has conceded heavily so often that it’s unreal. Bayen don’t have two legs to work with here – they have one game and I don’t envision their general two-game tactics working against Inter. Bayern can normally pull leads back but if they fall behind against this Inter side then I can see them losing because Inter’s defence has been the best in the competition this season. Bayern miss Ribery, part of their two-man wing destruction and they’ll definitely miss him too because all this leaves Robben as the creator in an average squad. In my humble opinion, Van Gaal has done a great job with what I can only liken to the old “Crazy Gang” as we called them in England – a side full of misfits that shouldn’t be able to get anywhere but have done so. Bayern won’t make this easy but I think their dream ends tonight on a quality level.
Inter under Mourinho have been terrific this season. I don’t care about how entertaining he is; he’s efficient beyond belief. Inter won at home to Barcelona this season because Mourinho paid close attention to every conceivable detail, including the length of the grass, just to stop Barcelona playing. I have a lot of respect for Van Gaal but you just can’t equate to the level of detail that Mourinho accomodates for in each game. His Inter side have been immaculate in defence in this competition which has been the foundation for their success. They’ve got an extremely experienced side for this game, most notably at the back, so I have to give them their dues here. They’ve looked clinical, battling, and incredibly composed so I can’t look beyond them winning this one tonight.
I’m suspicious about going against a German side in a final for obvious reasons but it’s nothing more than superstition that makes me fear Bayern, really. Inter are superior to them in every department and deserve to be here on order of consistently fantastic displays tactically. Bayern are here because they’ve struck lucky and scored a lot of goals, which has still earned them their place here, don’t get me wrong, but it’s for different reasons so I think the dream ends tonight. Either way, Inter to win this game at 5/4 looks a good bet for me tonight.
Verdict: Internazionale to win at 5/4.
Dnepr Mogilev vs Belshina – home win at 11/10.
Now these are some interesting odds! Belshina have done really well following promotion last season and have been good on the road with two wins, one draw, and just one defeat in four away games. They’re solid because of their reliable defence but look susceptible because they don’t score many goals. However, I would make the case that Belshina have lost ther only tough away game whereas they’ve meandered their way through their other away games. However, they’re facing an accomplished home side in Dnepr Mogilev tonight and it’s going to be a tougher game than the Vysshaya Liga table suggests, in my opinion. Dnepr are bloody good at home as a rule and their record of three wins and one draw from their first four home games this season indicates all too well. Dnepr don’t concede goals at home, hence their strong advantage on their own turf. They’re like a superior version of today’s opponents Belshina, basically, but are far more experienced with the ability that they have and it tends to show too. Dnepr have won two consecutive games so they bring some good momentum into this game and they’ve notched up five goals along the way. Goalscoring is their only marginal weak spot but that’s not a problem for them at all currently so I have to favour the experienced side against the over-achieving minnows today!
Odds for this game shouldn’t be above evens, in my opinion. I think the bookies are mistaking Belshina’s good run for a legitimate title push, conveniently forgetting that they’re newcomers to this division. Belshina won’t roll over and die for this game and I don’t envision them getting flattened today either but I do see them losing the game and it’s certainly worth a punt at generous odds of 11/10.
Verdict: Dnepr Mogilev to win at 11/10.
Partizan Minsk vs Neman Grodno – lay Neman Grodno at evens.
The odds don’t make sense for this game at all. Neither side has won a game in ten attempts this season and both are under-achieving massively as a result. Neman Grodno tend to be more of a “home side” than anything but Partizan Minsk can be good home or away but are having a horrific season due to player sales. However, there’s still very little between these two sides so why Neman Grodno are 4/6 to win this game is utterly beyond me. Partizan Minsk have had a lot of problems, don’t get me wrong, but so have Neman Grodno. There’s no way there should be such a leaning with the odds in favour of Neman Grodno today, in my opinion, hence the selection. Partizan Minsk have even scored three times during their last three games and claimed their first point of the season so they are at least making improvements – Neman Grodno have just given up on goalscoring completely. I expect this game to be a goalless stalemate but there’s better odds on laying Neman Grodno than I’d expected today so I’ll be endorsing that selection for this game!
Verdict: Lay Neman Grodno at evens.
Blackpool vs Cardiff City – over 2.5 goals at evens.
This one speaks for itself, really! Neither of these samba bastard sides can defend for shit but both score freely so we should overs here. I can’t pick who will come up although my gut instinct says that Cardiff will spoil the Blackpool dream although I’m of course in favour of the impressive underdogs. Either way, Blackpool scored six times in two games against Nottingham Forest in their play-off and Cardiff scored three times against Leicester in their play-off and those two opponents are both strong defensively so it gives you some idea as to the level of goalscoring that the two sides are at. Blackpool tend to be the more unruly and free-scoring of the two sides but the other side of the coin is that Cardiff can be more composed and dominant if they choose to be, particularly tactically. Let’s be blunt here – Cardiff have better players but Blackpool have better spirit so we should see a good game and I’m hoping for plenty of goals, which there really should be, realistically. The two games between these two opponents earlier this season both failed to yield more than two goals but I think there’s value in there being over 2.5 goals today with more riding on it than in their Championship meetings and both sides capable of scoring and conceding heavily on their respective days.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at evens.
