We wonder if Gareth Southgate has been harassing the powers-that-be at the FA to get a contract signed and sealed before this one. Southgate, who is the quaffer-elect for the poisoned chalice, has looked a solid candidate so far. But he could be as robust as a cardboard box in a deluge after Spain have finished with his team.
The Spanish are 2.63 with Bet365 for victory. This is a cracking price about an intelligent, attractive and robust football nation against, frankly, the basket cases of international football. England are 3 (green listed bookmakers Bet365, Coral, William Hill). It’s a price we wouldn’t touch with someone else’s. The draw is 3.2 (Bet365, Skybet, Betfred, BetVictor, Coral).
It’s not so much about what Spain – even if they are, surely, resting key men – can do, rather than what England cannot. The answer to that ponderable is ‘not very much’. Their results, granted, under Southgate’s tutelage have been encouraging but their performances suggest that a hiding is not too far away.
Frankly, this Spain game couldn’t come at a worse time for a team which is only ever one game away from total meltdown.
England were given the run around by Slovenia, were uninspiring in a victory against Malta and were then hugely flattered by Scotland. These are supposed to be reasons for optimism but they are papering over the cracks.
The Scots effort was perhaps the most worrying if you are an England fan. Time and time again England’s back four and midfield holders passed into no man’s land, gifting Scotland attacking opportunities. The visitors wasted two wonderful chances to open their account but with all the skill and dexterity of their drunken crew in the stands, they stumbled and swayed.
Seeing is believing. And had you not seen England be so poor in possession and fortunate not to have conceded, you could well believe they are on a resurgent run. But the statistic that they have not conceded since the Euros is terribly misleading.
They haven’t conceded because they have not yet come up against a team who have the nous in front of goal or cutting edge to make them pay. Spain are ruthless. Indeed, that stats is a reason to expect Spain get at least two tonight. They are 2.65 with Coral to score two or more.
We are extremely tempted by 2-0 Spain at 13 with BetVictor and 3-0 at 34 with Marathon Bet. Other odds which appeal with Spanish dominance expected is the 4.2 888Sport offer about the visitors winning to nil. But let’s not be greedy. The price about Spain win is good enough and that’s out top-rated wager.
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