Rivaldo Exclusive: Brazil looking for extra confidence before the World Cup

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ahead of a double header of friendly matches for Brazil, including one against England at Wembley, Rivaldo talks exclusively about the current squad, the excitement at facing the big nations, and the teams he expects to raise their game in Russia next summer...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tite making final adjustments in the squad</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After such an excellent South American qualifying phase from his national team, Tite has no need to produce many changes in the squad as we can see from the players he has picked for these upcoming friendlies.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Diego and Diego Souza will have their chance to convince the manager, and just like Cássio, are missing their club's fixtures at a crucial moment of Brazilian Championship, but we all know that any player loves to play for his national team.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even if the clubs could feel a little upset about it, it's fair to mention that Tite needs to evaluate his players before the World Cup, so he has to bring the players he wants in order to observe them properly.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Japan as warm-up before England clash</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brazil has two friendlies between Friday and next Tuesday and I'm expecting Tite to give an opportunity to most of his players.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The team is very confident after good exhibitions and results recently and should have no problems to beat Japan. The match could begin a little tough, but with so many Brazilian fans in Paris, and all the media around Neymar, I believe that Brazil will play seriously and will end up winning this comfortably.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Tuesday, it's time to face England - a much bigger threat with lots of tradition and also a World Cup title.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are the matches that any player likes to play, against the stronger teams. When I was playing for Brazil, these kind of big clashes were my favourite and I believe that players such as Philippe Coutinho and Neymar are eager to make an impression on the pitch.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For that reason, and even considering that would be a much tougher match than Japan, Brazil (1.88 to win) should have conditions to beat the English team at the magnificent Wembley Stadium.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brazil is always favorite at World Cups; but don't discount Argentina and Italy</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the World Cup getting closer, it's time to check the favourites, which tend to be the same in every competition.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brazil - 7.20 - are obviously among the favourite to be crowned world champions, but in these kinds of competitions any distraction could be crucial. After the group phase, each match is decisive and that leads to lots of pressure. I reached two World Cup Finals and I can say it was hard to achieve it.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other fancied nations are Argentina, 9.80, and Italy, 23.00.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many could argue that Argentina were below par at South American qualifying, but Brazil had the same problem to qualify into the 2002 World Cup, and ended up World Champions. They have players with vast experience and when the time comes they'll be ready to compete at the highest level.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The same could be said about Italy, which is still fighting for their place at the World Cup. Believe me, if they get there, we must take them seriously.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Italian national team is specialist in getting results, no matter what they need to do to achieve it. Their defensive skills are superb, and getting through the group phase, they could create lots of problems in matches with lots of pressure.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the traditional national teams must be considered by now, and even if they are not referred as potential winners, everything can happen in the latter stages of a competition like this.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvC8fnKrz2jzmDJnGzcNULFIxo4cDuglCuijy5-0lirMkpvAMugpDobX0vNtBehgqjmACo94_fYf7P0tFOUQ-5EdVs_6rveNf4cyQz1Bu4HspnsIrIHvGRY3FP0Kuv9I67eIF0OUERzl4/s1600/nintchdbpict000311181980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvC8fnKrz2jzmDJnGzcNULFIxo4cDuglCuijy5-0lirMkpvAMugpDobX0vNtBehgqjmACo94_fYf7P0tFOUQ-5EdVs_6rveNf4cyQz1Bu4HspnsIrIHvGRY3FP0Kuv9I67eIF0OUERzl4/s640/nintchdbpict000311181980.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>

Rivaldo Exclusive: Brazil looking for extra confidence before the World Cup

Ahead of a double header of friendly matches for Brazil, including one against England at Wembley, Rivaldo talks exclusively about the curre...

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The Punter's In-Play Blog: Dubuisson leads tricky looking heat at halfway

