COLOMBIA v ENGLAND
Live on ITV. Tuesday July 3, kick-off 7pm
PLENTY of optimistic England fans already have their team in the semis but there's plenty of work to do first, staring with last-16 opponents Colombia who'll be no pushovers.
Gareth Southgate gambled in the last group game against Belgium, making wholesale changes for the 1-0 defeat that put his team into the easier half of the draw.
But if they come a cropper against the Colombians then Southgate will cop plenty of flak and the pressure is on England to make it through.
Their 6-1 thrashing of Panama in the groups has led to some people getting carried away about this Three Lions side – let's not forget they needed a last-minute winner to beat the might of Tunisia in their opener after a dismal second-half performance.
Overall they have looked pretty good going forward. Harry Kane leads the chase for the Golden Boot with five goals and the likes of Raheem Sterling and Jesse Lingard have pace to burn.
They don't entirely convince in defence though and Southgate's preference of a back three could leave space for Colombia's wideman to exploit. The fact they conceded to both Tunisia and Panama shows they can be got at.
The likely absence of the Colombians' star man James Rodriguez due to injury is a massive blow to the South Americans but in Falcao, Juan Caudrado and Juan Quintero they aren't short of attacking talent.
They've blown a bit hot and cold so far – brilliant in the 3-0 win over Poland and lacklustre for long spells of the 1-0 victory over Senegal that sent them through to the knockouts.
Giant centre-back Yerry Mina has two goals from three games so far and his aerial prowess at set-pieces makes him a value each-way pick for first scorer with bet365 going 1/3 odds of 25-1 if he nets any time.
Super Single
- Both teams to score (5-4, 10bet)
First Scorer
- Mina each-way (25-1, bet365)
Bonkers Bet
- Colombia 1, England 1 (6-1, BetStars)
Bet Builder
- England to qualify
- Over 10 corners
- Under 5 cards
- (9-2, bet365)
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Good call on Mina ew
And 1-1
Cheers. The big man landed me three bets in one there!
Brilliant stuff Scott ???
Well done.