Friendly, Parma, 7.45pm (postponed due to earthquake)
WITH a major tournament just around the corner Italian football is once again embroiled in scandal.
Fourteen people were arrested for alleged match fixing yesterday, including young defender Domenico Criscito who was pulled out of the Euro 2012 squad.
His room at Italy’s training HQ was searched by cops and the incident cast another shadow over the Italian game.
Whether it will have any effect on the country's display at Poland and Ukraine we'll have to see although there haven't been too many takers for Italy on the outrights.
Italy will try to put the focus back on the pitch tonight with a friendly against Luzembourg. Cesar Prandelli will be hoping for an easy warm-up win and should get it even though Luxembourg have been improving under Luc Holtz whose side recently beat Macedonia and Albania.
However, Italy have to win this in light of what happened last night but they are no bigger than 1-14 at William Hill. Luxembourg are 34-1 at unibet with the draw paying 11-1 with Paddy Power and BetVictor.
At those odds we have to scramble about looking for value and even with their problems the Italians should be able to win by more than two. Minus two they are 8-11 at bet365 while you can have 8-13 with Paddy Power and bet365 on Italy to win both halves.
Although Luxembourg have stopped conceding as many as they did previously they don't score many so look Italy to win to nil at 4-9 with Skybet and bet365. In six previous meetings of the countries it's been 19-1 to Italy on aggregate but they haven't played since 1981.
Check starting line-ups before having a first-scorer punt. Recalled Mario Balotelli and Antonio di Natale are the 5-2 favourites at Paddy Power.
Tonight's other friendly involving Euro finalists sees Russia face an inexperienced and weakened Lithuania in Switzerland. Again the advice is to try to see the teams before betting but on the face of it this must be win for Dick Advocaat's men.
However, the Russians are a best 1-3 at Coral so if I like the line-ups I'll go for 5-6 Russia minus one at Paddy Power.
Recommendations
Italy -2
(8-11, bet365)
Italy to win to nil
(4-9, Skybet, bet365)
Russia -1
(5-6, Paddy Power)
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.
Lithuania v Russia is very similar to last nights game in terms of difference in quality and prices! Another four nil job would do nicely…
Afraid the friendly has been cancelled because of the earthquake in Northern Italy today.
Russia -1 & BTTS Bulgaria Turkey pays 2/1 at lads shop
cheeky wee treble
fredrikstad-viking draw
bulgaria-turkey draw
angola-macedonia draw
pays 33/1
just noticed how strong the europa league is next season
spain italy holland portugal
athletico bilbao inter milan psv sporting
athletico madrid napoli twente maritimo
levante lazio alkmaar academica
roma heerenveen
england germany france
tottenham leverkusen lyon
liverpool hannover marseille
newcastle stuttgart bordeaux
my personal favourites
dundee utd
hearts
st johnstone
excuse the jumbod mess wasnt the way i wrote it
just done over 3.5 gls double in lith v russia & bulg v turkey.10/1
also man u to win champs league, chelsea to win league and birmingham championship 50p ew for 450 odds.
i’ll be happy if russia win by 2+ & BTTS in bulgaria tho :)
Fancy the Bulgaria – turkey game over 2.5 goals tonight
Quite angry with myself for leaving it so late tonight that Russia have been cut a fair bit. However I’m avoiding the handicaps as while Russia scored 17 goals in 10 qualifying matches, 6 of them came at home to Andorra in the final match. They also failed to score more than one goal per match on 6 occasions.
As a result I’m going for first goal after 23 mins (10/11). I know it’s more of a lottery but it’s a bet I’m more comfortable with tonight.
Ive took russia -1 doubled with over 2.5 on bulguria v turkey game tonight.
Quite a few regulars left out for the Russians but they are still very much dominating possession.
Anyone watching it? Theres about 30 folk sitting on the grassy hill at the opposite stand side. Clydebank will play infront of bigger crowds! : )
Marc, these games really are a lottery. Clydebank will play to a much bigger crowd on Thursday.
Well done on ur after 23 mins bet marc. I should maybe have listened to ur advice and avoided the handicap on that one. Still time tho so heres hoping!
Cheers but it’s not up yet Joe, still needs a goal. Nil nil would be a sickener! At least Alan Dzagoev is on the pitch now so we stand a better chance than we did without him
Does the afters bet not include 0-0 marc?
poor show fae russia tonight, only caught last 20 mins as got wee boy stayin but not much of a game from what i seen. not many games to chose from but better selection tomorrow.
Unfortunately not Joe. In the time of first goal market you need there be be a goal as no goals is an option also. 14/1 in tonight’s case.
I knew Russia were strong defensively and not the most creative but that’s taking the biscuit.
Only watched the first 23 mins and was played at a testimonial pace.
Marc, a lot of these friendlies are no more than training matches and it’s fraught for punters. My advice is to bet small or not at all.
Here are my tips for wed/thu
Netherlands vs Slovakia (wed)
Van Persie anytime scorer 4/6 @ Coral
Germany vs Israel
Mario Gomez anytime scorer 4/5 @ Coral
Plus a double on the above pays 2/1 @ Coral
I really can’t believe Gomez is as big as 4/5. He is 1/2 with victor chandler and 2/5 with Hills and Paddy Power. I think it’s such a great price and I’m thinking about going big on Gomez. I don’t imagine the price will stay for long.
Chris, I might put something up later if I can get team news confirmed but must admit I’m getting fed-up with the friendlies. Gomez is a great price but will he start? Likewise van Persie.
well said paul, enough friendly let downs for most of us now. what about under 19 qualifliers, at least you know teams will actually play to win and not back out of tackles. sayin that i think spain could send there 3rd team and still score a few gls against most teams, -2 is 21/10 @paddypower. also think they need to play torres to try get his confidence back up 4/6 anytime.
Craig, I’m wondering about USA against Brazil. US might be worth a look on the handicaps after their display against Scotland although we made them look very good. And over 2.5 goals also a shout.
spain to score 3 gls or more
inter turko -2 asian h/c
austria u’19 -0.5
croatia -1.5
£2 for just under £30
£3 left in account now for later on. only know brazil beat denmark and denmark good side so won’t be too confident with usa h/c’s on the view that they pumped us haha. will wait to see if there are any tips up later on to decide. whats with the price difference between azerbhajan andorra, I may not just as bad as each other
*are they not just as bad as each other
Craig, Azerbaijan are slightly better than Andorra, just don’t expect a goalfest. I’ve put up some US tips and lot depends on the Brazil attitude. Might be one to watch for the inrunning bets although it’s a late kick-off. I’d love to know who Spain are starting up front and if Pedro’s there I reckon I’ll back him. He could be their main man in the Euros as I don’t see Torres starting many and Llorente doesn’t suit their neat passing game although gives them an option to at least put in a cross now and again.
went for under 3.5 gls azerb v andorra, spain -1.5 and -0.5. £3 for £15
*austria -0.5