<div class="entry-body__intro" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They're reached the halfway stage of the Nedbank Golf Challenge and Victor Dubuisson has hit the front. Is he a good thing at <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/1"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">5.10</span></span> with 36 holes to play? Read what our man thinks here...</span></div> <div class="entry-story" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17:45 - November 10, 2017</span></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second round of the <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">OHL Classic at Mayakoba</span></strong> is well underway and I'll be back tomorrow with a look at the state of play at halfway but I have had one in-running play already. I backed Si Woo Kim after he'd played the back-nine today but he did nothing after that until he birdied the eighth hole (his 17th) so it looks like a stray bullet. A few of my picks have done OK so far but for now I'm going to concentrate on the <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Nedbank Golf Challenge</span></strong>, where Victor Dubuisson leads by two after 36 holes.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lightening put pay to play with the leaders still having three holes left but they eventually came out and finished up so here are the current standings with prices to back at 17:35</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Victor Dubuisson -6</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/1">5.10</span></strong></span></div> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Lee Westwood -4</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="9/1"></span><span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="9/1"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">9.80</span></span><br />Darren Fichardt -4 <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="31/1"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">32.00</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Tyrrell Hatton -3 <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="6/1"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">7.00</span></span><br />Alex Noren -3 <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="8/1"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">9.00</span></span><br />Ross Fisher -3 <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="8/1"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">9.20</span></span><br />Scott Jamieson -3 <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="45/1"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">46.00</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Martin Kaymer -2 <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="28/1"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">29.00</span></span><br />Charl Schwartzel -2 <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="17/1"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">18.00</span></span></div> </span></strong><div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">-1 and <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="23/1">24.00</span> bar</span></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />It was an interesting, mainly tough, and long second round. A <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">troublesome wind caused havoc</strong> early on and scoring was erratic before play was suspended. The day one leader, Bernd Wiesberger, had an horrific day, shooting a five-over-par 77 to drop to a tie for 17th and Branden Grace, who sat tied for second behind the Austrian after round one, played his first eight holes in six-over-par! He's now just a stroke better than Wiesberger and that was thanks to a terrific finish. He shot 42 on the front-nine and 33 on the back-nine.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dubbuisson dropped a shot at the last hole but he's been very impressive up to now, playing some very neat and tidy golf in the worst of the winds. This is the first time he's held a clear lead at halfway but he's been tied for the lead through 36 holes three times previously.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He ran away with the Turkish Airlines Open in 2013 (his first title) but failed on the next two occasions - losing a playoff at the Nordea Masters to Thongchai Jaidee in 2014 before losing his way badly at the Open de France in 2015. He eventually finished 12th in Paris, beaten by 11 strokes.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not convinced we can read anything in to that last poor effort in-the-mix and he <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">looks fairly priced given how well he's playing</strong> but this isn't an event to get stuck in to. Dubuisson is a notoriously unpredictable character who'd much prefer to be fishing than playing golf and there are a number of players within three of his lead that look dangerous.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lee Westwood</strong> has won here twice before so has to be respected but he's a very poor putter nowadays and Darren Fichardt is surely out of his depth in this company. He only got in at the last minute when Anthony Wall withdrew with a bad back yesterday morning so he's running free but he's not great in-contention and I fully expect him to fall away. The dangers to Dubuisson look to be looming a bit further and three of the four players on three-under-par all look ominously placed.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tyrrell Hatton was disappointing after a fast start in Turkey last week but after back-to-back wins last month he's clearly in form and <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ross Fisher</strong>, who finished second to Hatton on both occasions, can't be dismissed lightly. Apart from his strange week in China a fortnight ago, Fisher has been playing superbly and he loves the course. And so does <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Alex Noren</strong>, who won by six 12 months ago having trailed by six with a round to go.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Throw in the proximity of past winner, Martin Kaymer, and the two big South African guns, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen, and we've got a wide open event that looks one to avoid at present.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nedbank Golf Challenge Pre-Event Selections:<br /><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Kiradech Aphibarnrat @</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="39/1">40.00</span><br />Dylan Frittelli @ <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="64/1">65.00</span></strong></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">OHL Classic at Mayakoba Pre-Event Selections:<br /><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Chesson Hadley @</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="27/1">28.00</span><br />Zach Johnson @ <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="37/1">38.00</span><br />Russel Knox @ <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="79/1">80.00</span><br />Brian Stuard @ <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="149/1">150.00</span><br />Fabián Gómez @ <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="499/1">500.00</span></strong></span></div> <span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></span><div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />In-Play Pick:<br /><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Si Woo Kim @ </span><span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="45/1">46.00</span></span></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOlUc9O1f7qN3zqqklLTQDMipIaVaqbW5WhlNoFQseGcGTZAHMIKRyCbS5QZU_Su4ckJwf63EZpZMC0jJ1CqkqJwlub3uf7HbDBv0WGLIQcO9SsQU29L0slk_1JtoLk6V93BeSbtMSLk/s1600/Victor+Dubuisson+%2528720%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOlUc9O1f7qN3zqqklLTQDMipIaVaqbW5WhlNoFQseGcGTZAHMIKRyCbS5QZU_Su4ckJwf63EZpZMC0jJ1CqkqJwlub3uf7HbDBv0WGLIQcO9SsQU29L0slk_1JtoLk6V93BeSbtMSLk/s640/Victor+Dubuisson+%2528720%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> </div>

The Punter's In-Play Blog: Dubuisson leads tricky looking heat at halfway

They're reached the halfway stage of the Nedbank Golf Challenge and Victor Dubuisson has hit the front. Is he a good thing at  5.10  wi...

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Mike Holden on the Football League: Lowe can brush aside Lovell

<div class="entry-body__intro" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's the battle of the caretakers at Priestfield this weekend and timing appears to favour Bury boss Ryan Lowe against his Gillingham counterpart Steve Lovell...</span></div> <div class="entry-story" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Gillingham v Bury</span><br />Saturday 15:00</span></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two novice caretaker managers go head to head at Priestfield and there's value in siding with the one who still has most to prove. Take the <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="13/8"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>2.62</b></span></span> available on <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bury giving Ryan Lowe's prospects a boost</strong> against an in-form Gillingham side, whose players might soon be wondering what else they have to do to land Steve Lovell the job on a full-time basis.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Gills have won four out of six matches since Lovell picked up the reins from Peter Taylor last month, the 57-year-old Welshman having previously galvanised the club as a prominent member of the "Gang of Four" that preceded Justin Edinburgh. <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But owner Paul Scally is playing hard to get</strong>, insisting the club needs experience.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, it's possible that Scally has taken this stance purely to see how much the players are prepared to rally behind Lovell, a motivational tool that he intends to milk for all it's worth. But there comes a point when over-performing players run out of steam and <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">we're now reaching the stage where free-spirited opportunity turns into heavy obligation</strong>.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, while Scally is keeping his cards close to his chest, <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stewart Day has been dangling a carrot for Lowe</strong> in the search for a successor to Lee Clark. The ambitious Bury owner has been telling local media how open-minded he is about appointing from within and imploring the popular 39-year-old Liverpudlian to give it his best shot.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lowe knows he has at least three games to make his mark and he started with a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup at non-league Woking, where the Shakers withstood a barrage from their highly-motivated hosts. And they followed that up with <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a stylish 3-1 win over Stoke Under-23s in the Checkatrade Trophy</strong>, in which they were three goals ahead inside 20 minutes.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But while skipper Phil Edwards is keen to get the message out that Lowe's approach to training and tactics is like a breath of fresh air, it should be clear to everyone that this is the bread-and-butter clash on which he'll be judged. If Bury fail to win, Day will surely step up his efforts to recruit a bigger name before <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">next week's Lancashire derby with Blackburn</strong>.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended bet:<br /><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">1pt Bury to beat Gillingham at</span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="13/8">2.62</span></span></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Barnet v Colchester</span><br />Saturday 15:00</strong></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Colchester were the biggest losers in the FA Cup first round last weekend, going down 1-0 at home to National League South outfit Oxford City - a team 56 places below them in the football pyramid. <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Now John McGreal will be looking for a reaction</strong> after withholding his biggest names from Checkatrade Trophy action in midweek.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The U's were just 1.30 to beat the sixth-tier strugglers and their limp defeat was all the more surprising because they came into the game in decent shape, having taken 13 points from the last available 18, a sample that included <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">eye-catching wins over Mansfield and Newport</strong>. So complacency might explain what then unfolded, as the dynamic shifted to knockout football.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, if there's going to be a backlash, performance data over the past six weeks would suggest the visitors offer great value at <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="15/8"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>2.90</b></span></span> here. Based on the whole 16 rounds, the prices are probably about right. But when you split that sample in two, you discover <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the two teams are heading on wildly diverging paths</strong>.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Barnet are in dreadful form under Rossi Eames</strong>. Since mid-September, their shot ratio has plummeted from a promising 54.5% over the first eight matches (ranked 10th) to a sorry 36.4 per cent (22nd) in the last eight. Colchester, on the other hand, have raised their dominance of chance creation from 50 per cent (13th) to an impressive 58 per cent (fifth).</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doubts over the availability of Jamal Campbell-Ryce also count against the home side. The winger-turned-playmaker pulled up lame in the warm-up prior to last weekend's routine 3-1 FA Cup defeat against much-changed Blackburn. That result means <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the Bees are now winless in 12 and they haven't scored twice in the same game since September 9</strong>.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended bet:<br /><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">1pt Colchester to beat Barnet at </span><span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="13/8">2.66</span></span></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qaATZOClivJeqbpAdIbBQQloZfKpUIgIqUHLOsPFo-sXQ5KXJCdcbYnURWlO1GWbuKKXWPM5qtSykEaPkVQ-EbC68GFys6MFwZYxeuahGXKbNLIzjYKzravGFUhpU1_koBr150OymPI/s1600/ryanlowe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1280" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qaATZOClivJeqbpAdIbBQQloZfKpUIgIqUHLOsPFo-sXQ5KXJCdcbYnURWlO1GWbuKKXWPM5qtSykEaPkVQ-EbC68GFys6MFwZYxeuahGXKbNLIzjYKzravGFUhpU1_koBr150OymPI/s640/ryanlowe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> </div>

