Malta vs Latvia
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Today’s featured game is the UEFA European Championship Qualifier in Ta’Qali between Malta and Latvia. I’m going out on a limb to presume this isn’t on all of your lists of “games to watch” today but nonetheless there should be some value here.
I think it’s fair to say that Latvia are the better of these two sides but there’s little in it nowadays which is more due to Malta becoming hardened aganist good sides rather than Latvia’s partial stagnation. Malta demonstrated in their last match at Israel that they’re hard to beat and although they did lose the game 3-1, it’s worth pointing out that that they could and should have scored more goals themselves – it wasn’t one-way traffic as it used to be. Malta held Republic of Macedonia to a credible 1-1 draw at home in a friendly prior to that game so I don’t see them entering this game in a demoralised fashion. They’ve got two experienced attackers in Bogdanovic and Mifsud so they should give their visitors something to think about today. Malta’s speciality, if indeed it can be called that, is defending. They’re well-organised, as you’d expect with strong links to England, and are generally hard to break down. They’ve scored for four consecutive home games and have troubled all of their opponents during that time – all they’re lacking is stamina and quality, really – they’re still hard to beat though.
Visitors Latvia emerged onto the European scene back in 2003 when they miraculously dumped Turkey out of the UEFA European Championship Qualifiers thanks to a 1-0 win at home and a 2-2 draw away. Their displays weren’t particularly special; they defended well and played a long ball to emerging striker Maris Verpakovskis but with his pace, that worked well. Latvia subsequently performed very well at the European Championships and were a bit unlucky, really, but they’ve learned a lot from the experience. They’ve not exactly flourished as a footballing nation since then as their football level is about the same but their football as a whole has benefited and they’re now starting to produce a few more players. The legends of Pahars, Verpakovskis, Rubins, and Kolinko are little more than memories nowadays as Latvia prepares itself for a new generation of footballers. Their leading light in that quest is Lech Poznan striker Artems Rudnevs, a very bright and potent prospect indeed. Unfortunately for Latvia, it’s usually him and/or Karlsons against the world and that tends to leave them short on goals as a 3-0 defeat at home to Croatia a few days indicated all too well. They’ve still got experienced heads in the team like Gorkss and Laizans and Pereplyotkins’ pace is always a threat but they’re not ready (in my opinion) to win this kind of game in the fashion that they really should. I’d quite like to see Starkovs take a chance and call up Skonto Riga prospect Karasausks into the first team as the future is the only way for Latvia to look now. Four out of Latvia’s last five away games have gone under 2.5 goals as they don’t score many and keep it tight at the back with only a rampant Czech Republic shattering their consecutive under 2.5 goals run so they’re generally reliable enough at the back to keep scorelines low.
So, what to make of this game? Realistically, Latvia should win this game but the odds don’t interest me given their lack of incisive attacking and Malta’s ability to score goals at home. I’m not interested in the 1X2 markets here though – my interest is awakened by the under 2.5 goals market, obviously. Both sides will fancy their chances here so I don’t see either side attacking without throwing caution to the wind as neither side are going to want to lose this for obvious reasons. I expect a shrewd game here but I think under 2.5 goals at 4/5 represents some value today.
Verdict: Under 2.5 goals at 4/5.
Tuesday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Russia vs Slovakia – under 2.5 goals at 3/4.
These two sides are too similar for my liking here. Ok, so you guys can name more Russian players than Slovakian players – big deal! They’re both very similar sides with defence first and attack later. Neither side offers a terrific amount in attack although Russia unquestonably edge it with playmaker Arshavin in their side, as he can unlock most defences with ease. Whether Russia’s strikers i.e. Pavlyuchenko, Pognebryak etc. take their chances or not is another matter entirely. Both of those strikers have something in common; neither of them are prolific. They’re both target men and that tends to be their sole role with both averaging scoring less than a goal per every two international games. The energy of Dzagoev and Zhirkov is essential to breathe life into this somewhat stale and dormant Russian side although whether new manager Dick Advocaat fields them both in this game is another matter entirely. What I will give Russia here is that their side is more experience than Slovakia’s and of course they are at home, although I’m not sure how much of an advantage Lokomotiv Moscow’s ground is as I’ve not seen the national team play there much. With the above in mind, though, you have to think that Advocaat will be sensible enough to field one of the local boys – Dmitri Sychev, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, and Dmitri Torbinskiy – as they’re home-grown Lokomotiv Moscow boys and the fans will rally behind the side even moreso if any of those three play.
