Chris Hutcheon casts his eye over the Euro2012 qualifiers not involving the home nations and fancies a Belgium Greek double.
Unless something like ’s 1/28 for France to defeat Luxembourg is of interest then the midweek Euro 2012 qualifiers don’t throw up many obvious selections, however with a little work it is possible to unearth some value and on this occasion, it comes in the shape of four teams that can record home wins.
First up are the Belgians who recovered from a sticky start in Group A to grab their first win of the campaign in Kazakhstan on Friday. Head coach Georges Leekens has a talented young squad that includes the likes of Bayern Munich’s Daniel Van Buyten and Premiership pair Vincent Kompany and Marouane Fellaini amongst others, but as a unit they have yet to fulfil their potential.
However, they could be starting to gel and on home soil, as their more youthful players gain more experience, they look worth considering at 4/5 (Betdaq) to get the better of an average Austrian outfit.
Italy dominated possession against Northern Ireland yet couldn’t make the breakthrough but they should have no such trouble as they tackle Serbia in Genoa. The visitors have taken just one point from two home games they were expected to win and Friday’s surprise defeat against Estonia doesn’t bode well for this trip. Bearing this in mind, the Azzurri look a cracking bet at 8/11 with betfred to send Vladimir Petrovic’s side home empty-handed and they can do so without conceding (8/5, bet365).
In Piraeus, a solid-looking Greece are 17/20 courtesy of William Hill, to get the better of an unconvincing Israel side, beaten at home by Croatia on Saturday evening and finally, but perhaps most interestingly, Estonia look to have been underestimated as they entertain Slovenia in Group C.
Taarmo Ruutli’s charges stunned Serbia in Belgrade on Friday, recording an impressive 3-1 triumph and they ran Italy close in their last home game so they have little to fear from a Slovenian outfit beaten at home by Northern Ireland in September. To say Estonia look overpriced at 11/4 with bet365 is therefore an understatement and even those that want to play it a little safer can potentially cash in on the hosts, who are 7/4 in William Hill’s ‘Draw no Bet’ market.
Recommended Bets:
Estonia to beat Slovenia – 11/4 (Ladbrokes)
Italy to beat Serbia – 3/4 ()
Double on Belgium and Greece – 11/5 (Betfred)
