AFL Preview Round 15: Giants v Hawks

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <b style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GWS v Hawthorn<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Sat 7:25pm at Spotless Stadium</span></b><br /> <b style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b> <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;">It’s a battle of 9th v 8th when the Hawks travel up to Sydney to take on the Giants at Spotless Stadium on Saturday evening. After Jeremy Cameron’s much publicized elbow landing him a holiday for 5 weeks, and fellow A-graders Brett Deledio and Toby Greene still sidelined with injury, the Giants need some forwards to stand up if they are any chance of returning to September action. The Hawks go into this match as underdog, but you just know Hawthorn’s angry little man, Alistair Clarkson, will be keen to crash the Ferrari.</span></div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; text-align: center;"></b></span><br /> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <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;">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;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">GWS </i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">(LLWWW) – They’ve won 3 in a row after finding themselves in a massive hole, but no one is talking about that. The Giants once again find themselves without a key player due to an ill-discplined act (to put it extremely mildly)- and it could very well prove to be the straw that broke the camels back. On the plus side, the Ferrari does look to have finally clicked into gear again and is purring nicely, with Coniglio, Kelly, Shiel and Ward ably supported by Taranto, Hopper and Whitfield- giving the Giants the right fuel formula for their expensive ride.</span></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;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Hawthorn </i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">(LLWWW) – It certainly wasn’t pretty, but the Hawks dealt with a stubborn Suns side, accelerating away at the end of the game as expected- much like their game the previous round against Adelaide where proceedings were initially tight. Alistair Clarkson still doesn’t appear to be entirely sure of his best forward structure, and there is somewhat of a disjointed nature to it, but the way they have been defending all across the ground means they just keep staying in the contest and find enough contributors to hit the scoreboard.</span></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;">Stats That Matter</strong>– Their last meeting was a thrilling 97-all Draw<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />– Both Callan Ward and Josh Kelly average 30+ disposals and 115+ Fantasy Points per game against Hawthorn<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />– Hawthorn have a percentage of 195% in 3rd quarters this season<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />– GWS have won both meetings at Spotless Stadium at an average of 42 points<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />– The Giants are 1-5 on the Over/Under at home<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />– Jaeger O’Meara averages 108 Fantasy Points per game against GWS<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />– The Hawks last 4 matches have all gone Unders</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;">Betting Data</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;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">2018 Line: </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">GWS- </i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">4-9; </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Hawthorn- </i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">7-6</span></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;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">2018 Over-Under: </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">GWS- </i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">5-8; </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Hawthorn- </i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">4-9</span></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;">What To Expect</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;">What a huge match this one is! It is absolutely the ol’ ‘8 point game’ and it is a critical as they come given their respective positions on the ladder. Wolfie is wondering where the Giants are going to score their goals from given a) Johnathan Patton is close to career-worst form and b) the two leading goalscorers for the side this year aside from Cameron are Griffen and Langdon (12 each). Clarkson will no doubt have spent a bit of time this week preparing his boys to limit the influence of the Giants midfield and the value of the Hawks is too good to ignore. Looks like a tight one.</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;">How It’s Shaping Up</strong>Hawthorn by 7</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;">Recommended Bets</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; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Best Bet: Hawthorn 1-39 ($2.50)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Value Bet: HT/FT- Giants/Hawks ($7.25)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Player Prop: Callan Ward 30+ Disposals ($2.85)</strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />First Goalscorer: Stephen Coniglio</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/AVvXsEhl1kbeEku0vfKvIZhBt48YvG_Ogkv_oc75EeE4kwEQbr4_AsBuCIoHAbA1dACWAohyphenhyphenjTQrDgY4m5vK_-AZWKg76Dr-uAGaEq5QmwcMSAJYRTlnCBIKxEctHaq33dcTIfnC-o3esqneohY/s1600/5fd0fe23b5d48ab1d920b3657788d019.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1023" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1kbeEku0vfKvIZhBt48YvG_Ogkv_oc75EeE4kwEQbr4_AsBuCIoHAbA1dACWAohyphenhyphenjTQrDgY4m5vK_-AZWKg76Dr-uAGaEq5QmwcMSAJYRTlnCBIKxEctHaq33dcTIfnC-o3esqneohY/s640/5fd0fe23b5d48ab1d920b3657788d019.webp" width="640" /></a><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br /></strong></span></div> </div> </div>

AFL Preview Round 15: Giants v Hawks

GWS v Hawthorn Sat 7:25pm at Spotless Stadium It’s a battle of 9th v 8th when the Hawks travel up to Sydney to take on the Giants at Spo...