BK Hacken Goteborg vs Kalmar – away win at 13/8.
Hacken’s dream start to the Allsvenskan has come tumbling down with a bad run of form leaving them with the unenviable record of having lost four times in their past five Allsvenskan games. They’ve already lost three out of six home games this season due to a lack of potency in front of goal, scoring an average of just a single goal per home game, which isn’t really good enough for a side that are supposed to be comfortably mid-table. Worryingly for goal-shy Hacken, they’ve conceded nine goals in their last five Allsvenskan games, which just isn’t good enough. They’ve failed to find the net in their last four home games in the Allsvenskan consecutively and they’ve lost their last three of those games against sides that they frankly shouldn’t be losing at home against so confidence is really low, which naturally affects a very goal-shy side an awful lot in front of goal, which is a catch 22 situation for them as they have no way to improve, hence their dilemma.
Visitors Kalmar, however, are on-fire! They’ve won four games out of their last five in the Allsvenskan and are the only side left in the division yet to lose an away game. They’ve drawn too many away games, incidentally, but their win in their last away game against Brommapojkarna showed great belief and determination, two things that they’d previously lacked this season. Everything about Kalmar suggests that they’re a workmanlike side. They don’t possess the same quality players that the likes of IFK Goteborg and Helsingborgs do – they’re workers and generally very good at it too, hence their success in recent years. Barring their epic game with Brommapojkarna of late, Kalmar had only conceded once during their last four Allsvenskan games so their defence is tightening and their potency is increasing with their confidence with Kalmar scoring eight goals during their last five Allsvenskan games. Kalmar aren’t back to their best yet but a morale-boosting win at home to Helsingborgs last match despite having ten men for the vast majority of the game will have given them such a boost ahead of today’s game at you have to favour them and their strong momentum burst at the moment.
Incidentally, Hacken haven’t scored at home to Kalmar in their last two meetings here, which bodes ominously for the demoralised and goal-shy hosts today. Either way, you have to favour the in-form and superior visitors today at generous odds of 13/8.
Verdict: Kalmar to win at 13/8.
Accumulator fodder:
Zalaegerszegi TE.
Recommended bets:
Zalaegerszegi TE, France U21, and Dnepr Mogilev at 5/1.
As ever, if there any questions/explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
UEFA Champions League Final:
Bayern Munich vs Internazionale (6) over 2.5 goals
Belarusian Vysshaya Liga:
Dnepr Mogilev vs Belshina (7) 1-0
Partizan Minsk vs Neman Grodno (6) 1-1
Brazilian Serie A:
Botafogo vs Goias (7) over 2.5 goals
Atletico Goianiense vs Santos (5) 1-1
Palmeiras vs Gremio (6) 1-0
Colombian Primera A:
Deportes Tolima vs La Equidad Bogota (7) over 2.5 goals
Ecuadorian Primera A:
Universidad Catolica vs Espoli Cayambe (5) 1-1
Independiente vs Emelec Guayaquil (6) 0-1
Deportivo Cuenca vs Manta (7) 1-0
English Championship Play-Off Final:
Blackpool vs Cardiff City (6) over 2.5 goals
Finnish Ykkonen:
OPS Oulu vs Hameenlinna (5)
TPV Tampere vs KPV Kokkola (6)
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Zalaegerszegi TE vs Nyiregyhaza Spartacus (8) 2-0
Budapest Honved vs Ferencvaros (6) 1-1
International Friendly:
Turkey vs Czech Republic (5) 2-1
International Friendlies – Toulon Tournament (played in France):
France U21 vs Ivory Coast U21 (7) under 2.5 goals
Japan U21 vs Colombia U21 (5) over 2.5 goals
Romanian Liga:
Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt vs CFR Cluj (7) 1-2
Universitatea Craiova vs Otelul Galati (5) 1-0
International vs Steaua Bucharest (6) 0-1, at least one red card in this game
Politehnica Iasi vs Unirea Urziceni (7) over 2.5 goals
Poli Timisoara vs Brasov (7) 2-0
Rapid Bucharest vs Gloria Bistrita (6) 2-1
Unirea Alba Iulia vs Pandurii Targu Jiu (4) 0-1
Astra Ploiesti vs Gaz Metan Medias (6) 0-0
Vaslui vs Dinamo Bucharest (5) 1-0
Singaporean S-League:
Beijing Guoan vs Gombak United (4) 1-1
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Albacete vs Cordoba (5)
Cartagena vs Levante (6)
Real Union Club de Irun vs Numancia (4) at least one red card in this game
Castellon vs Huesca (6)
Celta de Vigo vs Las Palmas (5)
Elche vs Girona (5)
Swedish Allsvenskan:
Trelleborg vs GAIS Goteborg (5) 1-2
Helsingborgs vs Halmstad (7) 2-1
Djurgarden vs Gefle (6) 0-0
Atvidaberg vs Mjallby Solvesborg (5) 1-2
BK Hacken Goteborg vs Kalmar (7) 0-1
Swedish Superettan:
Degerfors vs Assyriska Sodertalje (6)
Vasby United vs Brage (6)
Osters vs Falkenberg (6)
Ljungskile vs IFK Norrkoping (7)
Syrianska Sodertalje vs Trollhattan (7)
Enjoy your free betting tips!