Don’t get me wrong here – I do think Russia will win this game. However, they’re facing a Slovakia side that are well-organised to the point of exhaustion and although it’s not good to watch, it is usually effective. The likes of Skrtel and Pekarik playing in defence with Everton goalkeeper Jan Mucha between the sticks tends to favour them. As you probably all now by now, Marek Hamsik pulls the strings in this side with his superb passing ability and runs through the middle although the pace of the likes of Svento and Weiss on the flanks is a potent threat when his father Weiss is bold enough to play an attacking Slovakian side, which is every blue moon so I wouldn’t read much into it. Slovakia’s attackers are predictable – Vittek and Jendrisek are the pacey ones and Holosko is the target man – but what’s worse is that they’re rarely fielded together so they rarely surprise anyone in attack. I can’t doubt Slovakia’s tenacity but they’re a very predictable side. I doubt either Oravec or Sylvestr will play in this game, incidentally! That said, that doesn’t make them any easier to beat so Slovakia stand a better chance of getting a result here than the odds suggest, in my opinion. I can’t see Weiss fielding Holosko here because they plays right into the hands of the Russian defence. If I was Weiss, I’d play the pacey players to counter-attack swiftly but I don’t know if he will or not because I’m not him, obviously! What I’m trying to say here is that Slovakia are a very difficult side to break down and I don’t see Russia having it all their own way today so I see a low-scoring encounter here.
I do think Russia should win this but I don’t see any value in the odds as they’re not good enough in attack on a consistent basis to convince me otherwise. Russia were poor in their 2-0 win at Andorra last match, in which one of their goals was from the penalty spot, which should give you some idea as to their display. How did that occur? A physical and fairly well-regimented Andorran defence which Slovakia can easily double the quality of if they so wish. Slovakia can take some momentum into this game after a fairly unconvincing but useful win against Republic of Macedonia at home last match with a last-gasp winner from Filip Holosko. I can see Slovakia really frustrating Russia here, ultimately, so we should see an under 2.5 goals game here at decent odds.
Verdict: Under 2.5 goals at 3/4.
Belarus vs Romania – home win at 7/5.
I’m a bit concerned that this could become a public bet after Belarus’ impressive win at an average France side but I like the odds nonetheless. I’ve been a fan of Belarus for a while because they play good football, they’re very well-organised, and they’re not easy to beat as a result. They don’t score enough goals in general but they’ve won back-to-back games away from home without conceding a goal against Lithuania and France respectively so give them some respect here – they’ve earned it. They’ve got very good players in this side although the Hleb brothers are unequivocally the heartbeat of the team. If they turn up, Belarus will have a very good chance to make their possession count for something although if they don’t then I fear for them.
We must then also consider the descent of Romania. They’re still a good side but nowhere near what they used to be. There is intense pressure on coach Lucrescu and the team after some poor displays and that’s caused rifts in the camp with captain Christian Chivu openly crying in a press conference about the pressure on who he regards as a very good manager as he believes the Romanian media and fans to be overly harsh when judging him. Chivu, incidentally, returns to the Romania squad for this game, which is a massive boost for them. However, they still have a fundamental lack of quality and it shows. Despite outplaying Albania at home last match, they still ended up drawing the game 1-1 through not taking all of their chances and by allowing defensive lapses. Romania certainly aren’t what they were and although I can’t deny that they’ll certainly relish the counter-attacking game in Minsk today, I don’t envision them having much joy against a very good Belarus side.
This should be a close game between two sides that match up quite well. Neither sides score enough goals so the first goal should be pivotal to this encounter and possibly even final depending on how the game progresses. However, the Belarusians have got to be buoyant after a heroic win in France and given the pressure on the Romanian side, I fancy the home win at decent odds.
Verdict: Belarus to win at 7/5.
Hungary vs Moldova – under 2.5 goals at 3/4.
