Group D Matchday three Preview

After missing out on the first two games Wayne Rooney will make his return against Ukraine in England’s final group match, can the Man Utd forward fire them to victory? Bookmakers certainly think Rooney will come out firing, making him 11/2 (general) favourite to be the first goalscorer. Team-mate Danny Welbeck is next in the market at 7/1 (general), while Andy Carroll is also 7/1 (BetVictor/Stan James/ladbrokes). Those who think Ukraine will bag the first goal can get 9/1 (Stan James/ladbrokes/Coral) that it is Andriy Shevchenko who gets the goal.

England go into the game with Ukraine knowing a draw will be enough to see them into the next round, but with Spain probably awaiting the second place side in the group, England will be gunning for all three points. The bookmakers make England 6/5 (general) to claim all three points, while it is 12/5 (general) the game ends in a draw. A shock Ukraine victory (a result that would send the hosts through) is priced at 11/4 (boylesports).

Ukraine have lost two of their last three games 2-0 and you can get 11/1 (188bet) that England win by this margin. Those who think a single goal will be enough can get 15/2 (Coral) a 1-0 England victory. The bookmakers make the 1-1 draw 6/1 (general) the favourite.

If you think this England side will overwhelm Ukraine it might pay to back England HT/England FT 27/10 (188bet), the Draw HT/England FT result is a best priced at 5/1 (Bodog). Those who expect Ukraine to score early and hold out against England can get Ukraine HT/Ukraine FT at 11/2 (Totesport/betfred/BetVictor).

The other game in that group sees France up against the already eliminated Sweden. France are strong favourites and are 9/13 (188bet), those who think Sweden can end the campaign with a small manner of pride restored can get 14/5 the draw (Skybet/boylesports/BetVictor) and it is 5/1 (general) a Sweden victory.

Karim Benzema has had an excellent first tournament without finding the net and is 9/2 (BetVictor/BlueSq/888sport) to grab the first goal. Jeremy Menez found himself in many advanced positions last time out and is 17/2 (bet365) to grab the opener. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been one of the few bright lights in the tournament for Sweden and is 9/1 (ladbrokes) to grab the opener.

France have conceded just one goal in their last four games and you can get 13/2 (william hill) a 1-0 victory, 2-0 is priced up at 15/2 (william hill) and 3-0 at 14/1 (Totesport/betfred). Those who expect the game to end in a draw can get 0-0 at 12/1 (Skybet/sportingbet), 1-1 is priced at 7/1 (sportingbet) and 2-2 is a best priced 18/1 (Coral). A 1-0 Swedish victory is trading at 16/1 (188bet).

Sweden are expected to offer little resistance to the French and if you expect the French class to show from the start then you can get 13/8 (Stan James) France HT/France FT. If you think that Sweden will hold out for a least at half then it might pay to back the Draw HT/Sweden FT market which is trading at 7/2 (general). If you fancy France to start well but throw it all away then the France HT/Sweden FT market is trading at 66/1 (sportingbet/Bwin).

By the end of this group we shall know the eight teams who will make up the quarter-finals, stay with us for previews for those games also.

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17/06/2012     © Frixo 2024