Mike Holden on the Football League: Lowe can brush aside Lovell

It's the battle of the caretakers at Priestfield this weekend and timing appears to favour Bury boss Ryan Lowe against his Gillingham c...

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Rugby International: Wales v Australia

<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wales vs Australia<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Sunday 4:15am<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />at Principality Stadium, Cardiff</span></strong><br /> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></strong> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Wallabies begin the European leg of their spring tour with a trip to Millennium stadium in Cardiff to face the might of the Welsh dragon.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Selection News</span></strong></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is expected to welcome back gun pivots Will Genia and Bernard Foley into the halves. This will push Nick Phipps back to the bench, whilst Reece Hodge is expected to shift back to the wing with Wallabies staff reportedly looking to stick with the powerful Fijian centre paring of Samu Kerevi and Tevita Kurindrani who combined for 5 tries a piece last week in Japan. The forward pack will remain unchanged with the return of Lukhan Tui from a hamstring injury pushed back another week.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With Welsh veteran Jamie Roberts not named in Gatland’s spring squad, Owen Williams is expected to partner Johnathan Davies in the centres in a shift away from the ball-crashing midfield Wales have favoured under their NZ born coach.  The big news this week is the race against the clock for Lions pair Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb who remain 50-50 chances of lining up at Millennium stadium on Sunday morning (AEDT).</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last time they met</span></strong></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5<sup style="box-sizing: border-box;">th</sup> November 2016 – Australia 32 – 8 Wales</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stat that matters</span></strong></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Australia have had the wood on their Welsh counterparts in recent times defeating them on each of the last 12 occasions, dating right back to 2008. Traditionally close affairs, 11 of those 12 clashes have been decided by 9 points or fewer, the only exception was the corresponding clash last year in which Bernard Foley and Adam Coleman put on absolute clinic to ensure a thumping 32-8 Wallabies victory.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key Match-up</span></strong></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alan Wyn-Jones vs Adam Coleman</span></strong></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lions skipper Alan Wyn-Jones will be looking to continue the form of the June Lions Series when he leads a young Welsh pack into battle in Cardiff. The veteran is a master at set piece time and the Wolf feels if there is one aspect that the Wales can really get some ascendency it will be at scrum and line out time. Adam Coleman is the man in charge of ensuring that doesn’t happen. It was only this time last year that the Tasmanian born second rower came of age with a dominant performance against Wales on the 2016 spring tour. He is now arguably the Wallabies most important player, running the line outs and providing much needed grunt up front.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Form</span></strong></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Wallabies were impressive last week in Yokohama scoring some scintillating tries against the Japanese to continue their 7 match unbeaten run. It is set to be Wales’ first proper test match since the six nations but the core of the squad played a part in the Lions’ historic drawn series in New Zealand so you expect will come in full of confidence.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How it’s shaping</span></strong></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make no mistake this is a very difficult first assignment for Michael Cheika’s men. Wales under Warren Gatland are a different beast to the side that was trounced 12 months ago, particularly with big names Leigh Halfpenny and Johnathan Davies returning. The Wolf is predicting a see-sawing encounter but with both Justin Tipuric and Sam Warburton ruled out through injury, Michael Hooper and Sean McMahon will be able to run riot and will ultimately prove the difference for the Wallabies in an entertaining affair on the banks of the River Taff.</span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Final Thoughts</span></strong></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wallabies by 2</span></strong></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended bets</span></strong></div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"></strong></span><br /> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Best bet: Australia WIN ($1.62)</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit;">Value bet: First scoring play – Australia TRY ($5.00) </span></span></strong></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkv80J0dlUIm4jgkqCq4J7jG4O-2IWbpZ7UDQJAvhs5EAZYIjOrco21YDrW-sxV2lIFowH5sCo5JkMIpZFNciuydWdjn8u6nHwMiAtCJu2NKXYyLiVlOWMx8A2nJ2gy4P3NXzWZM1oDdA/s1600/wales_huddle_pre_australia.jpg_rdax_1920x1124_65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1600" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkv80J0dlUIm4jgkqCq4J7jG4O-2IWbpZ7UDQJAvhs5EAZYIjOrco21YDrW-sxV2lIFowH5sCo5JkMIpZFNciuydWdjn8u6nHwMiAtCJu2NKXYyLiVlOWMx8A2nJ2gy4P3NXzWZM1oDdA/s640/wales_huddle_pre_australia.jpg_rdax_1920x1124_65.jpg" width="640" /></a><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit;"><br /></span></span></strong></div>

Rugby International: Wales v Australia

Wales vs Australia Sunday 4:15am at Principality Stadium, Cardiff The Wallabies begin the European leg of their spring tour with a trip t...