A confident Moldova side facing a low-scoring Hungarian side? Under 2.5 goals all the way for me! Moldova finally managed to break through a stiff Finnish resolve at home last match and won 2-0 so they’ll be buoyant ahead of this game. Hungary, however, suffered defeat in Sweden as they yet again failed to convert their chances and yet got caught out with little defensive stability in their side barring the presence of Juhasz. Dzsudzsak and Gera are the problem-causers for Hungary in midfield so if they turn it on then Hungary really could and should win this game despite their obvious problems with goalscoring. However, Moldova aren’t the rubbing rags they used to be – they’re well-organised defensively although they too lack in the firepower department. Four out of Moldova’s last five games have gone under 2.5 goals and that’s no coincidence as the experience of the likes of Frunza and Epureanu make this squad a lot more solid and dependable. Moldova won’t be easy to beat here and given Hungary’s lack of firepower, I think there’s a very real chance of this game going under 2.5 goals today.
Verdict: Under 2.5 goals at 3/4.
Czech Republic vs Lithuania – home win with -1.5 handicap at 10/11.
I don’t think I need to explain to any of you why I think Czech Republic will win this game but what I do need to explain is why I think they’ll beat the handicap as those of you who follow my blog avidly will know that I don’t rate this Czech attack. Why is that? Well, they’re really short in the quality department, to be blunt. Ever since giant striker Jan Koller hung up his boots and stopped bailing the Czech Republic out, they’ve failed to really be a threat in attack. The reason for that is because they lack a talented target man. Milan Baros is good at international level but he’s not a target man; he plays off a target man. Tomas Necid is a promising prospect but there’s far too much weight on his shoulders at this level for someone who is not yet ready to fulfill his role. Roman Bednar would be the ideal replacement for Koller but he’s not been tested at this level on a consistent basis yet so we have a big problem here, really. Fenin is an interesting inclusion as I’m yet to be convinced by him either as he’s another one like Necid who is yet to show his full potential. The reliance then falls back onto playmakers Tomas Rosicky and Jaroslav Plasil in midfield because nobody else makes anything happen. Fortunately for Czech Republic, those two are very effective and thus the Czech Republic can meander past lower-ranked opponents like today with some ease atypically. The Czech Republic’s defence is unquestionably good with Petr Cech in goal and the likes of Kadlec, Pospech, and Hubschmann in defence so I don’t think the hosts will concece today.
I used to rate Lithuania a lot but they’ve gone downhill in the last couple of years. They’re not scoring goals and looking at their side, I can see why. Poskus was never consistent on any stage, Beniusis isn’t good enough, which leaves Tomas Danilevicius in attack on his own which will play right into the hands of a solid Czech backline. There’s a lot of hard workers in this Baltic side but there’s not much talent. There’s far too much pressure on pacey wide-men Cesnauskis and Mikoliunas and it damages the squad if they can’t play their wide game. There’s some good players in the side i.e. new Rubin Kazan signing Arlauskis in goal and defender Stankevicius at Valencia CF but it’s not talent in the right area in terms of affecting my bet, although it should be worthwhile noting that the latter has a very long throw in which is always a threat if not defended properly. Semberas is another very good player in the side but again – he only contributes defensively. Therefore, Lithuania have a big problem scoring goals which is why they’ve scored in just one out of their last five games, which was a home game against Estonia. Their last away game resulted in a 4-0 loss against Ukraine, incidentally.
So what do we have here? A predictable Lithuanian attack in a game where they’ll come and defend against a fairly talented and able Czech Republic side that can fashion two or three goals here. Coach Bilek has already stated his intent to attack and win this game by fielding an attractive 4-2-2-2 formation in Olomouc and I think it’ll benefit the Czech side because the Lithuanians can only attack down the flanks on the counter-attack and from set pieces. Bluntly, I don’t expect a Lithuanian goal in this game but I do expect the hosts to register a couple of times although it may take them some time to break through. The odds aren’t great but I expected them to be shorter than they are so my call is the hosts to win with a -1.5 goal handicap at 10/11.
Verdict: Czech Republic to beat the -1.5 goal handicap at 10/11.
Republic of Ireland vs Andorra – second-half to contain more goals at 4/5.
