Australia vs Netherlands
FreeToday’s featured game is the international friendly between Australia and the Netherlands. It should be one hell of a featured game, too, considering that my fundamental point behind is that Netherlands are simply better than Australia! Despite Australia having played their best football for some years, they’re still some distance off the bigger nations of the world i.e. Netherlands. Wins against Republic of Ireland and Japan certainly show that they’re a more capable side nowadays but defeats like the 3-1 loss to South Korea show that there’s still a long way to go. Netherlands have been their usual efficient selves in World Cup Qualification and generally dispose of sides that they’re better than with no great difficulty, a good example being their demolition of Japan in their most recent friendly. I don’t really care if Australia are playing Netherlands in Australia or on the moon – the Dutch simply have too much quality at their disposal to do anything but win the game whether they try or not. Frankly, I’d take 4/5 on the away win before the odds inevitably drop.
Saturday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Australia vs Netherlands – away win at 4/5 – see the introduction for full details.
Liechtenstein vs Azerbaijan – home win at 13/8. This is a very risky call but it should be an interesting one. Both of these sides are generally cannon fodder for bigger and better sides but Liechtenstein have got a bit better over the last year or two, something indicated by an impressive 1-1 draw at home to Finland in their last World Cup Qualifier. Most people will say these two sides have nothing to play for and I generally agree but then again – they never do have anything to play for. I think both sides will really play for pride here and when I look at the players in each squad, Liechtenstein have just got better players with more experience, sufficiently so for me to believe they’ll win the game. Neither side can keep a clean sheet for shit so I do expect goals in this game. Either way I think 13/8 is a tad overpriced so I’ll be happy to take advantage of it today!
France vs Faroe Islands – Faroe Islands with +3.75 handicap at 11/5. I’ve tried this one before the last time these two sides met in the reverse fixture and it worked like a charm. I’m especially coaxed into this as I’ve heard that Ribery is missing this game. I’m not really able to confirm how accurate that is yet so it’s probably wise to check the line-ups beforehand to decide if you want to take this bet or not as he makes things tick for them. Either way, France simply aren’t a big goalscoring side anymore and Faroe Islands aren’t a pushover anymore. Therefore, 11/5 on giving Faroe Islands a +3.75 handicap is a worthwhile bet for me.
Portugal vs Hungary – under 2.5 goals at 5/4. Hosts Portugal have only scored more than two goals in a game once in their last eleven games in all competitions and that was against lowly Liechtenstein. The fatal flaw of Portugal’s football is there for all to see – they don’t really have a natural goalscorer. Well, that was a case before Liedson decided to play for them, anyway! However, Portugal simply don’t score many goals – fact. That said, they do have to win this game to have any hope of qualification from this group and given that Cristiano Ronaldo is on the field of play, you have to feel that’s well within reach. Hungary are a good side nowadays though – they’re certainly not going to lie down for Portugal. Generally, the Magyars are solid defensively and hard to break down. However, the irresistable Ronaldo will find a way – he always does, after all! The worst thing that can happen here for my bet is if Hungary score early in the game. However, I can’t see that happening in this particular game so 5/4 on under 2.5 goals for two low-scoring sides seems a good bet to me.
Colombia vs Chile – home win at 6/5. Ahhh, good old crazy South American football returns to our screens as we await the inevitable bloodbath between Colombia and Chile. Neither of these sides have particularly good temperaments, as indeed do none of the South American nations anyway, but my own observations tell me that more players are sent off when playing in Colombia than anywhere else, either for the home side, away side, or even club side. Why? Well, maybe it’s the height, or maybe it’s just that they’re all crazy – who knows? Nonetheless, we have a game here that Colombia have to win to have any hopes of achieving a World Cup place next year whereas Chile don’t really need anything from the game as they’re virtually assured a place in next year’s World Cup already. Chile have played fantastically well in the qualifiers this year, better than I’d expected them to, in fact. They enter this game as one of the best away sides in the qualifiers and boast arguably a marginally better squad than Colombia do at the present time, although it is a young squad. However, one point that remains is that only Paraguay have won more home games in this campaign than Colombia have and the hosts have only conceded three goals over the eight home games they’ve played. They’re not big goalscorers, as a rule, but they’re generally pretty good at carving out a result at home to sides. It should be a fantastic game to watch but I think Colombia will be more motivated and will take three points today at 6/5.