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Doncaster Rovers v Rotherham United: Not the time to back Fergie's men

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doncaster Rovers v Rotherham United </span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday, 12:30 </span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live on Sky Sports Football</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Match Odds</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This will be the first meeting between these two sides since 2007, and it's Doncaster that hold sway on the market with their 2.48 price. Rovers reside in a lowly 17th position in League One, whilst Rotherham are hovering around the playoff places in 7th - yet are much bigger at 2.96. If they push 2/1 come Saturday, that is a big price.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, to temper the excitement on Rotherham's numbers here and be a killjoy, their away form has been holding them back. A record of just two victories and five defeats on the road is somewhat disparate to their rip-roaring home form. If only they could do both.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Millers are 5/4 on the Sportsbook for a Top Six Finish.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't have Doncaster here. Their form coming into this reads WLWL and are typical of a League One side and all their inconsistencies. At home they picked up wins against Portsmouth (2-1) and Southend (4-1), yet lost the following game 0-3 to Walsall. They are that sort of team, and I certainly would want 3/1 or bigger if I were to back Darren Ferguson's men. They could win this of course, but I don't trust them as favourites.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rovers were drawing plenty of games at the start of the season (first three were 0-0, 3-3 and 0-0), so I wouldn't put anyone off trading the outright Draw from around the 3.65 mark.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Form Coming Into The Game</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was something of a mixed bag FA Cup-wise last weekend for the pair. Rotherham were knocked out by Crewe, but I can accept that, as Paul Warne's men have priorities in getting out of this division. Doncaster's knockout clash was a thrilling 6-2 win against Ebbsfleet - a game in which they were two goals down. Not so thrilling early on for Fergie.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In terms of League One form; Doncaster gained a 0-1 victory in their latest outing versus Bury. The Shakers lost their best player in Jermaine Beckford on 38 minutes, and were also reduced to 10 men through a red card. It was gritty if anything else from Rovers, but the result might be somewhat misleading. Opta stats inform us that Doncaster are looking to win back-to-back league games for the first time this term.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rotherham surprisingly lost at home 1-3 to Gillingham in their most recent fixture, and were held 3-3 before that at Oxford. According to Opta; Rotherham haven't gone two games unbeaten on their travels since April 2016.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Warne's side gained a 0-1 victory in the live Sky TV clash against Portsmouth earlier this season, and it could be that sort of game - with the 0-1 Correct Score of interest at 10.50.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The loss to Gillingham was a harsh one to take, as the defence switched-off for two set-pieces. The bete noire of a third tier team.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over/Under 2.5 Goals</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Millers are a Jekyll and Hyde team. At home they bang in the goals and look all-over a promotion-winning side. At the New York they have won six and netted 22 (the most in League One), yet their excursions are not quite matching those home exploits with just seven goals scored in eight games - losing five to boot.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rotherham have only hit the Over 2.5 target in away games three times, and it's the same 3/8 record for the Both Teams To Score.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hosts are not anymore impressive with a 4/8 ratio on the Over 2.5 Goals. Donny are best when the play a 3-4-3 system that allows Jordan Houghton to play as the protector. It worked for the Bury win, and also was utilised in the 2-1 victory over Portsmouth.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ferguson's side have at times played some attacking football this term and they like to keep the ball - however the Bury victory was a polar opposite to those principles. But it worked.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To Score Market</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All eyes will be on 6ft 5in striker Kieffer Moore (although with that height it will be hard to miss him). The on-loan Ipswich forward has hit 12 goals in 16 appearances this season - which is more than any other player in the top-four tiers of English football. A not too unsurprising price of 2.06 awaits in this market, but it must be remembered that only two of his 12 have come away from home. There's mileage in a lay at those odds.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For Doncaster, Andy Williams needs to break his duck. He hasn't scored in five League One appearances thus far, yet he got himself into plenty of good positions against Bury. His odds are 2.84.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Opta point us towards Ben Whiteman - who has scored four of Doncaster's last six league goals. Only John Marquis (five) has netted more this season. Whiteman is a healthy 3.90 with Marquis at 2.36.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bets</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back Rotherham United Draw No Bet 0.5pt @ 2.14 </span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lay Kieffer Moore to Score 0.5pt @ 2.06</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA1VPdd_nFKPbg8gc98CJ0AaDuX4tFGJnekSIlFZJ52n5KK_DWP3azK4nsRn-mHISUI3LTvq3-_MKSpbWcc0YmEAUFCnkPzvjCXZNS4PzdlWhhKe2Nahfg-cBYBp1GdmbabwicGwQcb8/s1600/Large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1360" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA1VPdd_nFKPbg8gc98CJ0AaDuX4tFGJnekSIlFZJ52n5KK_DWP3azK4nsRn-mHISUI3LTvq3-_MKSpbWcc0YmEAUFCnkPzvjCXZNS4PzdlWhhKe2Nahfg-cBYBp1GdmbabwicGwQcb8/s640/Large.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>

Doncaster Rovers v Rotherham United: Not the time to back Fergie's men

Doncaster Rovers v Rotherham United  Saturday, 12:30  Live on Sky Sports Football Match Odds This will be the first meeting between the...

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World Cup Qualifier: Socceroos v Honduras (1st Leg)