I studied this game for a long time to see out value that I just know is somewhere in this game and this is the bet I’ve finally settled for. Why was I intend to bet on this game? Because as much as I love and respect the Republic of Ireland national team and their untouchable spirit, they simply don’t score goals. They did very well indeed to win in Yerevan last match against a good Armenia side, particularly as the hosts outplayed them and could easily have equalised. However, the Irish spirit was untouchable and they won the game so fair play to them. The reason that Andorra have done pretty well in recent games is because of their own spirit and physical game. Well, that’s not going to be much use to them here – Ireland will more than match them on that front. The question is where and when will the goals come? As much as I stress that it’s important to be aware that Andorra are better defensively nowadays, they still offer little in attack. I therefore expect the Irish side to triumph although the odds on that occurring offer little value, as does the handicap for a fairly impotent side. The bet I do like is for the second-half to have more goals than the first-half. Why? Well, Andorra are going to have to battle very hard here and believe me, there isn’t a harder battling side than the Irish. I think the hosts are really going to push the visitors in this game and we should see the minnows tire a lot more in the second-half as a result, particularly as none of the Andorran team play in a big league, to my knowledge, and thus their players aren’t as well-equipped as the Irish are in terms of stamina. I was tempted to call a risky half-time draw/full-time Ireland win here but the Irish could sneak a goal in the first-half. Either way, I believe we’ll see more second-half goals than first-half goals because of the above information so taking that option at 4/5 should prove to be a good bet today.
Verdict: More goals in the second-half at 4/5.
Italy vs Faroe Islands – away win with +3.5 goal handicap at 3/4.
I was initially disappointing by Faroe Islands’ poor showing at home to Serbia in their last game but it’s since been brought to my attention the cheating method in which it occurred with the Serbians scoring their first-goal via a blatant handball from Liverpool attacker Milan Jovanovic whilst lying on the ground as he pushed it into the path of Zigic and Lazovic with the latter scoring as a result. It’s also worth pointing out that the goal was offside too! I don’t think the result was unfair; Serbia were the better side. However, the scoreline flattered the Balkan side and I don’t think much should be read into it as a result. Indeed, Brian Kerr has had some bad luck of late, particularly with two late goals conceded in Estonia in their previous international game to lose 2-1 despite leading for the majority of the game. However, this luck has to end sometime and although they may not cause an upset today, I do think they can hold their hosts to at least a respectable scoreline. Why? Italy are a poor, poor side nowadays. Or is that harsh? They simply play in a stagnant league and their football suffers as a result internationally because it’s very predictable. I can’t deny the class of some of the Italians but their squad is ageing and there are few talents emerging for them to bail the country out. Italy won 2-1 in Estonia last match although how they managed it is beyond me as they were outplayed for the entire game with only controversial Antonio Cassano being able to produce moments of magic to save them. Ineded, that’s what it tends to take for Italy to win nowadays – moments of individual magic – and they’re running out of players who can do it.
These two sides met twice in 2007, just after Italy won the World Cup, and each time my call today would have been successful with Italy winning 2-1 in the Faroe Islands and winning 3-1 at home. Italy’s squad isn’t as good now as it was then but worryingly for the hosts, their age-old strength of being good at the back is starting to evade them as they’ve now played seven consecutive games in all competitions without keeping a clean sheet. They’ve faced the likes of New Zealand, Estonia, and Switzerland during that run so they’ve not exactly faced giants in each game. Faroe Islands are no mugs anymore; they’re well-organised enough to keep the scoreline respectable and maybe even steal a cheeky draw. However, the staggering statistic here is that this bet would have won the game for the away side for every home game for Italy since Italy beat Azerbaijan 4-0 in 2003. They’ve played the Faroe Islands, Scotland, Georgia, Moldova, Republic of Ireland etc. along the way and whereas I can’t say that the Faroese are as good as any of those sides (barring themselves, obviously!), I can say that they’ll be very hard to beat. I simply can’t see Italy walking away with this one so I really fancy giving the Faroese a +3.5 goal head start today.
Verdict: Faroe Islands to win with +3.5 goal handicap at 3/4.
Bosnia-Herzegovina vs France – home win at 31/20.
