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)

27 Comments
  1. Marc Currie 12 years ago

    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…

  2. Kaz 12 years ago

    Afraid the friendly has been cancelled because of the earthquake in Northern Italy today.

  3. craig alves 12 years ago

    Russia -1 & BTTS Bulgaria Turkey pays 2/1 at lads shop

  4. Danny 12 years ago

    cheeky wee treble

    fredrikstad-viking draw
    bulgaria-turkey draw
    angola-macedonia draw

    pays 33/1

  5. Danny 12 years ago

    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

  6. Danny 12 years ago

    excuse the jumbod mess wasnt the way i wrote it

  7. craig alves 12 years ago

    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 :)

  8. Sways play today 12 years ago

    Fancy the Bulgaria – turkey game over 2.5 goals tonight

  9. Marc Currie 12 years ago

    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.

  10. joe knotts 12 years ago

    Ive took russia -1 doubled with over 2.5 on bulguria v turkey game tonight.

  11. Marc Currie 12 years ago

    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! : )

    • Mr Fixit 12 years ago

      Marc, these games really are a lottery. Clydebank will play to a much bigger crowd on Thursday.

  12. joe knotts 12 years ago

    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!

  13. Marc Currie 12 years ago

    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

  14. joe knotts 12 years ago

    Does the afters bet not include 0-0 marc?

  15. craig alves 12 years ago

    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.

  16. Marc Currie 12 years ago

    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.

    • Mr Fixit 12 years ago

      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.

  17. Mr Chris Guy 12 years ago

    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.

    • Mr Fixit 12 years ago

      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.

  18. craig alves 12 years ago

    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.

    • Mr Fixit 12 years ago

      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.

  19. craig alves 12 years ago

    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

  20. craig alves 12 years ago

    *are they not just as bad as each other

    • Mr Fixit 12 years ago

      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.

  21. craig alves 12 years ago

    went for under 3.5 gls azerb v andorra, spain -1.5 and -0.5. £3 for £15

  22. craig alves 12 years ago

    *austria -0.5

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