FOOTBALL BETTING: Live on ITV: Sun 13.15: England meet Japan in Austria for their last World Cup warm up match and will look to iron out a few mistakes from the Mexico game.
The performance may not have been convincing as England saw off Mexico at Wembley but the result at least will have pleased Fabio Capello, who will be demanding more from his players as they tackle Japan in their second warm-up game ahead of the World Cup.
England are a generous 3/10 at 888Sport to register another morale-boosting success against a Japan side quoted at 9/1 by Betfred and arguably inferior to Mexico, and another triumph by a two-goal margin, at odds of 14/5 with William Hill, is a distinct possibility for Capello’s charges.
Their rearguard should have a more rigid feel about it after Monday’s wobbles, especially as Chelsea duo John Terry and Ashley Cole could be recalled and as a lack of firepower looks set to hinder Takeshi Osada’s men in South Africa; it seems likely that on this occasion, Capello’s men will prevail and also keep a clean sheet; outcomes that combine at 5/6 with Totesport.
In turn, this lends appeal to Victor Chandler’s 11/2 chalked against England striking twice without reply in Austria but the industry of the busy Japanese can at least stifle England in the first half, meaning that England might only secure victory after going in on level terms at the break (7/2, Stan James).
In attack, Peter Crouch should be backed to get on the scoresheet, however, as the towering Spurs striker may have to settle for a place on the substitutes bench, a wager on him to break the deadlock might not be wise and instead, he may be worth considering at even money with Paddy Power to notch at any stage or alternatively at 4/1 (Ladbrokes) to grab the last goal.
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