<div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><div> WCQ: Honduras v Australia</div> <div> Saturday 9:00am (AEDT) at</div> <div> Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, Honduras</div> </b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Wolf is fully aware of the magnitude of this game and what it means for football in this country but he has always said it how it is and has explained that he would be doing himself, and his loyal followers, a disservice if he made any exceptions. The outcome… he will give us the cold hard truth.</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Socceroos are in trouble!</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Playoffs were meant to be a thing of the past when Australia made the shift to the Asian Confederation and they were – until now. No one wants to remember November 29, 1997 or four years later in Montevideo but that is what the Socceroos face. Even the most loyal supporters have got no nails left to chew and to say that they scraped past Syria is an understatement. The Socceroos have won just 1 of their last 8 competitive matches and none of their last 5 World Cup qualifiers away from home. In fact, they have conceded in each of those 5 away games and have allowed multiple goals in 3 of them.</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So who are Honduras?</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>They don’t have any names that jump off the page and the majority of their squad play locally but the fact remains that Honduras are seeking to qualify for the World Cup for a 3rd consecutive time. They are undefeated in their last 5 World Cup Qualifiers – a run that includes a win away to Trinidad and Tobago along with a come from behind win over Mexico.</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Those who are yet to see Honduras in action will quickly notice that they are very good on the ball and play with a real tempo. There is no hesitation in their game and they will look to spread the ball wide in order to utilise Alberto Elis and Rmoell Quioto on the flanks. The wide duo along with playmaker Romell Quioto have a shoot on site policy – and that means from almost anywhere. They will fill the box with a barrage of crosses with The Wolf noting that the Australian midfield will need to pick up on the driving runs through midfield from Hernandez and Mejia. Also they may want to refrain from giving away free kicks around the box as captain Maynor Figueroa has a bullet left foot!</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Where will it be won?</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>As already mentioned Honduras will look to go wide and that will put extreme pressure on Behich and Risdon – the likely starting wing backs. Postecoglou went with the duo in the away leg in the Syria tie and will probably opt for them again to sit outside of the back three of Sainsbury, Jurman and Degenek. The reports are that we will see an all new midfield but that should come as no surprise with Ange’s love for musical chairs. Mooy will definitely start with Rogic, Irvine and Luongo the front runners to support. It means no Kruse and Leckie – great news for the Socceroos if that is the case. They are two of the weaker bodies and their supply from wide areas over the last few matches has been sub standard – and that is being polite.</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Socceroos will need to be physical and play a more direct brand of football. The surface at the Estadio Olimpico is far from pristine and it will make it all the more difficult for the Socceroos to move the ball around. Closing down the overlapping runs of Elis and Quioto will be critical but no matter who takes the field The Wolf cannot see the Socceroos maintaining a clean sheet.</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Will we see Tim Cahill?</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Australia’s greatest ever goal scorer came to the rescue against Syria but with a ankle injury hindering his preparation The Wolf says he will not be starting. That task will be given to Juric. The Wolf is almost certain that Cahill will be preserved for the return leg in Sydney. The only way we see Timmy is if the Socceroos go down by multiple goals and are required to make a real push for an away goal. Even then it will only be for the closing 15-20 minutes.</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Final Verdict</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Wolf cannot see the Socceroos maintaining a clean sheet in either of the two matches and that means they will have to rely on goals to get through. As a result we will see a far more open encounter than anticipated. Both teams have found the back of the net in the last 5 World Cup qualifiers for Honduras at home and 4 of the last 5 for the Socceroos away. It is no secret that Ange wants at least one away goal and they will need it with his side having maintained just the one clean sheet in it’s last 14 competitive matches. The Wolf can see the Socceroos falling behind in the first half and that will real pressure on them to respond. Honduras to claim a 2-1 victory at home.</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Recommended Bets</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Best: Both Teams To Score – YES ($2.05)</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Other: Over 2.5 goals ($2.40)</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Value: HT/FT – Honduras/Honduras ($3.25)</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Correct Score: Honduras 2-1 ($9.00)</b></span></div> <div> <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div> <div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6aBsoP9MMzSglkrV7HEvr1Z0XAzyrO96-MPK7EWpJo2jis_rT9CmIhVKotEZMLB0_7GLXzUuRTqPP26JqJ7pfPeOzu2qnXm60ENoExtY4yvA4L3hZzEg78aiofyGx6hqQNdmo7C3OBg/s1600/australia-honduras_1ielelpa1wwpb1nlttuga9nzgw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1200" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6aBsoP9MMzSglkrV7HEvr1Z0XAzyrO96-MPK7EWpJo2jis_rT9CmIhVKotEZMLB0_7GLXzUuRTqPP26JqJ7pfPeOzu2qnXm60ENoExtY4yvA4L3hZzEg78aiofyGx6hqQNdmo7C3OBg/s640/australia-honduras_1ielelpa1wwpb1nlttuga9nzgw.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>

World Cup Qualifier: Socceroos v Honduras (1st Leg)

WCQ: Honduras v Australia Saturday 9:00am (AEDT) at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, Honduras The Wolf is fully aware of the magni...

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Sweden v Italy: Don't expect fireworks in Solna

