Euro 2012, Group C, Thursday, Gdansk, 7.45pm
SPAIN were puzzling in their tournament bow – Ireland were simply bowfin'.
While the Spanish did a Craig Levein (4-6-0) and went without a striker, Giovanni Trapattoni decided to play with no defenders.
Well, it looked that way as the Irish conceded three goals from set-pieces in their 3-1 defeat to Croatia.
So it's last chance for a green party and odds of them staying in the tournament look slim – even if Spain stick with their strange system.
More chances were created by Vicente del Bosque's side when he sent on Fernando Torres but unfortunately the Chelsea man missed them.
It looks like del Bosque will play the same way even though he has the likes Torres, Fernando Llorente, Juan Mata and Alvaro Negredo.
Most sides would love to have any one of them in their side and the suggestion is if he plays one of them it will be Negredo. But you're going to have to check starting line-ups before having a bet (Go Torres Go!!!!).
Cesc Fabregas was the furthest forward against Italy and duly netted. He is 6-1 at Betfred to score first and 13-8 at Paddy Power to net at any time.
One of the biggest threats against Italy was Andres Iniesta who is 8-1 (various) to break the deadlock and 11-4 at William Hill to net at anytime.
If you are looking to back world champions Spain to win they are pretty short at 2-7 (various) so look at them to win to nil – I can't see the Irish scoring – or giving up a goal of a start (5-6, Skybet).
Ireland are 14-1 at Ladbrokes and BetVictor to cause the shock of the tournament and 21-4 with BetVictor to stay alive by notching a draw.
Trapattoni's boys conceded a goal in three minutes against Croatia and the deadlock to be broken in the first 27 minutes looks a good bet at 11-10 at Stan James.
In Spain's opener I had a speculative bet on Mario Balotelli for first booking at 7-1. A couple of Irish stars stand out for a yellow, two of those being Richard Dunne and Keith Andrews.
Dunne is 8-1 at Paddy Power and Skybet for first card with Andrews 10-1 with the same firms. Split your stakes and have a gamble on both.
Unibet offer industry-best odds of 18-1 on Robbie Keane to score first and 7-1 at any time and that sums up the Irish chances for me.
It looks like Spain 3-0 (7-1, various) or 2-0 (5-1, various) and I'll be on them for HT/FT at 8-11 with William Hill and to win both halves at 17-10 with Paddy Power.
Recommendations
Opening goal 1-27 minutes
(11-10, Stan James)
Iniesta to score
(11-4, William Hill)
Spain to win both halves
(17-10, Paddy Power)
Spain -1
(5-6, Skybet)
Dunne first card
(8-1, Paddy Power, Skybet)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Can see this being a nasty one for the irish. Spain will be out to get a big win after the draw with italy. Can see a 4 or 5 nil tonite! minus 3 is 11 to 2..
Any team news yet. Do we have a striker to bet on ?!?!?
Torres is starting just been told
Cheers paul just seen it myself. Attacking line up – should be goals.
Joe, nice to see a striker in. Thinking of taking Torres to score first and have already done Iniesta first and anytime as well as Fabregas with plenty on Spain.
Yes unsure what to go for
Am going for silva first scorer. 7/1 dd/ hh
Just hope for plenty of goals for spain. And i believe we are going to get them!
how many do Spain have to win by for -2
They must win by 3 goals. So 3 nil or 4-1 and you will win!
Bets for tonight…
Torres 1st goal 9/2
Spain 3-0 11/2
Torres anytime 3-0 Spain 9/1
Keith Andrews 1st booking 9/1
Waiting on -1 for a good treble. Also added a few wee bets. Iniesta 1st goal @ 8/1. Torres 3-0 and Torres 4-0 @ 25/1 and 35/1. Hope we’re all not getting carried away here and spain fall flat on their face!!
Unlucky for rep go 1 down so early. Doing well in a defending point off view ATM. Plenty behind the ball making it hard for Spain forcing errors. Woulding be supprised if it stays 1-0. Yawnn.
David, I think Spain will get at least one more. Can’t risking holding out for 1-0 in case the Irish get one chance.
lookin to do an in play bet, any suggestions folks? spain -1
wish a had the bottle to put -2 on just can’t tell wae these euros
dont no why del bosque took torres off does he not relise ive got him for top goalscorer
Aw please no more goals! Thot i wad cruisin with torres 3-0 + 4-0 now its lookin dodgy! Got ma treble up eithet way so good night either way.
Thought 3-0 was in the bag…gutted still Torres 1st goal softens the blow! Nice bet joe! Well done
Thanx peter first scorecast ive got up in years!! Only 3 quid on but 108 nice wee return :) Over 90 back for treble so good night.
Does anyone have info on the best odds about for Torres to score anytime and the firm?? Many thanks!
Aaron, when he was confirmed in the team best I could see was 9-2 with Paddy Power and others but I think he was 11-2 yesterday. Maybe 6-4 for anytime scorer
Lol great return mate.roll on tomorrow!
That was the easiest game of football i have watched in a long time! Hope you all took minus 3 at 11 to 2. And that man torres had to come good sometime! Happy days are here again! ESPANIA!
Alex, I think it was the easiest game to predict. I was all over Spain like a rash.
Good result for punters tonight. I never bet minus 3 but I did bet Spain to win by 4 or more goals in the winning margins market which was a huge 15/2 with Blue Square.
Went big myself tonite paul. But there were times when spain played like it was a kick around. Hope the bookies took a right hammering!
Alex, they’ll have taken an absolute doing tonight. But they expect it to happen once or twice in a tournament.
9/5 for Spain to win both halves, cha ching!!
I had an accumulator with a “bookie”
Over 0.5 goals in f/h
Torres anytime
Silva anytime
Over 10 corners
Spain to win to nil
Just didn’t check up on Torres anytime £5 on returned £150.28
Cheers fixit!
Aaron, nice one, wish they were all like tonight.
Great picks tonight, Fixit! Won £25 on Spain to win both halves
Was on to win both halves and over 2.5 to great
Night for everyone wish I had the nuts for -3 just thought the score might have been literally 3-0 tho, as fabragas come on I loaded up live odds of 9/2 for next goal as he scored! Can’t be greedy tho ;)
Aaron, like you I thought 3-0 but it could be have been any number Spain wanted after the break. Irish heads went down after second goal went in and if Spain were a bit more clincical they could hammer teams like Ireland whose defence wasn’t as solid as in the qualifiers. I’ll be on Italy -1 and -2 right now because that looks like it will be another sore one for Ireland.
Yeah great picks paul ur on fire! Tricky games tomorrow tho. Fancy england to score as swedish defence looks iffy but unsure who to go for. Thinking ashley young.
Joe, my Record column is at the printers and I can tell you I’ve tipped England and Young to score first. Have you got a mole in the office?
All over Spain tonight also. Took the single, to win to nil and -2. Happy days! Only slight disappointment is I was planning on backing pirlo first goal but changed my mind.
Marc, I also looked at Pirlo for first goal but made a decent profit on Italy game and huge profit on Spain game so can’t complain.
Was thinking 2 draws 2morrow. Maybe even 2 1-1 draws. The 4 teams playin dont score many goals. What do you think paul?
Alex, much tougher games tomorrow. I think France will beat Ukraine and because I was convinced by Sweden in their opener I’m thinking England, possibly 1-0.
Great minds think alike and all that haha :)
Joe, more like simple minds!
Just to mention anyone who had a losing first Goalscorer bet with Ladbrokes will have their money refunded as fabregas scored the last goal