Discuss in forum (2 entries)

England take on Nigeria in the knockout stages of the FIFA U20 World Cup tonight having failed to score in any of their 3 group games. They have also not conceded a goal in a campaign which has seen 0-0 draws against North Korea, Argentina and Mexico. In all truth, apart form 30 minutes against the Argentinians England have been absolute tosh and probably owe their progression to a top class goal keeper in Jack Butland, who saved a penalty against Mexico and the inability of the opposition to take advantage of an England side thrown together after the Premier League clubs decided to with hold over 30 players that would have made the squad.

Tonight I think their luck will break. The Nigerians topped Group D with 3 wins from 3 scoring 5 against Guatemala and Croatia and are favourites here to beat England. In their group matches they shown great attacking purpose and are quick and athletic. They have shown they can keep the ball much better than England I believe England's midfield and attack will be doing more defending than anything else. England have been playing with just one up front prefering to have numbers behind the ball and if they deploy the same tactics I can only see one result tonight. A Nigerian win.

BETFAIR -THE BEST BETTING EXCHANGE

Discuss in forum (1 entries)

In Africa the qualifying section for the 2012 African Nations in Gabon & Equatorial Guinea get under way with all but 1 group starting their campaigns. In Group H they late entrance of Togo has meant an extra team in the group so the sides kicked off their campaigns back in July. Botswana have already caused some waves with an away win against Tunisia and a home win over Chad to lead the group at this early stage. Tomorrow they entertain a Togolese team shorn of the retired Adebayor and he has now been joined by midfielder Jacques-Alaixys Romao who has retired due to the assistance that's not been forthcoming from the Togo FA to the injured goalkeeper in that shooting in January. Togo have failed to win any of their last 11 internationals away from home and only picked up 3 draws. With Botswna's improved form and Togos' slide it may be profitable to side with the home side.

I also like the look of Norway to mix it with Portugal and Denmark in Group H. Portugal coach Carlos Quieroz has been suspended for the next 6 months so they will miss his presence on the touchline for the 1st 4 qualifiers whilst Cristano Ronaldo will miss this month’s double header through injury. They have also struggled in the recent World Cup qualification so I fancy them to be not as dominant as in previous years. You never know what you are going to get with Denmark but with the return of Egil Olsen for Norway I’m expecting them to give qualification a real good shot so the odds for them to finish in the top 2 look appealing @ 2.50 with Bwin.

BETFAIR -THE BEST BETTING EXCHANGE

In the overall market Ukraine look appealing at odds of 41.00. After all, the tournament is over 22 months away and the only 2 qualifiers so far are the hosts Ukraine and Poland. Out of those two Ukraine are by far the strongest at the moment and with the final being played in Kiev, Ukraine you’d fancy them to have a good shot at it. Surely the odds can’t be any longer come June 2012.

This is probably the only group winner worth betting on in a one off bet this time time around. All the other top sides are noted for their short odds but I believe the bookies have missed a trick here.

In the rankings I use for international football and the ones I trust the most Croatia are ranked 6th in Europe at the moment despite their failure to qualify for the World Cup finals. They have only been beaten by England (twice) and the Netherlands in their last 30 odd internationals and more importantly they have managed to hang onto coach Slaven Bilic. In Modric, Olic, Srna and Pranjic they have some of Europes best players and its an experienced group of players now with them keeping the same core of players for around 30 internationals now.

Greece will be a danger to the Croats but they are now under new management after Otto Rehagel ended his 9 year reign after a disappointing WC finals campaign and they are ranked just 17th in the rankings I use.

Israel as always will be an obdurate collection to break down, especially at home but unless they start turning some of their draws into wins they will never qualify for a major tournament.

I believe Croatia are by far the best team in this group and Im expecting them to top the group by 5-6 pts in the end.

BETFAIR -THE BEST BETTING EXCHANGE

Discuss in forum (4 entries)

Scottish football is on the slide. Its been 14 years since the national side qualified for a senior finals tournament and last week their clubs sides wilted meekly in the qualifying rounds for the European competitions, with only Rangers remaining to fly the flag. Can Craig Levein now produce a miracle and get Scotland qualified from a group that contains the Czech Rep and Spain?

The optimism created with a win over the Czech Republic in Leveins 1st game in charge has been tempered by a 3-0 defeat to Sweden in the August round of friendlies. Levein has alos been hit with the usual round of dropouts for the game with Andy Webster, Lee Wallace, Chris Iwelumo and Kevin McNaughton withdrawing after initially being selected. Striker Fletcher is struggling with a foot compliant whilst Tottenham right back Alan Hutton has declared himself fit for the game.

