INTERNATIONAL BETTING PICK - SPAIN V NEW ZEALAND

International

2009-06-14 - Spain vs New Zealand

A Sports Betting Pick by Gooner

Spain v New Zealand
Football: International, FIFA Confederations Cup
Sunday 19th June 2009 - Kickoff 19:30

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Spain

This is Spain's first time at the Confederations Cup, following on from their first major success at the 2008 European Championships.

However, Spain are in superb form, undefeated since Romania beat them in a friendly two and a half years ago in November 2006, and as a result the Spaniards sit on top of the FIFA world rankings.

Spain thrashed 134th ranked Azerbaidjan 6-0 in midweek, without fielding their strongest side, but they have brought a very strong squad to this event and I'd expect to see a quality lineup playing in he weekend games.

Previous Form
Jun 09 2009 - W 6-0 A v Azerbaijan (Friendly)
Apr 01 2009 - W 2-1 A v Turkey (World Cup)
Mar 28 2009 - W 1-0 H v Turkey (World Cup)
Feb 11 2009 - W 2-0 H v England (Friendly)
Nov 19 2009 - W 3-0 H v Chile (Friendly)

New Zealand

New Zealand are at their third Confederations Cup, and while the Kiwi side is improving the FIFA ranking of 82 accurately sums up the standing of New Zealand football.

Playing in the extremely weak Oceania Conference, New Zealand have dominated the local competitions at both club level (O-League) and national level since the departure of Australia. Mind you the opposition is so weak - with Fiji (ranked 106), New Caledonia (131), Vanuatu (140) and Solomon Islands (163) - that this position in the minimum expected by local fans.

New Zealand have failed to pick up any points in any of their previous six Confed Cup games, that MIGHT change this time with both Iraq (85) and South Africa (74) in Group A - but I don not expect New Zealand to get any joy against Spain.

A miserable series of results in warm-up games was lifted in midweek when New Zealand scored three goals against Italy, and led three times before sliping to a 3-4 defeat when Italian Coach Marcelo Lippi hurredly rushed on some more experienced players.

Previous Form
Jun 10 2009 - L 3-4 N v Italy (Friendly)
Jun 06 2009 - D 0-0 A v Botswana (Friendly)
Jun 02 2009 - L 1-2 A v Tanzania (Friendly)
Mar 28 2009 - L 1-3 A v Thailand (Friendly)
Nov 19 2008 - L 0-2 A v Fiji (World Cup)
Sep 10 2008 - W 3-0 H v New Caledonia (World Cup)

Possible Line-ups :

Spain
Casillas
Ramos, Albiol, Puyol, Capdevila
Cazorla, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Silva
Torres, Villa

New Zealand
Moss
Mulligan, Lochhead, Vicelich, Boyens
Elliott, Barron, Bertos, Brown
Smeltz, Killen

The Betting Verdict

This game is a mismatch with Spain starting as clear favourites to record a comfortable win over New Zealand.

New Zealand's midweek performance underlined that they can score goals against sides that don't take them seriously, but I do wonder if all that has done is to warn Spain in advance.

I do not expect New Zealand to score a goal in this game. New Zealand's strike force consists on Shane Smeltz who was the top scorer in last season's Australian A-League, and Chris Killen who is registered with Glasgow Celtic but was farmed out to English club Norwich City and has been unable to claim a starting line-up at either club.

Both New Zealand players are strong, fit, fast professional players but both are still a class below the usual level faced by the Spanish defence.

The cold wet conditions of South Afirca in winter will suit the New Zealand style of game, physical and with plenty of long through balls, but to match Spain is too much to ask.

The Pick :

BEST BETTING TIP :

Yes SPAIN will win - but the prices reflect that.

SPAIN TO WIN TO NIL which is best priced at 1.57 at Paddy Power looks worth a shot.

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