OCT 12: WORLD CUP BETTING

SCOTLAND and Wales face off in a Battle of Britain clash that features two nations who have made disappointing starts to their Group A campaigns.

Wales have lost twice and Scotland drawn twice so nothing less than a win is required in Cardiff.

The Tartan Army's spirits have been raised by the addition of the two Fletchers to the squad. Man Utd midfielder Darren is fit again while a peace deal with Steven had to be done after starting his Sunderland career with five goals in five games.

Scotland have won just once against the Welsh since 1984 – and that was in the last meeting – but I'm sticking my neck and banking on Craig Levein's men to pick up the points.

Best price on the Scots is 7-4 at bet365 while the Welsh are the same price at BetVictor and the draw pays 11-5.

The Scots will need to be at their best against top-quality players such as Joe Allen and Gareth Bale. But the Welsh have lost Craig Bellamy, James Collins, Neil Taylor and their first and second-choice keepers.

So Steven Fletcher could be the key and there will be big money on him to score first at 13-2 with bet365 and BetVictor.

Steven or Darren to net first pays 9-2 at William Hill while either Fletcher to net the opener is 21-20. Both to score is a 21-1 double.

Strangely Bale is Wales' favourite at 17-2 with bet365 and that just about sums up their problems and maybe why they crashed to Belgium and Serbia.

With so much at stake it's bound to be hard-fought and the bookings could could be high. A sending off pays 11-4 with William Hill.

Six Celtic players are in the squad – Joe Ledley and Adam Matthews for Wales and James Forrest, Kris Common, Scott Brown and Charlie Mulgrew. Any Celtic players to score first pays 13-8 at William Hill.

Bookies expect Scotland to take three points from their double-header against Wales and Belgium and that pays 2-1 with Hills. Six points is 16-1, four 13-2, two 11-1, one 11-4 and none 9-4.

Elsewhere in Group A there is cracking-looking contest between Serbia and Belgium. The Serbs are on a high after their 6-1 thrashing of Wales but to be honest bad defending played a part that day.

I might have tipped a full-strength Belgium but the loss of Everton attacker Marouane Fellaini is a big one. It's a tough call but a draw is possible and best bet could be both teams to score at 1-1 with boylesports.

The other game in Group A sees Croatia visit Macedonia and the visitors have the firepower to edge this one. Croatia are 4-5 at Skybet and Nikica Jelavic, who has been in fantastic form for Everton, is 9-2 at bet365 to net first.

As usual there is a mix of games involving teams to short to back and others where the games could be incredibly tight.
In Group B Italy should win in Armenia but are no bigger than 2-5 with Paddy Power while the Czech Republic are 1-20 at Betfred to see off Malta at home.

Sweden will be backed by all and sundry as they make the short trip to the Faroes in Group C. You'll get just 1-10 at Stan James but take a peek at Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has been banging them in for PSG, at 11-5 with bet365 to break the deadlock.

Republic of Ireland entertain Germany and it's a tough one for Giovanni Trapattoni's men who were lucky to scrape past Kazakhstan last time out. I'll be on the Germans at 1-2 with Ladbrokes.

Hungary are a much improved side and look a decent punt at 6-4 with William Hill to beat Estonia away in Group D as favourites Holland take on whipping boys Andorra.

It's a question of how many for the Dutch and Robin van Persie could help himself to a couple. He is just 4-5 at Paddy Power to score two or more.

Switzerland have won four of their last five and home advantage can help them defeat Norway in Group E. The Swiss are 4-5 with Ladbrokes.

One of the biggest matches of the night is Russia v Portugal. Both sides have won their first two and it has the feel of a score draw.

Russia must keep Cristiano Ronaldo quiet after hitting eight goals in his last three games. The Real Madrid star is 29-20 at unibet to score again.

The big game in Group G is Greece v Bosnia and the home side will be happy to see Georgios Samaras fit again and back among the goals. Sammy's netted in Celtic's last two against Spartak Moscow and Hearts and is 7-1 at bet365 to bag the opener. This will be a close call but the tenacious Greeks can edge it. They are 21-20 at Stan James.

It's also a question of how many for England as they take on San Marino at home. England, no bigger than 1-80 at Paddy Power, should win by at least four. However, minus four goals pays just 5-6 at bet365.

Ukraine looked a decent outfit as they drew at Wembley last time out and I expect them to win in Moldova. They are 1-3 at Betfred.

World champions Spain also look a stick-on for three points at Belarus an look at David Villa to once again provide them with a spark. He is 11-4 at Ladbrokes to score first.

In the South American qualifiers the best bets are Argentina at home to Uruguay and Colombia against Paraguay. The main men for the home nations are Lionel Messi and Falcao. Both to score first pays 15-1 at William Hill.

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