This is the 4th European qualification campaign Lithaunia and Scotland have been drawn with each other and Lithuania also have players that have spent some time playing in the Scottish leagues so the teams should be familiar with each other. Andrius Velicka, Marius Zaliukas, Andrius Skerla and Saulius Mikoliunas all have played or are playing in the Scottish leagues and all will be in the squad to face Scotalnd tomorrow.

Lithuania are by no means big hitters in this group but Scotland have struggled on their travels in recent times losing 8 of the their last 9, including defeats in Macedonia and Georgia whilst failing to score in their last 5. As shown with their 2-1 defeat of Serbia back in November last year the Lithuanias can produce the performances at home and I feel Scotland will have all on to reach their target of 6 pts from their opening 2 games.

Discuss in forum (1 entries)

Belgium football has been in the doldrums for the last decade on the international stage and despite previous youth sides doing well in the competition the Senior side still seems no closer to qualifying for a major cahmpionship.

Again Belgium have another good U21 group of players and would be even stronger if the likes of Witsel and 17 year old Anderlecht striker Lukaku hadn't already been moved up to the senior side. They turned over France on French soil in their last game and come into this one with a chance of still qualfiying for the playoffs as group leader.

The Slovenian U21 side are out of the race for the top of the table and have lost 5 of their last 7 U21 matches at home including losses to Ukraine and France in this qualifying campaign.

BETFAIR -THE BEST BETTING EXCHANGE

Discuss in forum (6 entries)

For me theres not a chance of Liverpool losing this. Fulham have done very well this season but their squad is starting to get stretched and they have to return all the way from Thursday nights game in Wolfsburg to play here. Liverpool are nearly out of the door in the last chance saloon. If you didnt know better youd apportion Liverpools poor form partly down to Rafa trying to make a point to the owners. However, their home form has picked up markedly with 8 straight wins and 10 in last 11 (this was written before Benfica match)and with Fulhams European adventures I going to take Liverpool to win this comfortably. Fulham drew 0-0 here last season but previously they have lost 2-0, 4-0, 5-1 and 3-1.

A prince amongst men in the Scottish premier. If you saw his two goals against Kilmarnock last weekend you would understand what the player is all about has he created and finished off two beautiful chances. Theres not many players who could have done that in Scotland but Keano is one of them.

Since his arrival at Celtic Park, in the January transfer window, he has scored 11 goals and has 8 in his last 5. He is the captain and the current penalty taker. If Celtic get on the score sheet today you would expect Keane to be the one to break the deadlock.

BETFAIR -THE BEST BETTING EXCHANGE

Evertons top scorer this season has twice as many goals as the next best goalscorer in the club. Despite all his injury woes he continues to bang in the goals and has recently be recalled by the French national side on the back of his performances in the Premier League. He has 15 goals for Everton this season in 32 matches - a ration of 1 in 2 but has only scored 3 times since January so hes due a few. He has also scored 5 in the last 3 meetings with West Ham and with the visitors being in such a poor run of form he will be hoping to add to his tally this afternoon.

Discuss in forum (7 entries)

Liverpool recent performances have started to improve but they are still finding ways to get beat away from home. This week it was the turn of Benfica to beat them in the Europa League after Liverpool went down to 10 men. Most punters will point to the contentious decision to send Babel off in the 1st half as they turning point and it may well be but you cant keep giving players of the ilk of Cardozo chances to put the ball in the back of the net without getting punished. The Benfica defeat was their 12th away defeat in all competitions, and their 5th in the last 7 this season. Thats simply not good enough and I dont understand how anybody can consider backing them at 4/5 today against a side they have failed to beat in their last 7 league meetings. Birmingham have held Arsenal, Man United, Chelsea, Man City and Tottenham at St Andrews this season, all 5 teams are above Liverpool in the table. They are unbeaten at home since the 26th September, a run of 13 straight games in which they have avoided defeat. In the 1st meeting earlier in the season Liverpool needed dubious penalty to earn them a 2-2 draw at Anfield. The draw seems to be the value here with the last 5 league meetings all resulting in draws and the fact Birmingham have held the top 5 in the table to draws at St Andrews.

BETFAIR -THE BEST BETTING EXCHANGE