Live on ITV1: Wed 20.00: England are marginal favourites at 6/4 (Paddy Power) to beat Italy in the pair’s friendly but it could end 0-0 in Berne.
In a somewhat inconveniently scheduled friendly contest, England renew hostilities with the team that eliminated them from Euro 2012, Italy, in Switzerland. Roy Hodgson has picked a relatively inexperienced squad as he looks to run the rule over a few players before the World Cup qualifying campaign gets under way but as the Azzurri have drafted in a host of uncapped players, the Three Lions are Paddy Power’s 6/4 favourites.
However, given the timing of the clash, just days before the start of the new Premier League campaign, it’s likely to be a pedestrian affair and with that in mind, Skybet’s draw quote of 23/10 stands out and it could even finish goalless just as it did in the European Championship in June, a result Stan James offer at 17/2 on this occasion.
Certainly a tally of fewer than three goals looks likely in what will be a disjointed, experimental affair but at a top price of just 8/13 at Betfred, it’s hardly a lucrative wager. Instead, Boylesports’ 7/4 for the clash to generate under 1.5 goals is worth considering, especially as Italy’s string-puller-in-chief, Andrea Pirlo probably won’t feature.
Elsewhere, Betfred post 13/8 against the score being 0-0 at the interval while for punters desperate to speculate on the ever-popular first scorer market despite the likely dearth of goals, Andy Carroll is arguably the best bet at 8/1 with Coral as it could take something like a set piece to break the deadlock.
Recommended Bets:
Match to finish 0-0 – 17/2 (Stan James)
