TFT Issue 500!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Please bet with caution today. International games are dubious at the best of times! My advice would be to heed what is written, watch them, and decide if you want to get involved or not because International games have torn apart many punters in the past and they will in the future too.
Incidentally, I find it hard to write previews for these games because there are so many variants so apologies if you’re disappointed.
Featured game
Netherlands vs Turkey – over 2.5 goals at 4/5.
Today’s featured game is the World Cup Qualifier between Netherlands and Turkey.
People are doubting whether the Dutch are worth the short odds here or not. I can understand that, given their below-par display against Belgium and woeful defending. Quality-wise, they’re absolutely worth it, irrespective of the fact that van Gaal has named a few kids in his squad. Netherlands have quality players that we all know about but they’re fortuitously facing a side that is even less organised than they are today in Turkey. Turkey have some quality attacking players but their attempts at defending are ridiculous at best. The injury to Volkan Demirel is far from ideal so it’s hard to envision Turkey keeping a clean sheet here. Still, they’re good enough to attack and score goals against a fairly average Dutch defence and let’s face it; realistically speaking, that’s their only option here. I think we’ll see an open game of football here and both sides attract goals, one way or another, so I have to consider taking over 2.5 goals at 4/5 as a good value bet today.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at 4/5.
Additional games
Malta vs Armenia – over 2.5 goals at evens.
Malta are no world-beaters but they’re a handful at home, especially with striker Michael Mifsud a constant threat with his pace. They’ve scored in four out of their last five home games in all competitions and will often cause problems for Malta’s opponents. Well-organised sides such as Croatia and Georgia have both had hard tasks here so I expect the same of Armenia. Still, Armenia are very strong in attack, despite their woeful attempts at defending, especially against pace. As long as Armenia take their chances and stop having men sent off unnecessarily then we should see over 2.5 goals here. Malta rarely keep clean sheets so I think there’s a better chance of this game going over 2.5 goals than the bookies do.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at evens.
Estonia vs Romania – over 2 goals at 4/5.
This is bold in the sense that the majority of Romania’s away games crash under 2.5 goals due to their strong defensive approach. However, in most away games, Romania adopt a defensive approach as their hosts tend to be favourites. Romania love to be underdogs. For today’s game, though, they’re favourites and I don’t rate Romania as favourites as they do tend to crumble under pressure. Now, I expect Romania to have some joy here as Estonia’s problems at centre-back continued with Piiroja, Stepanov etc. all still out of the squad. However, Estonia are a very underrated side with some very talented attacking players such as Vassiljev and Dmitrijev, not to mention a gifted finisher in Saag. Estonia score in the majority of their home games and I expect them to do the same today. For me, 4/5 on over 2 goals is well worth a flutter today.
Verdict: Over 2 goals at 4/5.
Iceland vs Norway – home win with draw no bet at 7/5.
I’ve raved about the Icelandic national side before and I’m going to do so again today because it’s simply the best side that they’ve ever produced, for my money. There are so many talented attacking players that they consistently trouble each side that they encounter. Norway struggled to handle Iceland in their home game, requiring a late goal to win the game. Norway have a good squad themselves nowadays but this is a much harder game than it looks. They’ve looked suspect in defence in their past few games too, shipping six goals in three games. They’ve not won a competitive game on the road since October 2010 and I think that a spirited and dangerous Iceland side can beat them today. For me, the odds on Iceland winning with draw no bet looks very long at 7/5 and thus it interests me today.
Verdict: Iceland to win with draw no bet at 7/5.
Team news
World Cup Qualifiers:
Turkey – Volkan Demirel is absent.
Norway – Carew, Gamst Pedersen, Rogne, Grindheim, and Huseklepp are absent. Parr returns.
Netherlands – van der Vaart, Anita, Afellay, Maher, de Jong, and van der Wiel are absent.
Russia – Pavlyuchenko and Arshavin are absent.
Belgium – de Camargo, Pocognoli, and de Ceulaer are absent.
Finland – Uronen is absent. Maenpaa and Riku Riski are doubts.
France – Rami, Giroud, and Koscielny are absent.
Poland – Sobiech, Gol, Mierzejewski, and Kaminski are absent.
Bulgaria – Berbatov, M.Petrov, S.Petrov, and Georgiev are absent.
Italy – Balotelli and Cassano are absent. De Rossi is a doubt.
Portugal – No absentees.
Portugal U21 – No absentees.
Romania – No absentees.
Croatia – Badelj, Lovren, and Petric are absent.
Hungary – Pinter is absent.
Estonia – Piiroja and Stepanov are absent.
Israel – Gershon, Kayal, Ben-Haim, and Rafaelov are absent.