Aldershot Town vs Morecambe – home win at 10/11. This game was close to being game of the day for me because I really like the look of it! Aldershot Town are not a great side and I don’t expect to see them launch a title challenge. However, truth be told, they’re not that far away from it. They showed last season that they’re incredibly difficult to beat at home and they’re doing the same again this season although with a better ratio of home victories as they’ve played five, won three and drawn two so far this season. Although recent form hasn’t smiled too kindly on them with a draw and a defeat from their last two games, they remain a force at home and Morecambe have a hard test ahead of them today. That said, the ever-bizarre Morecambe are currently one of the most difficult sides in the league to beat as they’ve only lost two games this season despite being fourth bottom in the League Two table! They just seem to draw an awful lot of games, which is an interesting approach to survival but has to come unstuck at somepoint. Basically, I expect a doggedly tenacious and boring game but I think Aldershot Town have more than enough to win this game and 10/11 on the home win looks good odds to me.
Bradford City vs Crewe Alexandra – home win at 4/5. There’s not much difference between these two sides in terms of quality but I’m siding entirely with momentum today. It’s not always the most loyal of fundamentals but a wayward Crewe Alexandra have now lost five consecutive games and face a side today that are arguably better than the majority of the sides they’ve already lost to. Bradford City have made a slow start to this campaign but are beginning to come good as they’re unbeaten in their last five games. Their problem is doing enough to secure a win instead of drawing but an out-of-luck and demoralised Crewe Alexandra should really gift them enough opportunities to make it count so 4/5 on the home win could well be a good bet today!
As ever, any questions/explanations required, feel free to email me at thefootytipster@gmail.com. For the complete picks listing, see below!
World Cup Qualifiers – European section:
Finland vs Wales (6) 0-0
Russia vs Germany (5) 1-1
Belarus vs Kazakhstan (9) over 2.5 goals
Luxembourg vs Switzerland (8) 0-1
Armenia vs Spain (9) -1.75 handicap
Estonia vs Bosnia-Herzegovina (7) over 2.5 goals
Ukraine vs England (7) under 2.5 goals
Cyprus vs Bulgaria (6) 1-1
Montenegro vs Georgia (7) over 2.5 goals
Denmark vs Sweden (8) 1-1
Liechtenstein vs Azerbaijan (6) 2-0
Greece vs Latvia (7) 2-1
Czech Republic vs Poland (8) 2-1
Slovakia vs Slovenia (6) 2-1
Serbia vs Romania (8) 1-0
Austria vs Lithuania (9) -1.75 handicap
Belgium vs Turkey (6) 2-2
Israel vs Moldova (7) 1-0
France vs Faroe Islands (8) 2-0
Republic of Ireland vs Italy (7) 1-1
Portugal vs Hungary (7) under 2.5 goals
World Cup Qualifiers – South American section:
Colombia vs Chile (6) under 2.5 goals
Venezuela vs Paraguay (6) 2-1, draw no bet
Argentina vs Peru (10) -1.75 handicap
Ecuador vs Uruguay (7) under 2.5 goals
World Cup Qualifiers – North American section:
Mexico vs El Salvador (9) -1.75 handicap
Honduras vs USA (6) 2-1, draw no bet
Costa Rica vs Trinidad & Tobago (8) 2-1
World Cup Qualifiers – African section:
Zambia vs Egypt (5) 2-1, draw no bet