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sweden v Italy</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday, 19:45</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live on Sky Sports Football</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sweden a solid collective force</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps understandably, much of the focus ahead of this match has been on a player who won't be playing for Sweden rather than one who will. "I'd never want Ibra against me, not even at 40 years and with a broken leg," said Italy's Daniele De Rossi this week. "The fact that there's no Ibrahimovic is an advantage for anyone who has to face them."</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Italy, of course, are partly responsible for the big striker's international retirement, having put an end to Sweden's Euro 2016 hopes last summer. But while the home side on Friday night may now lack an obvious talisman, the Azzurri will write off Janne Andersson's side at their peril. Sweden are now a solid collective force and are hugely motivated to reach their first World Cup since 2006.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The chief goal threat for the hosts is Marcus Berg, who has six in his last four outings for the national team, while old stagers Seb Larsson and Andreas Granqvist are also important cogs in Andersson's machine. The big question is whether the creative nous of RB Leipzig's Emil Forsberg will be sufficient to break down that Italy backline. If he is off-form or tightly marked, this Sweden attack might look a touch one-dimensional.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Empty summer unthinkable for Italy</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was always going to be tough to finish top of a group with Spain in it, but Italy gave it a reasonable go until being beaten 3-0 in Madrid in September. Now they must negotiate nail-biting play-off - their first for a major tournament since 1998 - if they are to maintain a run of World Cup appearances dating back 60 years. The hosts when they missed out in 1958? Sweden, of course.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coach Giampiero Ventura is confident that the Azzurri have the class to see off Sweden over two legs - "We are not taking into consideration the idea of not going to the World Cup" - but has been less convincing tactically since taking over from Antonio Conte. There have been experiments galore and only recently does he appear to have come back round to the 3-5-2 system that served Italy so well at Euro 2016.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The superb defensive unit formed by Gigi Buffon, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini will surely be crucial in the first leg, and with Andrea Belotti still troubled by a knee issue, the responsibility of nicking an away goal likely to fall on the shoulders of Ciro Immobile. The Lazio striker has 14 league goals to his name already this term.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Azzurri would take a draw</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Italy have won five of the last seven games between these sides, but only one of those meetings is really relevant: plenty of players who appeared in the Euro 2016 showdown in Toulouse two summers ago will be on duty at the Friends Arena. That one was an attritional affair, Italy only breaking through in the dying moments to snatch a 1-0 win.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More of the same can probably be expected on Friday. It's the first leg of a play-off, for a start, so both teams are likely to be circumspect. Sweden last lost on home soil over two years ago, so Italy might be hard pressed to take an advantage back home, but they would surely be delighted with a draw at 3.20 and have the experience in their ranks to do just that.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thriller not on the cards</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The goals rarely flow when Italy and Sweden play: of the last 19 meetings between the sides, only five have produced three goals or more. It's hard to imagine an open game on Friday night, so under 2.5 goals looks a solid enough pick at 1.58, but it's also worth considering the Correct Score market if the draw appeals. Ruling out 2-2, 3-3 and so on (by Dutching 0-0 and 1-1) boosts the odds to around 3.70.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Immobile the go-to man for Italy</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It may be prudent to give the goalscorer markets a swerve given our expectations for the game, but those looking for a player to back should side with Immobile. He has been on fire in Serie A and was Italy's top scorer in qualifying Group G with six goals. 2.90 looks a decent price for him to notch.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dutch back 0-0 and 1-1 correct scores at 3.70</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRHEsVj6TSHaTrtJuy9USyAEdQqr9cTDiDeUViviGPc_nvj3edZuUiPtrA2cbqqLvnYq3rbUxi5htZcRmXUXd-hh3tUHDXNePShDtsBavJwOn3jggLajOgplaHm5oncX_YO1-IEUdpVU/s1600/italy-ap-759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="759" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRHEsVj6TSHaTrtJuy9USyAEdQqr9cTDiDeUViviGPc_nvj3edZuUiPtrA2cbqqLvnYq3rbUxi5htZcRmXUXd-hh3tUHDXNePShDtsBavJwOn3jggLajOgplaHm5oncX_YO1-IEUdpVU/s640/italy-ap-759.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>

Sweden v Italy: Don't expect fireworks in Solna

Sweden v Italy Friday, 19:45 Live on Sky Sports Football Sweden a solid collective force Perhaps understandably, much of the focus ahea...

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A-League Tips Round 6

<div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Central Coast v Sydney FC – (Fri 7:50pm)</strong>We saw a vintage Sydney FC performance last week in the top of the table clash. They took control of the middle of the park and prevented City from getting into space and the Mariners are about to find out just how hard it is to score against the best team in the land. Sydney are undefeated in their last 9 against the Mariners – a run that includes 8 wins. Sydney FC won all three meetings last season with clean sheets in two of them. That being said the Mariners 7 straight at home against Sydney with the Over going 6-1 in those 7 matches at Central Coast Stadium. It is an absolute goal fest when these two meet. There has been at least 3 goals in their last 8 meetings with an average of 4.4 goals per game in that stretch. The Mariners will be scoring which will help the Overs but they will not be winning. Sydney FC have scored at least 3 in 6 of their last 8 against the Mariners and could get 5 or 6 in this one. After a tight defensive display a week ago Graham Arnold will let the shackles off his boys.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Best Bet: Over 3.5 goals ($2.75)</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Value Bet: Over 4.5 goals ($5.00)</strong></span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Adelaide v Newcastle – (Sat 5:35pm)</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The Jets delivered as The Wolf’s best bet in Round 5 and they deservedly sit 3rd on the ladder just 2 points behind league leaders Sydney. Wolfy doesn’t like to repeat himself but finds it hard to do so when it comes to the Jets front three – namely O’Donovan, Petratos and Nabbout. They have combined for 10 goals and 5 assists with opposing sides finding out the hard when when it come to shutting them down. The Jets attack is firing on all cylinders but the same cannot be said about Adelaide. In the two games in which Absalonsen has not played they have failed to score and Matmour is the latest to join a growing injury list. With more than half of their regular starting XI absent The Wolf is shocked to see the price on offer for the undefeated Jets. This is a very different Jets side to the one we have seen in recent season but the fact that they have lost just 2 of the last 6 against Adelaide is another positive. The Under is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings with no more than a single goal in 5 of the last 7 meetings. The Wolf is sticking with the Jets!<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Best Bet: Newcastle WIN ($2.80)</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Value Bet: Teams To Score – Newcastle Only ($5.50)</span></strong></span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Melbourne Victory v Brisbane – (Sat 7:50pm)</strong>A ten man Victory deserve credit for salvaging  point but The Wolf says they will be hindered this week by both a short turn around and the absence of key players. Milligan and Troisi will be on Socceroos duty while Mitch Austin will serve a suspension following his red card. Berisha returns which will push Leroy George out wide but central midfield is not an area where you can afford to be short in. The Roar have their own injuries to contend with and will be without Ingham, Brown and Kristensen among others but with the duo of McKay, Holman, Khalfallah and Maccarone lining up they should be able to take control. Goals have been hard to come by for both sides with both of them averaging just a single goal per game through 5 rounds. Steer clear of the Victory in this one and back the Unders along the way with the Roar every chance of claiming their first win of the season.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Best Bet: Double Chance Draw or Brisbane ($1.95)</strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Value Bet: Under 2.5 goals ($2.10)</span></strong></span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Wellington v Perth – (Sun 2:30pm)</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The Phoenix sit bottom of the ladder on goal difference and are yet to win this season but the Wolf says that we should do more than just look at the ladder. The Phoenix are undefeated in their last 5 A-League matches at home dating back to last season which includes a draw with Sydney FC. They have scored in 7 straight home games including 3 against the Roar last time they took to the Westpac Stadium turf. The Glory have won only 2 of their last 17 away games in the A-League and will have to cope with the longest league trip in world football. Perth have conceded multiple coach in each of their three away games this season and the Over is 7-2 in the last 9 of this series. We’re in for an entertaining draw.<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals ($1.50)</span></strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Value Bet: Correct Score 2-2 ($12.00)</span></strong></span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Melbourne City v Western Sydney – (Sun 7:00pm)</strong>The Wanderers should be kicking themselves! They took the lead with the Victory down to 10 men, then missed a penalty and went on to concede. It was 2 points lost not a point won and they have now failed to win in three consecutive matches after having taken the lead on each occasion in the first half. Taking the lead against Melbourne City will not be as easy. City have conceded just two goals this season and it is the main reason why the Under is 4-1 in their matches to date. Schenkerveld and La Rocca provide more than enough height to shut down the aerial ability of Riera with the latter to provide all of the intel on his ex team-mates. The Wanderers are a better side when they play with tempo but as we have seen so far this season, City to a great job at controlling the pace of the game and getting numbers behind the ball. The Wolf says to stick with the Unders in Melbourne City matches and says we are getting a huge price for the Wanderers to take the lead into half time before relinquishing it yet again.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals ($1.95)</strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Value Bet: HT/FT – Western Sydney/Draw ($15.00)</span></strong></span></div> <h4 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.2rem 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Best Bets Round 6</span></h4> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Best Bet: Double Chance Draw or Brisbane ($1.95)</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Best Value Bet: Teams To Score – Newcastle Only ($5.50)</span></strong></span></div> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvuuJfg6gck2Hz5mc2sms271tjH_WwZAFjFAibhzp1FTsJS5cYumDwVh6HlNddnqJNVXsnhD62eFRyCYNUDllpvqJLrLENqfVuBXlT9w7i4HHUAGEPi3a03qrAWNx_YErw0y4xuoQ0Gg/s1600/3-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="670" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvuuJfg6gck2Hz5mc2sms271tjH_WwZAFjFAibhzp1FTsJS5cYumDwVh6HlNddnqJNVXsnhD62eFRyCYNUDllpvqJLrLENqfVuBXlT9w7i4HHUAGEPi3a03qrAWNx_YErw0y4xuoQ0Gg/s640/3-13.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br /></span></strong></span></div>

