MAY 25: INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY TIPS

I DON'T like betting on international friendlies but there are two that catch my tonight.

Belgium should be too good for Montenegro while Croatia should overpower Estonia.

The likes of Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany, Jelle Vossen and Kevin Mirallas will be starring for the Belgians who are on the up and have lost just one game in 17.

They netted in nine of their Euro 2012 qualifiers, only failing against Germany at home, and their carefree style of play was highlighted by a 4-4 draw with Austria. Look at over 2.5 goals at 1-1 with William Hill and bet365.

I don't expect too much resistance from a Montenegro side with little to aim at and I'll be on the Belgians at 4-6 with the likes of Paddy Power and BetVictor. With a string of big clubs, including Man Utd, watching Lille midfielder Hazard consider him to put on a show and grab a goal. Prices hould be available later.

Croatia are even shorter at a best 2-9 with BetVictor and Coral at home to Estonia. Boss Slaven Bilic has a nice dilemma, trying to work out who to play up front from Nikica Jelavic, Eduardo and Ivica Olic.

All could get a run-out tonight and if you can check starting line-ups pick one of the strikers who are given the nod. If Jelavic is playing take him for first scorer at 9-2 with unibet after a sensational finish to the season at Everton.

With so much competition for places I expect Croatia to start strongly but also finish well with the subs trying to impress Bilic. Croatia are 11-10 at Skybet to win both halves.

Dick Advocaat’s Russian side face a tough test against World Cup semi-finalists Uruguay in Moscow. The third best side on the planet have included top strikers Diego Forlan and Edinson Cavani and after a stunning season with Napoli I'd look at Cavani to score at 9-4 with Coral.

Russia of course are preparing for the Euros and while they have been tipped to fare well there are doubts about their ability to score. Advocaat has been criticised for being too defensive but the tactics worked in the qualifiers as they lost just one game and conceded only four goals.

Only two non-Russian based players, Marat Izmailov and Pavel Pogrebnyak, have been picked for the squad and there is a good feel to the squad.

However, their creativity depends much on Andrey Arshavin who has benefited from a spell after struggling at Arsenal last season and whther they can hurt Uruguay remains to be seen.

This game is difficult to call so I'll sit on the fencd with a draw, 23-10 at Coral. Russia are a biggest 11-8 with the likes of bet365 and BetVictor while Uruguay are 9-4 at BetVictor.

Recomendations

Hazard to score

(price to follow)

Over 2.5 goals at Belgium

(1-1, William Hill, bet365)

Croatia -1

(4-6, Stan James)

Cavani to score

(9-4, Coral)

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