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Japan v Poland: Back the Samurai Blues to qualify with a win

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Japan v Poland</b></span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thursday 28 June, 15:00<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Live on BBC</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><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> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; 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="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Impressive Japan just need a point</span></span></strong></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was hard to assess the Samurai Blues' opening fixture. The 10 men of Colombia weren't the force they would have been had Carlos Sanchez not been sent off after three minutes and <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Shinji Kagawa</strong>'s early penalty (following Sanchez's deliberate handball) certainly put Japan in the driving seat but having been pegged back before half time, Japan organised themselves really well in the second half, <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">dominated possession</strong> and deservedly ran out 2-1 winners.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />They were even more impressive in their second match with Senegal when they again dominated possession. The Lions of Taranga took the lead twice but Japan fought like tigers to deny them. Sadio Mane's first half strike was cancelled out by a superb curling finish by <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Takashi Inui</strong> and <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Keisuke Honda</strong> squared the game again in the 78th minute after Moussa Wague had put the African side in front. It was the least Japan deserved and whatever happens in this match, they've already far exceeded my expectations.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />They're technically good, very well organised, and <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Akira Nishino</strong>, who was only appointed manager in April, has them playing like a well-drilled team. They've impressed me and a point here would see them progress.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><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> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; 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="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lewandowski being starved, and the Poles have suffered</span></span></strong></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following a 2-1 loss to Senegal in the first round of group games, Poland's 3-0 defeat to Colombia on Sunday has already seen them eliminated and all they're playing for now is pride. Should Japan beat them on Thursday, this would be the first Polish side to lose all three group games.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />In both of the first two games they've failed miserably to provide anything but odd half-chances for their lethal forward - <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Robert Lewandowski</strong> - and they've been a huge disappointment.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Lewandowski scored a record-breaking 16 goals during qualification (one more than Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo) but he's barely had a sniff and his first World Cup looks like ending miserably.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><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> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; 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="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Samura Blue look a decent bet to win the match</span></span></strong></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Group H has been an interesting and difficult group to asses from the start but after two games apiece, we are now starting to learn a lot more about the four teams. And two things are evidently clear - <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Japan have played considerably better than they were expected to</strong>, and Poland have been far worse than anticipated.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />A draw - available to back at 9/4 on the <span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Betfair Sportsbook</b></span> - would see the Samurai Blue play either England or Belgium in the first knockout round but I can't see them resting on their laurels and playing for a point. They're more than capable of putting the sorry Poles to the sword and I fancy they can end their group campaign in style and take all three points. I'll be backing them to do so at 6/4.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Although an argument could be made, that now they've been eliminated, the Poles could play without fear there's been nothing in their first two games to suggest they're likely to bounce back. They've been <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">poor from the start</strong> and opposing them here is the only logical play.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><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> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; 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="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Goals at both ends perfectly feasible</span></span></strong></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All four group games to date have seen a minimum of three goals and I see no reason to think the pattern couldn't continue. There's an argument to be made that if Japan score first they could shut up shop, knowing that a point would see them through but at odds against, <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Over 2.5 Goals</strong> (11/10) makes more appeal than Under (4/5).