A-League Tips Round 6

Central Coast v Sydney FC – (Fri 7:50pm) We saw a vintage Sydney FC performance last week in the top of the table clash. They took control ...

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ATP World Tour Finals Preview: Cilic can be traded at a big outright price

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The final event of the ATP calendar is the World Tour Finals, starting on Sunday at the O2 Arena. Our tennis columnist, Dan Weston, checks out the conditions and contenders for glory in London in the coming week...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">World Tour Finals a superb event to end to the ATP season</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From a personal perspective, the World Tour Finals is a fantastic event, and one of my favourite tournaments on the Tennis calendar. The primary reason is that there are usually competitive matches - 42% have needed a deciding set since the event switched from Shanghai in 2009 - at a magnificent arena, but also because it signals the end of the tennis season, a long and tough 11 months where I have yet to take a day off!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Conditions difficult to anticipate in London</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is difficult to judge conditions at the O2, with there being huge discrepancies in the hold percentages and aces per game totals over the last eight years at the venue. However, my personal assessment is that the venue is medium-paced, with 80.5% of service games being held since 2009 - a similar figure to the ATP Tour mean for indoor hard over that time period.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Six-time winner Roger Federer is the strong favourite to take the title, at 1.71, and statistically, it would take a brave man to back against the Swiss legend to win the event - even at odds-on.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Federer with both current statistics and historical trends on his side</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Firstly, any assessment of historical trends would clearly illustrate that favourites have a superb record in this tournament, but the main reasons as to why Federer is so obviously fancied by the market surrounds his stellar 2017, which has seen him beat top 10 opponents on 12 of 13 occasions, as well as leading the way when looking at the combined hard/indoor hard service and return points won metric, at 111.1%.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Injury-doubt Nadal to be avoided in the outright betting</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Indeed, only second favourite Rafa Nadal can come close to this, with 110.5% combined across hard and indoor hard courts, but there are several reasons as to why it is difficult to consider Nadal at the bigger price of 5.20.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Firstly, we must consider whether Nadal is fit following his withdrawal during the Paris Masters with a knee injury, and his quotes following this pull-out are far from encouraging.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition, the Spaniard's two-year indoor hard data (66.5% service points won, 37.3% return points won = 103.8% combined) ranks him fourth indoors of the eight contenders - behind both Grigor Dimitrov (104.4%) and Marin Cilic (104.3%), as well as the imperious Federer (110.7%). There are clearly better options than the King of Clay - he's called this for a reason, and it's not to do with his level indoors - in the coming week.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Given the fact that we must respect Federer, but don't mind taking on Nadal, perhaps the best option from a pre-tournament outright perspective is to look at backing another player in Federer's group each-way.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cilic or Zverev looking like the best each-way or trading options</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Assuming Federer tops the 'Boris Becker' group, the second place player would then play the winner of the 'Pete Sampras' group, which is seeded to be Nadal - who we don't mind taking on. So in effect, the nuance of the tournament is that the player who qualifies along with Federer - we are taking his progress almost for granted - won't be able to face Federer until the final, at which point the place part of the bet will have already won.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alongside Federer in the Becker group is Marin Cilic, Alexander Zverev and Jack Sock, and it's tough to give Sock much of a likelihood of qualifying given that this is his first Tour Finals, plus both Zverev and Cilic have better surface data as well.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cilic with better indoor data than Zverev</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With Cilic having slightly better stats indoors this year than Zverev, and being a bigger 10/1 with the Sportsbook, compared to 6/1 on the young German, an each-way bet can be considered. However, we can also look at taking him at a huge 18.00 on the Exchange with a view to trade, and this is an option I do like.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In their last head to head match, at the Wimbledon final, Cilic started at around 4.50, so even if he does face Federer in the final, he will have a considerably lower price to hedge at than the current market prices.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back Marin Cilic at 18.00 to win the ATP Tour Finals, with a view to hedging before the final if he faces Roger Federer</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgwjGHvCJQyly_iFCrXWRrIDqdYo0IVGJR85toKJED5CrUbGvCakoq8IPAv-dtuDJ_j9jQoCwQhc1RFwHo23I-MBy6POSG-vqveykjeW9fncIL_fagge6qnoevnzxy-U4_kyNMxX40OU/s1600/20171013T140517Z_2086386538_RC17B23049B0_RTRMADP_3_TENNISSHANGHAI.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgwjGHvCJQyly_iFCrXWRrIDqdYo0IVGJR85toKJED5CrUbGvCakoq8IPAv-dtuDJ_j9jQoCwQhc1RFwHo23I-MBy6POSG-vqveykjeW9fncIL_fagge6qnoevnzxy-U4_kyNMxX40OU/s640/20171013T140517Z_2086386538_RC17B23049B0_RTRMADP_3_TENNISSHANGHAI.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>

ATP World Tour Finals Preview: Cilic can be traded at a big outright price

The final event of the ATP calendar is the World Tour Finals, starting on Sunday at the O2 Arena. Our tennis columnist, Dan Weston, checks o...

