Spaniards surprisingly big odds to beat French

There is plenty of value on the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil qualifying match coupon and, for once, world and European champion Spain is among the attractively priced teams.

The Spaniards are around 1-2 to beat France at the home of Atletico Madrid in the eagerly anticipated repeat of the UEFA Euro 2012 quarter-final, which they won 2-0 thanks to a Xabi Alonso brace either side of the half-time interval.

Spain has not lost since going down 0-1 to England in a Wembley Stadium friendly in November last year. Using the scores after 90 minutes, the Spaniards have won 12 and drawn three of their subsequent 15 games. Over the same period, the French have seven wins, three draws and three losses, including a last-start 0-1 home defeat versus Japan.

UEFA Euro 2012 runner-up Italy is another side worth a bet, with the Azzurri around 8-15 to beat Denmark in Milan. The Italians have won their last eight competitive home games, which demonstrates that they get the job done in front of their own fans when it really matters. The Danes have not won any of their last five matches, only one of which has taken place outside Denmark against a genuine home team.

Staying in Europe, there is no shortage of home bankers at odds that may appeal to multi punters. Belgium proved its worth by beating Serbia 3-0 in Belgrade on Friday and it should have no difficulty defeating Scotland in Brussels, which is an option available at around 4-11. Croatia is another short-priced favourite that should get maximum points, with bookmakers quoting it at around 1-3 to beat Wales in Osijek. And Portugal, even at around 1-8, looks overpriced to beat Northern Ireland in Porto. One has to feel sorry for the British sides that are not England.

In South America, Argentina should be shorter than around 4-5 to defeat Chile in Santiago. Lionel Messi and friends have won seven of their last nine games, with their only blips being a 1-1 draw in Peru and a 1-2 defeat in Brazil when they conceded a 94th-minute penalty. The Chileans have lost their last three matches, including a home FIFA 2014 World Cup Brazil qualifier versus Colombia by two goals.

Finally, Australia is finding life increasingly hard in Asia having made the move from Oceania following the FIFA 2006 World Cup Germany. The Socceroos are away to Iraq and too short in the market for what promises to be a major test.

Australia has won only one of its last six games, beating Lebanon 3-0 in Beirut but losing 1-2 in Jordan, 1-3 in Scotland and 0-2 in Denmark. The Socceroos are an ageing team and they will struggle in the heat of the Middle East, with the match taking place not in Iraq but in Qatar.

The Iraqis have an excellent record against Australia and, in what shapes as being a low-scoring game, they should be backed not to lose at around 8-11. Bookmakers have switched on to the high probability of fewer than three goals and are offering odds of around 8-13 on the under 2.5 goals option.

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15/10/2012     © Frixo 2024