World Cup Matches This Weekend
World cup qualifying gets under way this weekend with the home nations all playing matches. There’s a host of matches taking place and a variety of bets available. We’ve selected some which we hope will point you in the direction of a few winners.
England are in Spain playing minnows Andorra in their first game and if they don’t win Fabio Capello can pack up and leave the country! It’s said there are no easy games in International competitions these day’s but believe us this is one. England are 1/50 (Coral) to win and Andorra are 109/1 (Betfair). It’s unlikely that anyone would want to back England at that price and if you want to back Andorra…well just give your money to charity instead!
It’s just going to be a matter of how many England score and you could hope that they have an off day and win 1-0 16/1 (Coral). We think 4-0 5/1 (Partybets) or 4-1 22/1 (Coral) could be worth a little interest. Gareth Barry to score anytime at 9/2 (Partybets) could be worth an interest and Emile Heskey to get the first goal at 5/1 (Skybet) also catches our interest.
Scotland travel to Macedonia and could be in for a tough match. Scotland have had quite a few players drop out the squad due to injury and they don’t look great value to us at 6/5 (Paddypower). The conditions in Macedonia are going to be unbearably hot and Scotland won’t be able to play the high tempo pressing game that served them so well in the Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Macedonia have drawn at home to Poland and Serbia this year in friendlies and at 2/1 (Skybet) are no forlorn hopes. Scotland are still looking for their first win under George Burley and we think they may not get it here and might well have to settle for a draw 43/20 (Bodog). We’re going for a 1-1 correct score at 5/1 (VCbet) with Darren Fletcher to be the first goalscorer at 16/1 (bet365).
Wales have been hit with a lot of injuries leading up to their first qualifying game and luckily it’s against Azerbaijan who have only managed to win one game in the last two years. Wales should still have enough talent on show to win the match 4/11 (Partybets) and we think they’ll win comfortably. Azerbaijan are managed by Bertie Vogts and after his disastrous spell as Scotland boss it looks as if Wales shouldn’t have too much to worry about.
Wales to win 3-0 9/1 (Ladbrokes) looks worth a bob or two.
Northern Ireland play Slovakia away from home and must be in with a chance of kicking of their campaign with a win against a team who haven’t won in their last six matches. Northern Ireland look as if they can win this match and the 7/2 (bet365) being offered is attractive.
Georgia are the Republic of Ireland’s opponents and with this tie now being played in the neutral venue of Mainz in Germany it doesn’t look quite as tricky as a trip to Tbilisi might have been. 4/5 (Ladbrokes) for an Ireland win doesn’t look too bad a price and the 2-0 correct score 7/1 (VCbet) is our prediction of the final result.