International
2008-08-20 - England vs Czech Republic
A Sports Betting Pick by Mike
Venue: Wembley
Date: Wednesday, 20 August
Kick-off: 2000 BST
With Spain’s success at Euro 2008 consigned to the history books, its time to look forward to the 2010 World Cup.
European nations will soon start their bids to make the plane for South Africa, including England, looking to wipe out the painful memory of failure under Steve McLaren.
His successor, Fabio Capello, has one last friendly to find the right blend, as the Three Lions host the Czech Republic at Wembley on Wednesday night.
England’s Joe Cole has said that the 23 men of Fabio Capello's England squad are "ready to run through brick walls for each other" as they bid to wipe out the painful memories of a failure to qualify for Euro 2008.
Cole and his countrymen face the Czech Republic at Wembley on Wednesday night and the bookmakers price England as favourites to win - expecting a lot of home punters to pile in.
The Czechs return to the site of their Euro 1996 final appearance in a transition phase after the departure of coach, Karel Bruckner, who left following early elimination from Euro 2008, after seven years in charge.
He is succeeded by Petr Rada, who inherits a talented team, that needs to emulate some recently retired greats such as Jan Koller and Pavel Nedved, but is without his best out-field player, captain Tomas Rosicky of Arsenal who is still recovering from hamstring injury.
THE VERDICT
Though this is only a friendly, England under Capello, have a point to prove, and a sceptical public to win over, so England should be playing for the win.
Goals are not expected to be common with the total goals line being set at 2.0 & 2.5, with the UNDER favoured at 1.92, and the OVER 1.98.
And I agree as I expect Fabio Capello to go with what is natural for him in "must win" football games - namely a tight defence that gives nothing away.
So I'll go for England to win 1-0.
The Pick :
England 1-0 Czech Republic
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take ENGLAND to win with a CLEAN SHEET.Priced at 2.88 @ BoyleSports
