Gabon vs Brazil
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Today’s secondary featured game is the International Friendly in Africa between Gabon and Brazil.
So – Gabon. They’re a side capable of springing the odd surprise but for me, they were at their best a few years ago when Daniel Cousin was making a name for himself. He’s getting a bit old nowadays and although Meye and Mouloungui can cause problems, it’s not really an attack that I fear, not against such a good Brazil team. Gabon are trying to force through some youngsters such as Girondins de Bordeaux midfielder Poko and Celta de Vigo midfielder Madlinda but it’s a bit of a tough time for Gabon and it’s beginning to show. Some players have a lot of experience but most don’t, in all honesty, and as desperate as they’re bound to be to beat a heavyweight such as Brazil, I just don’t see them having the quality or the composure to damage their South American opponents today.
Brazil are in Africa for a week or so taking in Gabon and Egypt respectively to test the two alternative styles of African nations. Brazil have taken some players with them to Africa as a “trial”, so to speak, hence neither Neto or Diego Alves (goalkeepers) having a single cap between them, for example. However, what they have brought is an experienced defence to help out their goalkeepers with Luisao, Thiago Silva, Daniel Alves, and David Luiz amonst the players summoned. Even samba full-back Fabio has experience from his time with Manchester United, to be honest. This Brazil defence is good enough to keep a clean sheet here. In midfield, they’ve opted for more of an experimental approach with some talented players and some potentially talented players making up the numbers. Ever-impressive workhorse Sandro from Tottenham Hotspur is in the squad and I’m looking forward to see how he does here. We could also see Willian from Shakhtar Donetsk, hardman Luiz Gustavo from Bayern Munich, Lazio playmaker Hernanes, or even Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Fernandinho, all of which are good players. I’m concerned enough by the presence of Kleber and Jonas up front to avoid the handicap here but Hulk’s presence comforts me as I rate the powerful attacker rather highly, in all honesty – I just hope they don’t field Kleber as he’s simply not ready yet, in my view. All in all, though, we have a good Brazil squad – my only concern lies in whether they gel or not.
So we have a relatively inexperienced and lacking in firepower host entertaining a good Brazil side with an experienced defence. Taking the unders here would interest me as a side bet but I’ll stick to taking Brazil to win to nil as I don’t envision this game ending without Brazil scoring at somepoint but they should be composed enough to keep their hosts out. Therefore, taking Brazil to win to nil at 10/11 looks appealing here.
Verdict: Brazil to win to nil at 10/11.
Thursday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, please find my value tips listed below in no particular order:
Switzerland U21 vs Georgia U21 – home win with -2 Asian Handicap at 4/5.
Surprisingly enough, Switzerland U21 have managed to produce another cracking U21 side despite the heroics of their last team – it seemed an impossible feat but here we are adorning yet more superb Swiss displays! I mean, seriously – they were missing around six regulars for their home game with Croatia U21 and still destroyed their Balkan opponents, running out 4-0 winners in a very one-sided game. Since then, they’ve taken on a tough trip to Georgia U21 and won 0-1 and just look to be getting stronger as time goes by. There’s pace, finesse, and plenty of creativity in this Swiss side and I like watching them an awful lot, in all honesty. This Swiss U21 side can cause another surprise or two in this qualifying campaign and a dominant home win would not surprise me at all here.
Georgia U21 are not a side that I will bet against lightly. True enough, their firepower is rather weak and it shows in most of their games. However, they have a terrific sense of unity and their defence can be strong when it’s allowed to be. What I mean by that is that they’ll gather strength from their opponents if their opponents spurn good opportunities. However, if they do concede then they tend to fall apart as they’re not great at attacking. Ok, they were facing Spain U21 in their two previous games to their home game with Switzerland U21 but it’s no surprise at all that they capitulated after conceding, ultimately conceding more goals as they try to push on. Given the pace of the Swiss attack, I do think that Georgia will concede an early goal here and we could and should see a one-sided result here.
U21 football is not an exact science; far from it. However, if this game goes to plan, we really should expect a dominant home win from a very impressive Switzerland U21 side, hence my call of the -2 Asian Handicap.
Verdict: Switzerland U21 to beat the -2 Asian Handicap at 4/5.
Accumulator fodder:
Brazil, Russia U21, England U21, Slovenia U21, Switzerland U21, Spain U21, Velez Sarsfield.
Recomended bets:
I don’t like any multiples today, sorry guys!
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts to prevent endless questions about my thoughts on certain games!
International Friendly:
Gabon vs Brazil (8) 0-2
UEFA European U21 Championship Qualifiers:
Albania vs Russia (8) 0-2
Turkey vs Italy (6) 1-2
Slovenia vs Lithuania (8) -1.5 handicap
Austria vs Bulgaria (7) 2-0
Norway vs Belgium (6) 2-1
Switzerland vs Georgia (8) -1.5 handicap
England vs Iceland (9) -1.5 handicap
France vs Romania (7) 1-0
Spain vs Estonia (9) -1.5 handicap
Portugal vs Moldova (7) 2-0
Copa Sudamericana:
Velez Sarsfield vs Liga de Quito (8) 2-0
Enjoy your free betting tips!