Bosnia bring good momentum into this game following a 3-0 thrashing of Luxembourg away from home in their last game. On paper, this is hardly a condemning scoreline but considering that the hosts had got a lot better in recent times and that Bosnia don’t travel too well, the scoreline impressed me rather a lot, to be honest. The fact is that Bosnia are rapidly becoming a very able side. Let’s not forget that only lady luck steered Portugal through to the World Cup ahead of them last year in the play-offs with Bosnia playing very well against their Iberian opponents in both legs and unusually, the Balkan side didn’t take their chances. In Sarajevo, that isn’t a problem that they often encounter with Portugal the only side to travel here and leave with a clean sheet since 2007. Whereas Bosnia’s defence is questionable, their goalscoring record is most certainly not with talented playmaker Misimovic and target man Dzeko in attack, not to mention pacey Muslimovic and midfield prospect Pjanic. There’s a lot of pace, creativity, and determination in this Bosnia side and that makes them one of the last sides that a weak France side wants to face currently so you have to give the hosts their chances here. There’s no Evra or Toulalan or Anelka for the French for obvious reasons but this only increases their inability to beat sides nowadays with each of those players playing a key role in the French side atypically. The French were weak, devoid of ideas, and susceptible at the back in their last match at home to Belarus, which ended in defeat, so I really don’t fancy them here. Confidence is low and it showed in a recent trip to Norway where they took the lead and still managed to lose. They’re not the force they once were; I really don’t fancy them here as a result.
Interestingly enough, France manager Laurent Blanc has already admitted that his side’s chances of winning in Sarajevo are slim and Bosnia’s manager Susic has boldly stated that he wouldn’t take a draw if it was offered to him pre-match. Whether this is mind games or not, I don’t know, but I really fancy Bosnia to pile further misery on a fairly uninteresting and predictable France side.
Verdict: Bosnia-Herzegovina to win at 31/20.
Scotland vs Liechtenstein – away win with +2.5 goal handicap at 4/5.
This is probably one of the bolder calls of the day and I don’t wish to offend any of our loyal Scottish punters but the odds are too good to resist. Scotland at home are a nightmare to play against for big sides because of the passionate support and tenacious players but they’re sadly lacking in quality in all areas of the park, realistically. Their in-your-face displays irritate the big boys but Liechtenstein will simply give it right back. They’re not the shit side they once were; they can defend to a certain degree now and even steal goals, as they did at Iceland in their last away match in an unexpected 1-1 draw. Scotland played out a rather dour 0-0 draw in Lithuania last match against a semi-decent opponent without impressing me particularly with their creativity but nonetheless playing at home is always different to playing away. Scotland still haven’t scored more than twice in a home game since 2007 and even then this bet today would have won with the result being 3-1. Some of Scotland’s opponents have been very hard but some haven’t so although I don’t doubt the effort of the hosts, I do doubt their incisiveness and I honestly fancy Liechtenstein to nick a goal here. For me, giving the visitors a +2.5 goal head start is very intriguing today – very intriguing indeed!
Verdict: Liechtenstein to win with a +2.5 goal handicap at 4/5.
Estonia vs Uzbekistan – home win at 10/11.
Estonia have witnessed opposite ends of the luck table in their last two games with two late goals at home to Faroe Islands turning a 1-0 loss into a 2-1 win in the space of minutes and yet despite dominating against giants Italy in their last match, they still threw a lead away and lost 2-1. One thing is for sure, however – Estonia are a very solid side at home and play well there. They lack the incision to be backed against good sides here on a regular basis but I don’t see them losing games like this – all they need to do is take their chances. Unlike some of our viewers, I rate Uzbekistan quite highly but that respect is restricted to football within Asia. Outside of Asia, they look vulnerable and predictable. They lost 3-1 in Armenia and 1-0 in Albania on their last two trips to Europe (although Armenia technically isn’t in Europe…!) as they found the European style far too hard to deal with. In Asia, Uzbekistan are the type of side to hold a 1-0 lead and that’s about it. In Europe, they concede far too easily and they’re not the kind of side who can come from behind to take anything so I really fancy Estonia to make life uncomfortable for them today. This is a friendly so do approach with caution but the odds on an Estonia win seem far too generous for me given the Uzbeks’ inability to play against European opposition.
Verdict: Estonia to win at 10/11.
Ukraine vs Chile – away win at 5/2.
