TFT Issue 246!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Greece U21 vs Germany U21 – away win at 11/10.
Today’s featured game is the UEFA European U21 Championship Qualifier in Greece between Greece U21 and Germany U21.
Greece U21 had a very good U21 side the last time around and I feel that they were really quite unlucky not to make it to the finals in Denmark. However, that time is gone; we now have a new batch of Greek youngsters to observe and although somewhat unpredictable, there’s definitely talent in their ranks. Everton fans would be the first to tell you that ex-Iraklis striker Vellios is a player to keep an eye on. I think the heartbeat of the team is Kaiserslautern playmaker Kostas, however – he looks a real prospect. There are other decent players, such as Feyenoord Rotterdam goalkeeper Kostas and Panathinaikos defender Anastasios, enough so to form a nucleus that has strength, basically. The Greeks have started their campaign pretty well too, even managing a 1-3 win at a very strong Belarus U21 side in their last outing so they’re not to be underestimated here.
However, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Germany U21 are the only side that I’ve seen so far this year that are capable of challenging Spain U21. They look powerful in front of goal, good on the ball, experienced, and well-organised. They’ve won five out of five thus far and shipped just one goal on the way so you can see how strong they’re rapidly becoming once more. To be fair, Germany U21 never has what I would call a “weak” side; they’re either very strong or quite strong and it’s no surprise, really, not with the Bundesliga being a solid foundation for the promising German youngsters. Bluntly, Germany U21 has a very strong team this time around and it doesn’t seem to matter who they face nor where; they always find a way through.
For me, there’s a lot of value on Germany U21 winning this game. I rate the trip to Greece as a tough one for any side, especially given their own decent players. However, Germany U21 are good enough to win here and they’ve got the power to make 11/10 look a bargain for the Germany U21 win here.
Verdict: Germany U21 to win at 11/10.
Additional games
Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Portugal – over 2 goals at 4/5.
What a dicey game this is! I remember the fuss around it last time these two sides met in an almost identical qualifier and it ended rather sourly with a dour opener in Bosnia being followed by a more open game in Portugal but with no real surprise as Portugal progressed.
So – will the same happen again here? Most probably. I like Bosnia a lot and I don’t like Portugal, to be blunt. Bosnia have what I like in a side – they work hard, they play attractive football, and they’re entertaining – whereas Portugal have a lot of overrated players and only one area of the team that I’d call great; midfield. However, the 1×2 market holds no interest for me here because no result would surprise me, really. I’d like to see Bosnia play to their potential in Zenica and really upset an overrated Portugal side but realistically speaking, it’s not likely to occur.
However, given the attacking nature of both sides, I do like the idea of there being goals in this game. Bosnia-Herzegovina are reportedly missing about three-quarters of their defence for this game and given that defending isn’t a strong area of theirs to begin with, you have to feel that even Portugal with their army of shit strikers can take advantage of the space and inexperience at the back. However, Bosnia-Herzegovina have got an arsenal of attacking talent with Misimovic and Pjanic likely to be preparing the bullets for Dzeko to shoot. There’s a lot of good players in Bosnia’s attack and they’re genuinely not a side to write off, in my view.
Bosnia could cause a surprise here but Portugal have the best player in the world for me – Ronaldo – and thus we can never write them off. However, there should be goals here and with the above in mind, taking over 2 goals at 4/5 looks very interesting today.
Verdict: Over 2 goals at 4/5.
Ukraine U21 vs Finland U21 – home win at 4/5.
I can’t grasp these odds, really. Ukraine U21 always have a good U21 side and Finland U21’s is decent but nothing special this time around. Finland’s big problem is that their talented players are immediately taken to the senior team ala Teemu Pukki. Ukraine U21 have a similar issue but have much more depth than Finland U21. I suppose you could argue that Ukraine U21 haven’t been great thus far and I’d agree; on paper, losing 2-0 at Slovenia U21 and drawing 2-2 at Malta U21 isn’t great. However, we are looking at one of the best Slovenia U21 squads for some time and we have to bear in mind that Ukraine U21 took a very under-strength squad to Malta; let’s see how they do with a full compliment on home soil. Finland U21 has players that I like, I have to admit – Roope Riski and Lauri Dalla Valle are very talented attackers. However, they’ve had a couple of withdrawals with goalkeepers Sahlgren and Viitala being ruled out and promising central midfielder Ring isn’t even in the squad so Finland do have a couple of issues here. There’s definitely potential in this Finland U21 squad, I have to say – however, their depth is very thin and their strength isn’t great either so a trip to Ukraine U21 should really be a no-brainer home win in my view.
Verdict: Ukraine U21 to win at 4/5.
Team news
Internationals
Czech Republic – Hubnik and Hubschman are absent. Cech and Baros are doubts.
Montenegro – Basa is absent.
Russia – Kerzhakov and Pogrebnyak are absent.
Italy – Cassano, Rossi, and Barzagli are absent.
Poland – Boenisch is absent. Perquis, Polanski, Obraniak, and Rybus are doubts.
Romania – Lobont, Pantilimon, Sapunaru, Tamas, Moti, Grigore, Alexa, Petre, Nicolita, Zicu, Sanmartean, Marica, Mutu, and M.Niculae are absent.
Serbia – Vidic, Subotic, Basta, Tosic, Sulejmani, and Fejsa are absent.
Bulgarian A PFG:
Rakovski – Vasilev is absent.
Cherno More Varna – Kotev and Iliev are absent. Palominho returns.