Euro 2012, Group A, Tuesday, Warsaw, 7.45pm
PUNTERS will be rushing to back Russia tonight after their impressive opener against Czech Republic.
It was a superb show by Dick Advocaat's side who are on the verge of a quarter-final place.
The Russians used a mixture of panache and power but there is no question the Czechs were poor and along with the Irish are possibly the weakest of the 16 qualifiers.
Poalnd started well against Greece but ottom line is they draw 1-1. That was with the backing of a passionate home support, with the benefit of an early goal and with a man advantage for part of the game while leading 1-0.
So if the can't beat the Greeks I can't see how they can fare better against Russia even though there is a bit of history between the nations.
Star of the show for Advocaat against the Czechs was 21-year-old Alan Dzagoev who outshone hitman Aleksandr Kerzakhov with two goals.
Dzagoev was immediately cut from 100-1 to 10-1 for the Golden Boot and after the first round of matches is 9-1 to be tournament top scorer.
Advocaat has no injury problems but must decide whether to keep faith with the misfiring but classy Kerzakhov and reward Roman Pavyluchenko who came on to net a late fourth.
For sure Dzagoev will start and is 15-2 at unibet to hit the opener and 10-3 at unibet to net at any time.
Kerzakhov is 13-2 at Paddy Power to score first with possible replacement Pavyluchenko 8-1 with Stan James.
I've seen Roman Shirikov being tipped today and he is 11-1 at BetVictor and bet365 to score first and 15-4 at bet365 to net at any time. He was the other Russian on target against the Czechs and certainly posed a threat.
Poland's star striker Robert Lewandowski bagged their goals against Greece and is 15-2 at unibet to score first and 9-4 at unibet to hit the target.
You can have 6-4 on a Russia win with bet365 and others while the Poles are 21-10 at Paddy Power and a draw 9-4 (various).
Advocaat's men were so good going forward on day one that you can see them at least scoring two goals. They are 15-8 with William Hill in the race to two goals.
Recommendations
Russia
(6-4, William Hill, bet365)
Russia race to 2 goals
(15-8, William Hill)
Dzagoev to score
(1-3, unibet)
In December 2020 we sadly 
bang on i have been really impressed with russia the best team i have seen so far. im also tipping them to win the ruros at 12/1 now but also still think holland will win. i know people will be wondering why but i think they have the players to do it . i think they will get a draw vs germany and get the win the need vs portugal. i think from there they will cruise it . spain look shakey without villa.
Hi Paul,
Can u help ma understand this please? I put on inplay £50 on czech -0.5 asian handicap and i thought i had won but the bets been settled and i havent won? Is 2-0.5 not 1.5 versus greeces 1
David, as far as I know betting Czechs -0.5 is covered because they won by one. But inrunning could have been different because I’m assuming the Czechs were leading when you put the bet on.
End 2 end 2nd half.
Blazszcykowski last scorer at 11-1 :D
Got 2 b going big on Poland/Russia double in the next round……
only caught last 20mims but how poor were russia, defo playin for the draw from what i seen. maybe not want anymore trouble for their fans if they won but a draw leaves the group wide open goin into last game. safe to say greece are out bar a miracle
Craig, had loads of great breaks before Poland scored by messed them up. Should have had the game out of sight but seemed to settle for a draw after that. Suppose they’ll be confident about beating Greeks.
You are assuming correct paul.
David, I’ll ask about but that may be the reason. Was it possibly -0.5 while the Czechs were 2-0 up which may require them staying 2-0 up.
Bit gutted about it paul, i didnt know that the goals scored previously didnt count so from when u put the bet on inplay its effectively 0-0. If a knew that at the time a would never have put it on and certainly not the amount i did put on it, ah well lesson learned eh.
David, it takes a while to get your head round Asian handicaps but in essence it would be the same with a normal inrunning bet except that the odds would reflect the score at the time.