I really, really like this bet. I’d like it a lot more if the game was in Donetsk at the Donbass Arena rather than in Kiev but I still like it nonetheless. Ukraine are currently without a manager (again!) and are playing like it too. They deserved to lose in Poland a few days ago despite the hosts having not played a good game of football for some time and only a last-gasp equaliser bailed the Ukrainians out. Their players don’t look strong or confident anymore, neither physically nor mentally, so I really don’t rate them at the moment. Their players are either too old and predictable or too young and ineffective. Only Aliev and Milevskiy present a different style for the Ukrainians but I don’t think that will be enough to save them. Bielsa’s Chile is young, confident, vibrant, and determined. They impressed me immensely during the World Cup with their fearless nature and capable players and although they lack in front of goal sometimes, their pace and ability is unquestionable. These two sides present a real contrast in footballing styles and at the present time, I can only see one winner here. However, we must bear in mind that Chile have taken a largely inexperienced squad here with few names, the most notable of which is experienced midfielder Rodrigo Tello. Nonetheless, the styles are still contrasting and with Bielsa very able to get the best out of his players with his relentless attacking style, I think these promising youngsters have a very good chance to cause a surprise in Ukraine today, although this should be a very interesting game and should be approached with caution!
Verdict: Chile to win at 5/2.
Argentina vs Spain – away win at 8/5.
All of you need little introduction to this game, I’m sure, so I won’t waste my time! Both sides are likely to play A/B teams because of their respective club committments but even so – I fancy Spain’s “B” team a lot more than Argentina’s. The hosts are very strong at home, particularly at the Liberti, but this isn’t the old Argentina side. They’re abysmal in defence and although their attack is good, they’re simply facing a better side than themselves. They’re not well-organised enough to win this game, in my opinion. I do think the hosts can and probably will score against a dubious Spanish defence but the Spanish side is simply better with possession and at taking their chances. I don’t care who Del Bosque fields – backing Spain to beat anyone at 8/5 with a second string still appeals to me. They’re a very good side and have the ball a lot more than any of their opponents so a Spanish win is never out of the question. They don’t tend to fare too well against fellow hispanic sides, unfortunately, so do be careful with this selection. However, the world champions are simply better than Argentina, in my opinion, so I’m on the away win today.
Verdict: Spain to win at 8/5.
Guarani Asuncion vs Union San Felipe – home win at 3/4.
My eyebrows were raised a day or two ago when I read that Guarani Asuncion sold striking prospect Federico Santander to Ligue 1 Toulouse as a replacement for Gignac. He’s barely played for Guarani so why Toulouse think he’s the next one for them is beyond me. Still, that’s there decision to make and I’ll leave them to it.
It still doesn’t explain why Guarani are as long as they are here, however. The hosts have played two consecutive seasons on the continent and have a decent level of experience as a result. They’re part-way into their domestic campaign and have already competed in the Copa Sudamericana this year by overcoming Uruguay’s River Plate Montevideo 4-4 (away goals), winning the home leg 2-0. Paraguay isn’t a particular stronghold for home sides as there isn’t much of a home advantage here to be had – well, not geographically at least. They still produce good sides, however, and Guarani are one of those sides. Guarani’s success largely hinges upon Brazilian star striker Rodrigo Teixeira bringing home the money, which he usually does and should do tonight. He’s proven to be a shrewd signing from Ecuadorian outfit Deportivo Cuenca and will be pivotal in their push for success tonight. Midfielders Caceres and Ortiz also provide a solid backbone in the middle of the park and will also be essential tonight. However, Guarani’s team would be little without their key back five – Aurrecochea in goal and the four defenders of Carballo, Filippini, Marecos, and Benitez – so these players must feature tonight for Guarani to achieve maximum success, in my opinion.
However, the inability and the inexperience of their opponents should help them a lot too. Union San Felipe have never played continental football before and this will not be the most welcoming of games for them as a result. It’s only San Felipe’s defence that got them where they are as they’re really not a great goalscoring side. Typically, the majority of their strikeforce are Argentinian with the likes of Meza and Dominguez starting more often than not. None of their players are prolific in front of goal, however, and whereas they can get away with it in Chile, I doubt they’ll experience similar joy on the continent. Midfielder Carvajal is a real prospect for them and is absolutely quintessential for this side to do anything against anyone but there’s precious few others who can change the game like he can. For me, this is not a side capable of playing in the Copa Sudamericana and whereas I don’t think we’ll see them collapse and die as a result of the above, I do think they’ll be outplayed and outscored ultimately.