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England v Germany: Lions look set to be tamed by world champions

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">England v Germany</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">International Friendly</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday, 20:00</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live on ITV</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Exciting England squad weakened by key withdrawals</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A youthful and exciting 25-man squad was named by Gareth Southgate ahead of the mouthwatering Wembley double-header against Germany and Brazil, yet come kick-off on Friday night the England boss might well be pulling fans out of the crowd to see if any fancy 10 minutes against the current world champions.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The squad has had much of its quality decimated by high profile withdrawals, including in-form trio Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling, and Harry Kane, who surely would have all started against the Germans.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Midfielder Harry Winks - who was perhaps the only shining light in England's lethargic 1-0 win over Lithuania last month - has also pulled out, as too have Jordan Henderson and Fabian Delph, meaning a total of six withdrawals to date. Southgate has replaced them with defender Michael Keane and midfielders Jake Livermore and Jack Cork, while Joe Gomez, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Tammy Abraham have been called up for the first time.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was refreshing however to see Southgate name such a young squad, and admit that he picked players who he intends to use in a system similar to how Man City are blitzing the Premier League, and how Tottenham have lined-up recently. It's just a shame that five of those Man City/Spurs players will be absent.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Form-wise England have won four out of four this season, performance-wise it's been pretty painful to watch at times. A hugely flattering 4-0 win over Malta - thanks to three goals in the final five minutes - was followed by single-goal victories over Slovakia, Slovenia, and Lithuania, leaving more questions than answers about where Southgate's men are actually heading.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This will be England's fourth friendly under the current boss; his previous three resulted in a 2-2 draw with Spain, and 1-0 and 3-2 defeats to Germany and France respectively. All three however were played away from home.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Formidable squad assembled for in-form World Champions</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Germany will arrive at Wembley on the back of a hugely successful World Cup qualifying campaign in which they won all 10 of their fixtures, scoring 43 goals in the process, some 25 more than England managed in their unbeaten campaign.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joachim Low's world champions are actually unbeaten in every game they've played since their Euro 2016 semi-final defeat to France, winning 16 and drawing three of their last 19 competitive matches, a run that also saw them crowned Confederations Cup champions in the summer.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Low has named a formidable squad, yet despite the likes of Matts Hummels (60 caps), Sami Khedira (71), Toni Kroos (79), Mesut Ozil (86), and Mario Gotze (62), seemingly having been around for many years, the average age of the 23 men assembled is almost identical - just a tad over 24 - to that of England's squad. The big difference being that Germany's players have an average of 25 caps, which is 10 more than the Three Lions.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Along with Ozil - that's the one who regularly plays superbly for his country and is a pivotal part of the team, rather than the Ozil who turns out for Arsenal - Germany's squad also boasts Premier League stars such as the excellent Leroy Sane, Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, and midfielders Emre Can and Ilkay Gundogan.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Visitors look a rock solid bet</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not one to go overboard when it comes to international friendlies, but as the saying goes, there's no such thing as a friendly when England play Germany, and for that reason - among others - I have to back the away team at 2.16.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm fully aware that down the years the Three Lions have tended to raise their game in friendly matches against strong opposition, and as recently as March last year they did beat Germany 3-2 in their own back yard, but that has tended to be when able to name a strong line-up.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">England will be far from at full strength on Friday night with the Premier League's leading goalscorer (Kane), Man City's joint leading scorer (Sterling), and Tottenham's impressive duo of Alli and Winks all out injured, and that certainly opens the door for what will surely be a strong Germany XI to record a victory.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's also impossible to ignore how dull and unimpressive England have been in recent games - against far weaker opposition than they'll face at Wembley on Friday - and that Southgate has yet to oversee a win in an international friendly.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Three Lions can be backed at 3.70 to win, with the Draw trading at 3.60, but neither of those bets make any appeal.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Goals likely as new system evolves</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">England lined-up with three central defenders against Lithuania last month and Southgate has expressed a desire to keep playing with that system - with two wide defenders pushed further up the field - in preparation for next year's World Cup.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So although the players expected to start in that formation are clearly used to it with their club sides, it's still a new system for England and one that might need some bedding-in time.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And with the Three Lions being severely weakened in midfield I expect Germany to take full advantage, control most of the game, and force England into errors. I won't be surprised at all if Low's men score at least two or three at Wembley on Friday night, while the trickery and pace of Marcus Rashford and Jamie Vardy at the other end of the pitch could result in a goal or two for the hosts.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over 3.5 Goals is available to back at 3.60 and that looks like being a bet that will give us a huge run for our money.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bets</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back Germany to Win @ 2.16 (best bet)</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back Over 3.5 Goals @ 3.60</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4OBz1jHbEldBCMmw2ShMjZujOcmxy0vdtQfTYBhgAvJ2u8NTX5TYlKJQL04FWjkKWy3Ae53JjrhF9KwsV8Japxfx_tsyGha9loPfuPzDhHuk4we2bInCNbjmhqv45D5uvU5mq4GqxLg/s1600/germany-new-kit_1nf0nn1d3zfo51u0qixypngu3k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4OBz1jHbEldBCMmw2ShMjZujOcmxy0vdtQfTYBhgAvJ2u8NTX5TYlKJQL04FWjkKWy3Ae53JjrhF9KwsV8Japxfx_tsyGha9loPfuPzDhHuk4we2bInCNbjmhqv45D5uvU5mq4GqxLg/s640/germany-new-kit_1nf0nn1d3zfo51u0qixypngu3k.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>

England v Germany: Lions look set to be tamed by world champions

England v Germany International Friendly Friday, 20:00 Live on ITV Exciting England squad weakened by key withdrawals A youthful and e...

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