<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The market has switched since opening, with Yes now that 5/6 favourite in the <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Both Teams to Score</strong> market and I can see why. All four games have been open and entertaining matches and Poland's 3-0 defeat to Colombia is the only game that hasn't see both teams find the net but I'm happy to leave the side markets alone here and just play the favourites Japan.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The Poles really have disappointed whereas the Japanese have looked a strong and improving unit and the 6/4 on offer by the Sportsbook is perfectly fair.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><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> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; 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="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Same Game Multi</span></span></strong></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you fancy combining a couple or more scenarios to build a bet that pays handsomely, click on the Same Game Multi tab at the top of the Sportsbook market and pick two or more selections to build a wager. Given Takashi Inui has scored three goals in his last three games for Japan, my favourite for this game is <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Japan to win</strong>, <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Inui to score</strong> and <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Over 2.5 Goals</strong> at just over 10/1.</span></span></div> <h2 class="betting-copy__title" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Key Opta Stats for Japan v Poland</span></span></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Japan have won each of their two encounters against Poland, winning 5-0 in February 1996 and 2-0 in March 2002. <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They are</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> to win.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Japan have failed to score in four of their last five World Cup games against European opponents (W1 D2 L2), with their only goals coming in a 3-1 victory over Denmark in 2010. <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Under 2.5 goals is</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="5/6">1.84</span>.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poland’s only World Cup meeting with an Asian side came in 2002 – losing 2-0 in the group stages against South Korea. <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Japan are</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="7/2">4.60</span> to win the nil.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keisuke Honda’s goal against Senegal made him the first Japanese player to score at three different World Cup tournaments (2010, 2014, 2018). <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Honda is</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="9/4">3.30</span> to score.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poland became the first European nation eliminated from the 2018 World Cup when they lost to Colombia – this is the third consecutive World Cup tournament they’ve gone out at the group stage (also 2002 and 2006). <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Japan are</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="16/5">4.20</span> to win half-time/full-time.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Takashi Inui has scored three goals in his last three games for Japan; this after scoring just two in his previous 26 matches for the national team. <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He's</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">5.00</span> to find the net.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poland are looking to avoid losing all three of their World Cup group games for the first time. <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They are</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="8/13">1.60</span> to avoid defeat in the Double Chance market.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Japan haven’t gone undefeated in three consecutive World Cup games since 2002 – those three unbeaten games were all in the group stage as they qualified for Round 2. <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They are</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="11/5">3.20</span> to preserve their record with a draw.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poland haven’t kept a clean sheet at the World Cup since winning 1-0 against Portugal in 1986, conceding 23 goals across 10 games since then. <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Over 2.5 goals is</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="11/10">2.08</span>.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Japan have scored four goals at the 2018 World Cup, double the amount they managed in 2014; in only one previous tournament have they ever scored more, netting five in 2002 when they were joint-hosts with South Korea. <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Over 3.5 goals is</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="11/4">3.70</span>.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RECOMMENDED BETS</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 points Japan @ 6/4 on Betfair Sportsbook</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rqqDgMllyCJulhCkeJtag4ph-lEBJCEozQx5uK3e3-Jk3JfHVJQEeFlqKi4llrk5rC9eYqcNURK82QXeEVMVup7Uj01lUsXCwud4P1vQ0ashh-DbjRgoya1Q9oesAAPD9aVcDqTtPDY/s1600/image.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="1100" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rqqDgMllyCJulhCkeJtag4ph-lEBJCEozQx5uK3e3-Jk3JfHVJQEeFlqKi4llrk5rC9eYqcNURK82QXeEVMVup7Uj01lUsXCwud4P1vQ0ashh-DbjRgoya1Q9oesAAPD9aVcDqTtPDY/s640/image.webp" width="640" /></a><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div> </div>