Malawi vs Ivory Coast (8) over 2.5 goals
Cameroon vs Togo (9) 3-1
Gabon vs Morocco (6) 2-0
World Cup Qualifiers – Play-offs:
Bahrain vs New Zealand (8) 2-0
UEFA European U21 Championships:
Wales U21 vs Bosnia-Herzegovina U21 (8) 2-1
Russia U21 vs Faroe Islands U21 (10) -1.75 handicap
Moldova U21 vs Andorra U21 (8) under 2.5 goals
Azerbaijan U21 vs Austria U21 (9) -1.75 handicap
Scotland U21 vs Belarus U21 (5) 1-1
Bulgaria U21 vs Montenegro U21 (6) 2-1
Brazilian Serie A:
Corinthians vs Gremio (5) 1-1
Flamengo vs Sao Paulo (6) 1-1
Santo Andre vs Fluminense (7) 2-1
Internacional vs Atletico Paranaense (9) 3-1
Coritiba vs Gremio Barueri (8) 2-1
Chinese Super League:
Guangzhou Yiyao vs Changchun Yatai (6) 1-1
Chongqing Lifan vs Shandong Luneng (5) 1-0
Hangzhou Lucheng vs Shaanxi Zhongxin (5) 1-2
Henan Jianye vs Beijing Guoan (6) 1-1
English League One:
Carlisle United vs Norwich City (7)
Charlton Athletic vs Oldham Athletic (8)
Gillingham vs Wycombe Wanderers (7)
Huddersfield Town vs Exeter City (6)
Leyton Orient vs Colchester United (6)
Milton Keyones Dons vs Walsall (7)
Swindon Town vs Millwall (6)
Yeovil Town vs Brighton & Hove Albion (6)
English League Two:
Accrington Stanley vs Cheltenham Town (8)
Aldershot Town vs Morecambe (7)
Bournemouth vs Chesterfield (7)
Bradford City vs Crewe Alexandra (7)
Bury vs Northampton Town (7)
Dagenham & Redbridge vs Darlington (4)
Grimsby Town vs Burton Albion (7)
Macclesfield Town vs Lincoln City (6)
Rochdale vs Barnet (6)
Rotherham United vs Hereford United (8)
Shrewsbury Town vs Port Vale (8)
Finnish Ykkonen:
Klubi 04 Helsinki vs KPV Kokkola (6)
Greek B Ethniki:
Ilioupoli vs Ionikos Nikaias (6)
International Friendlies:
Australia vs Netherlands (8) 1-2
Japan vs Scotland (7) 1-0
Norway vs South Africa (7) 2-0
Kuwait vs Jordan (6) 1-0
Malta vs Angola (5) 1-1
United Arab Emirates vs Palestine (7) 2-0
Mexican Primera Division:
Estudiantes Tecos vs Guadalajara (6) 1-1
San Luis vs Atlante (6) 1-0
Norwegian 2 Divisjon:
Avdeling 1:
Vindbjart Vennesla vs Mandalskameratene (7)
Eidsvold vs Strommen (7)
Ullensaker Kisa vs Fram Larvik (6)
Start Kristiansand II vs Tonsberg (7)
KFUM Fotball Oslo vs Pors Grenland (5)
Avdeling 2:
Lorenskog vs Nardo Trondheim (7)
Rosenborg II vs Levanger (9)
Follo Fotball Ski vs Ullern (9)
Avdeling 3:
Varg Haugesund vs Fredrikstad II (8)
Fyllingen Bergen vs Randaberg (5)
Fana Nestun vs Kopervik (6)
Lyn Oslo II vs Asane Ulset (6)
Stromsgodset II vs Algard (7)
Avdeling 4:
Valdres Fagernes vs Tromso II (8)
Bossekop vs Bodo Glimt II (4)
Kjelsas Oslo vs Korsvoll Oslo (5)
Asker Fotball vs Mo (9)
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Huesca vs Numancia (6)
Gimnastic de Tarragona vs Levante (8)
Real Murcia vs Cordoba (7)
Las Palmas vs Hercules Alicante (6)
Elche vs Recreativo de Huelva (6)
Celta de Vigo vs Albacete (6)
Villarreal II vs Rayo Vallecano de Madrid (7)
Girona vs Castellon (6)
Spanish Segunda B:
Group 1:
Lemona vs Lugo (7)
Guijuelo vs Zamora (6)
Swedish Superettan:
Ljungskile vs Assyriska Sodertalje (7)
Trollhattan vs Qviding Goteborg (6)
Welsh Premier League:
Airbus vs Carmarthen Town (6) 1-1
Connah’s Quay Nomads vs Welshpool Town (6) 1-0
Newtown vs Haverfordwest County (5) 0-0
Port Talbot Town vs Prestatyn Town (6) 2-1
Enjoy your free betting tips!