RIBERY value to score anytime in World Cup play-offs

In the second part of our World Cup qualifying playoff guide in Europe we look at the best of the bets from the games between Greece and Romania and Ukraine against France.

Greece take on Romania for a place in the 2014 World Cup with the Greeks the 8/11 (bet365/boylesports/ sportingbet) favourites to qualify for the next round with the Romanians 6/5 (SKYBET/CORAL) to make their first major tournament since Euro 2008. The first leg is being held in Greece where the home side side have not lost since November 2011 though side to beat them on that day was Romania. If you think Romania can repeat the trick then you can back them to do so at 7/2 (bet365) while the draw is a 23/10 (bet365) chance and the Greece win is the favourite at 21/20 (GENERAL).

Goals might be difficult to come by in this game as Greece do not concede many at home with Fernando Santos side keeping a remarkable 11 clean sheets from their last 12 games. The home side are 5/4 (betway) to stop Romania scoting in the opening leg while it is as short as 4/6 (boylesports) on the NO in the both teams to score market.

I would recommend an interest in the anytime scorer market where Kostas Mitroglou looks value at 11/4 (BETVICTOR). The Greek player has 18 goals in 18 games in all competitions this season and three in his last five internationals. Those looking for a bet on a Romanian player might want to look at Ciprian Marica who has netted three times in the last four Romanian games including two in the last. He is 19/5 (BETVICTOR) though considering the strong Greek defence it might be one to give a miss.

Ukraine take on France on Friday evening (19:45) with bookmakers making the French favourites to qualify at odds of 4/11 (paddy Power/CORAL/william hill) while Ukraine are 28/11 (BWIN) to make it to Brazil 2014. The French are unbeaten in their last five games and unbeaten against sides outside the top 11 (Ukraine are 20th) in the FIFA World Rankings since October 2012. The shade of value might be in them at 6/4 (bet365/william hill) to win the first leg in Ukraine, especially as they beat them in Euro 2012 in Ukraine. In seven previous head-to-head encounters with Ukraine France are unbeaten and though the draw is a worry here at odds of 6/4 I am willing to take the risk on them.

Those who disagree with me and think Ukraine can get something from this game can get 9/4 (BET365/SPREADEX) on the Ukraine victory and the same price (SKYBET/CORAL) on the first leg to end all square. Karim Benzema is likely to lead the line for France and he has nine goals in 18 appearance for Real Madrid this season and he can be backed at 11/4 (888 SPORT/unibet) in the anytime scorer market while Franck Ribery has scored four times in his last three international appearances and he looks generous at odds of 3/1 (GENERAL) in the anytime scorer market.

Those looking for a Ukranian goalscorer can get Marko Devic who scored a hat-trick against San Marino in the last game at 3/1 (BET365/BETVICTOR) while tricky winger Yevgen Konoplianka who give England many problems is 9/2 (BET365/888 SPORT/unibet).

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Franck Ribery to score anytime v Ukraine, 3/1 (GENERAL)
SILVER: France to beat Ukraine, 6/4 (BET365/WILLIAM HILL)
BRONZE: Kostas Mitroglou to score anytime v Romania, 11/4 (BETVICTOR)

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25/11/2013     © Frixo 2026