Japan v Poland: Back the Samurai Blues to qualify with a win

Japan v Poland Thursday 28 June, 15:00 Live on BBC Impressive Japan just need a point It was hard to assess the Samurai Blues'...

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Senegal v Colombia: South Americans should do the job without much fuss

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Senegal v Colombia </b></span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thursday,16:00<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Live on BBC </strong><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; 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;"></strong></span></span></span></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; 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="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">'Not very good' Senegal need improvement</span></span></strong></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Senegal were my idea of the value play to win Group H at around the 5/1 mark and their campaign couldn't have started any better with a 2-1 defeat of Poland. The Poles dominated possession but offered nothing of a threat and the Lions of Taranga were the worthy winners but I did wonder how good Senegal were and whether a bad Poland side had made the Africans look better than they were. The subsequent results confirmed that it had indeed been the case. Poland were thumped by Colombia and Senegal <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">failed to impress</strong> against the Japanese.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Following their 2-2 draw with Japan, Senegal's manager, <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Aliou Cisse</strong> had this to say about the match.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />"Of course we have regrets. We must acknowledge that we didn't see a great Senegalese performance in comparison to the match against Poland. <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We were not very good frankly</strong>, and Japan were the better team, I have to admit that. But despite that fact, we led twice and what's annoying for me is the two goals we conceded."<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />For the second game in-a-row the Senegalese were happy to allow their opposition the bulk of the possession and that might not be a great strategy against a side as strong as Colombia. Senegal need only a point to progress but I fear that's beyond them.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><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> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; 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="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lots more to come from Colombia</span></span></strong></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was impossible to know what to make of Colombia after their opening match with Japan, when they were 1-0 down and down to ten men inside the opening three minutes. With hindsight, their 2-1 defeat to the Samurai Blue doesn't look as bad as it did initially, and it can't be underestimated how hard it is to play almost an entire match with ten men at this level and in hot conditions. They <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">worked their socks off</strong> and deservedly drew level before the break but their endeavours eventually took their toll in the second half and it was no surprise when Japan took the lead.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />With 11 men for 90 minutes, and against a team seemingly inferior to Japan, Colombia <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ran out impressive 3-0 winners</strong> against Poland, despite the pressure they were under and I get the impression there's lots still to come from Los Cafeteros.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Radamel Falcao</strong> will play with confidence now he has his first World Cup goal under his belt and having a fit and firing <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">James Rodriguez</strong> in the side is a huge plus. With a niggling calf injury picked up in training, James came on as a sub against Japan but he started against the Poles and he was influential from start to finish. He created the opening goal for Jerry Mina, just before half time against Poland, and you won't see a better assist all competition than the one that bypassed three defenders to set up <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Juan Cuadrado</strong> for their third goal.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />A draw will be enough to see Colombia through to the knockout phase if Poland beat Japan, but they will want to keep momentum going so I expect them go for the three points.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><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> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; 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="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">South Americans' extra class should tell</span></span></strong></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After four games, Group H is taking shape and to summarise, Poland have been dire, Senegal benefited from playing the sorry Poles first but they're probably an ordinary side at best, Japan are decent, well-organised and a better team than expected but they may have caught an almighty break playing a Colombia team with only ten men and without James from the start. And If there's a team in the group that can go deep into the competition it's Los Cafeteros. They're starting to <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">look like a quality side</strong> and I fully expect them to get the job done here against Senegal.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I've got a couple of nice bets on Senegal to win the group and to qualify but I'm not letting previous wagers cloud my judgement. On the evidence of the last two matches, when Senegal drew with Japan and Colombia comfortably beat the Poles, <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Colombia look the play here</strong> at just a shade of odds-on. As was the case on Sunday, they know a win is required if they want to remain in the competition and I fancy they'll get the three points without too much fuss. The 10/11 about a Colombian win with the Sportsbook is perfectly fair.