For me, Guarani should be 1/2 here. Union San Felipe aren’t used to this type of game and don’t look to have the goals in them to make it count tonight. The Sudamericana is a crazy competition sometimes so nothing is certain but odds of 3/4 on a Guarani win here look very welcome indeed to me.
Verdict: Guarani Asuncion to win at 3/4.
Accumulator fodder:
Sweden, Czech Republic, Denmark, Netherlands, Croatia, Germany, Republic of Ireland, Japan, England U21, France U21, Finland U21, Belarus U21.
Recommended bets:
Netherlands -1.5, Sweden -2.5, and Germany -2.5 at evens.
As ever, if there any questions/explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below!
UEFA European Championship Qualifiers:
Russia vs Slovakia (7) under 2.5 goals
Georgia vs Israel (5) 1-1
Belarus vs Romania (7) 1-0
Malta vs Latvia (5) under 2.5 goals
Bulgaria vs Montenegro (6) over 2.5 goals
Sweden vs San Marino (10) -2.5 handicap
Hungary vs Moldova (7) under 2.5 goals
Turkey vs Belgium (5) 2-1
Republic of Macedonia vs Armenia (5) 1-0
Czech Republic vs Lithuania (8) -1.5 handicap
Albania vs Luxembourg (7) 2-0
Denmark vs Iceland (8) 2-0
Netherlands vs Finland (8) -1.5 handicap
Austria vs Kazakhstan (6) 1-0
Serbia vs Slovenia (7) 2-1
Croatia vs Greece (8) 2-0
Norway vs Portugal (5) 1-1
Germany vs Azerbaijan (10) -2.5 handicap
Republic of Ireland vs Andorra (8) -1.5 handicap
Switzerland vs England (6) under 2.5 goals
Italy vs Faroe Islands (6) 2-0
Scotland vs Liechtenstein (7) 2-1
Bosnia-Herzegovina vs France (6) 2-1
International Friendlies:
Canada vs Honduras (5) 1-2
Japan vs Guatemala (8) 2-0
South Korea vs Iran (6) 1-1
Cyprus vs Qatar (7) 2-0
United Arab Emirates vs Kuwait (6) 2-0
Poland vs Australia (7) 1-1
Estonia vs Uzbekistan (6) 2-1
Yemen vs Syria (5) 0-0
Burkina Faso vs Gabon (5) over 2.5 goals, both sides to score
Bahrain vs Togo (7) 1-1
Qatar vs Oman (7) 2-0
Jamaica vs Peru (6) 1-2
Mexico vs Colombia (7) 2-1
China vs Paraguay (6) 0-1
Ukraine vs Chile (5) 1-2
Argentina vs Spain (6) 1-2
Panama vs Trinidad & Tobago (7) 2-1
Venezuela vs Ecuador (5) 1-1
UEFA European U21 Championship Qualifiers:
Latvia vs Moldova (6) under 2.5 goals
Georgia vs Armenia (6) over 2.5 goals
England vs Lithuania (8) 2-0
Portugal vs Republic of Macedonia (8) over 2.5 goals
Scotland vs Austria (5) 1-2, draw no bet
Russia vs Romania (6) 2-1
Italy vs Wales (5) 1-1
Hungary vs Bosnia-Herzegovina (6) 1-1
Poland vs Spain (7) 1-2
Germany vs Northern Ireland (7) both sides to score
Czech Republic vs Iceland (6) 2-1
Slovakia vs Norway (6) 2-1
France vs Malta (8) 2-0
Turkey vs Republic of Ireland (6) 1-1
Finland vs Liechtenstein (8) 2-0
Israel vs Montenegro (6) 2-1
Buglaria vs Sweden (5) 1-1
Cyprus vs Serbia (5) 1-1
Ukraine vs Slovenia (7) 2-0
Belarus vs Azerbaijan (9) -1.5 handicap
Copa Sudamericana:
Guarani Asuncion vs Union San Felipe (7) 2-0
Atletico Huila vs San Jose (7) 2-1
Singaporean S-League:
Young Lions vs Beijing Guoan (6) 2-1
Uruguayan Primera Division:
Defensor Sporting vs Cerro (4) 1-1
Enjoy your free betting tips!