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><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> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; 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="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Attacking teams should deliver goals</span></span></strong></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As one might expect, the competition started cagily and a bet on Under 2.5 Goals was the correct play in nine of the first 12 games but the goals are starting to flow now, and not just in this group.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />All four Group H games to date have seen a minimum of three goals and I see no reason to think that pattern can't continue. The industry-best price of 11/10 about Over 2.5 Goals <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">looks a very fair price</strong>.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />I fancy Colombia strongly and I suspect they'll dominate possession throughout, but the Senegalese are a team that have delivered four goals in their first two games and they're an obvious threat on the break so I'd much rather play Yes in the Both Teams to Score market at 10/11 than No at the same price.</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><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> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; 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="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Same Game Multi</span></span></strong></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 1.5em; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was a Sadio Mane goal away from a decent pick up in the opening Group H game using the Same Game Multi tab feature and it's a fun way to aim for much bigger profits for small stakes. It can be found at the top of the Sportsbook market. Just pick two or more selections to build a wager. You can reach for the stars and pick all sorts of combinations but a Colombia win and Over 2.5 Goals pays very nearly 2/1 and that'll do me here.</span></span></div> <h2 class="betting-copy__title" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Key Opta Stats for Senegal v Colombia</span></span></span></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Senegal and Colombia have faced each other just once before, in a friendly in May 2014, with Colombia taking a 2-0 lead into half-time, only to concede two goals in the second half. <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Both teams to score is</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="10/11">1.93</span>.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Senegal have faced South American opponents just once before in the World Cup, drawing 3-3 in the final group stage game of 2002 against Uruguay. <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Another draw is</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="11/4">3.70</span>.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Colombia’s first World Cup match against African opposition came in 1990, losing 2-1 in extra-time to Cameroon – since then, they’ve won both such meetings, in 1998 against Tunisia and 2014 against Ivory Coast. <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Colombians are</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="10/11">1.92</span> to win again.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James Rodriguez has been involved in 10 goals in seven World Cup appearances for Colombia (6 goals, 4 assists). <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rodriguez is</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="9/4">3.30</span> to score.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Colombia registered their joint-biggest World Cup win in their 3-0 victory over Poland, also winning by three-goal margins against Greece (3-0) and Japan (4-1) in 2014. <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They are</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="85/40">3.10</span>to win half-time/full-time.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moussa Wagué became the first African teenager to score a World Cup goal in Senegal’s 2-2 draw with Japan (19y 263d). <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He's</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="18/1">19.00</span> to add to his tally.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadio Mané found the net against Japan, the 15th different match he’d scored in for Senegal – they are yet to lose any of those (W9 D6). <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mane is</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="13/5">3.60</span> to score.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Colombia have scored four goals from seven shots on target at the 2018 World Cup, scoring three goals from four shots on target in their 3-0 win over Poland. <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Over 2.5 goals is</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="11/10">2.10</span>.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since keeping a clean sheet against France in their first ever World Cup match in 2002, Senegal haven’t recorded a shutout in any of their last six, conceding three goals from just seven shots on target faced at this year’s tournament. <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: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Over 3.5 goals is</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="3/1">3.90</span>.</strong></span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RECOMMENDED BETS</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back Colombia @ 10/11 (3 points) </span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 11/10 (1 point)</span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OOBXlupnUpKiwTKg_jbNKNiCMJ39E_c_J2iejaNKLb1br_8bPxHNMN9mXZjGTE72teMxQIS95L5LkxT45T_M5CS1leud9_G7IBxbsEQFAWcHazUkJnkPl4SbbJoABpJ5xvjISKP7uc8/s1600/colombia1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="660" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OOBXlupnUpKiwTKg_jbNKNiCMJ39E_c_J2iejaNKLb1br_8bPxHNMN9mXZjGTE72teMxQIS95L5LkxT45T_M5CS1leud9_G7IBxbsEQFAWcHazUkJnkPl4SbbJoABpJ5xvjISKP7uc8/s640/colombia1.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div> </div>

Senegal v Colombia: South Americans should do the job without much fuss

Senegal v Colombia  Thursday,16:00 Live on BBC  'Not very good' Senegal need improvement Senegal were my idea of the value p...

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The Big Match Tactical View: England v Belgium

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; 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="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;">England v Belgium</span><br />Thursday 19:00,<br />Live on ITV1</span></strong></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; 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="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Match Odds: England <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="9/5">2.80</span>, Belgium <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="2/1">3.00</span>, The Draw <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="11/5">3.20</span>.</span></span></strong></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">England and Belgium meet in the final Group G match, with both sides having collected six points from their opening two matches, following wins over both Panama and Tunisia. Neither of those games provided much of a test for either side, and therefore it's still somewhat <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">difficult to assess</strong> the quality of these sides, particularly in a defensive sense.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <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></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; 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="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Who wants it more?</span></strong></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This should, by rights, be a nail-biting decider. The problem, though, is that neither side desperately wants to win - because that will put them on the more difficult half of the draw, and possibly on course to meet Brazil or Germany at the quarter-final stage.<br />With the three potential qualifiers from Group H - Senegal, Colombia and Japan - all of a similar quality, the second round isn't too much of a problem. These sides should be <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">plotting their route</strong> further into the tournament, and finishing second would be a significant boost.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Clearly, that spells trouble. These sides can't deliberately try to lose the game, nor can they deliberately attempt to rack up more disciplinary points - which would decide first and second in the group, should this game finish a draw, as both sides have identical records until now. But both <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gareth Southgate </strong>and Roberto Martinez are likely to field rotated starting XIs, with little incentive to deploy their best players.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <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></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; 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="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">England changes</span></strong></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Southgate is likely to rest those players who get through most running. Wing-backs Ashley Young and Kieran Trippier will probably give way to <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Danny Rose</strong> and <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Trent Alexander-Arnold</strong>, while Jordan Henderson has to cover a lot of midfield ground and will probably be replaced by Eric Dier.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Going forward, both Raheem Sterling and Jesse Lingard depend upon sprinting repeatedly and therefore will probably be rested here. Sterling's place will probably go to<strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Marcus Rashford</strong>, who could well keep his place with a positive performance. Dele Alli shoild return after missing the Panama win, with Fabian Delph another who could play in midfield.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ruben Loftus-Cheek is on a booking and therefore might be rested despite not starting the first game, and the same is true of Kyle Walker. <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Phil Jones</strong> or Gary Cahill could come in.</span></div> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span><br style="background-color: white;" /></span> <br /> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some players should retain their place - Jordan Pickford, John Stones and Harry Kane seem likely to start. But this will be a largely second-string XI, for a game England don't need to win.</span></div> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5rem auto; max-width: 640px; 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="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Belgian injuries</span></strong></h2> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The same is largely true of Belgium. There are supposedly injury doubts over Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard and Dries Mertens, Belgium's front three. You suspect they'd all be fit to start if this was the final, but there's little need for Martinez to take unnecessary risks. <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Michy Batshuayi </strong>could lead the line, with Youri Tielemans starting in an attacking midfield role.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Martinez is expected to rest Jan Vertonghen, <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kevin De Bruyne</strong> and Thomas Meunier, all on a booking, while Axel Witsel is another likely to be rested. The midfield duo could be the all-Premier League partnership of Mousa Dembele and Marouane Fellaini. At the back, Vincent Kompany has been suffering from injury in recent weeks, but Martinez might elect to introduce him here, in a game likely to be played at a slow tempo.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tactically, it's difficult to assess many key battles without knowing how much the managers will rotate, and with the uncertainty about how much either side truly wants to win. But this will be one of the very few games at this tournament contested between two sides playing a three-man defence. Expect the <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">wing-backs </strong>to be engaged in battle up and down the touchlines, with Belgium having a spare man against England's front two, and England probably playing three-against-three at the back. England's advantage is Eric Dier, who should find plenty of time in front of the defence.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the few certainties here is that, if Kane starts, he'll be desperate for a goal. Currently leading the Golden Boot standing, he could thrive against a Belgium defence featuring a couple of half-fit centre-backs. <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>Therefore, I'll back Kane to open the scoring at</b></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="5/1">6.00</span>.</span></div> <br /> <section class="betting-copy" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 class="betting-copy__title" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Betfair Trader's View: Alan Thompson</span></h2> <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="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Both sides have already made it to the last 16 phase of the competition, there is just the small matter of who will top the group to be decided. It appears that <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Roberto Martinez</strong>would be more than happy for England to win the group as he has already said that he will be making potentially 10 changes to his starting 11, while <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gareth Southgate</strong> has also been singing from a similar hymn sheet, although his changes probably won’t be as severe.</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="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s a difficult call until we do see the team sheets but if we are to believe the rumours then you have to think that England are a decent bet 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="5/7">1.70</span><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b> </b></span>to go and win the group - a draw should be enough here unless they pick up two more bookings than then Belgians. In the 90 minutes market, <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="7/4"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>2.74</b></span></span> looks attractive - assuming Southgate does only make minor changes.</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="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Both sides have done well so far but the <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">results have to be put into perspective</strong>; they have both only beaten Tunisia and a very poor Panama side. While they can only beat the teams that they have to face, England did concede in both games and Belgium shipped two against Tunisia.</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="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For all the talk of 'easier' routes to the final for me <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">you win the game that you have in front of you</strong> and then you can concentrate on the next round. Talk of swerving Germany? To be honest there has probably never been a better time to play them!</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="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If the Belgians make all the changes they are claiming then I will be <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>backing England @</b></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="7/4">2.74</span> to win the game, and therefore top the group.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">RECOMMENDED BETS</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Michael says: Back Harry Kane to score first at 5.00</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Alan says: Back England to win at 2.74</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHfYU8dyXWK3L-KD8feHD28UMnHraysYVzNCdemafxtJhP6-zZS_AmU4T1ti1tT6B01U8wiejuxXTGGky82C0wLUTFUnKYLQzfFsDlWc8TUSur2bPfW5b-X0-DhvzIaI6nsAJcQ6zDy0/s1600/698501-hazard-kane-2.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/AVvXsEgYHfYU8dyXWK3L-KD8feHD28UMnHraysYVzNCdemafxtJhP6-zZS_AmU4T1ti1tT6B01U8wiejuxXTGGky82C0wLUTFUnKYLQzfFsDlWc8TUSur2bPfW5b-X0-DhvzIaI6nsAJcQ6zDy0/s640/698501-hazard-kane-2.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> </section></div>

The Big Match Tactical View: England v Belgium

England v Belgium Thursday 19:00, Live on ITV1 Match Odds: England  2.80 , Belgium  3.00 , The Draw  3.20 . England and Belgium meet i...

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