Live on ITV: Weds 20.00: We have three picks, including a 2/1 shot at betway as England face Ecuador in an international friendly.
A solid showing in the first of their World Cup preparation matches, saw England ease to a 3-0 victory over Peru at Wembley and confidence will now be high in Roy Hodgson’s squad as they head to Florida for a brace of friendlies in temperatures more akin to those they will face in Brazil.
First up are Ecuador, seemingly a perfect choice of opponent given that they finished just ahead of England’s Group D rivals Uruguay in the South American qualifying competition and subsequently plenty of punters might feel the pair are sufficiently even-matched to warrant a flutter on a stalemate at 5/2 with Stan James.
BetVictor post 13/2 against a 1-1 scoreline and a score draw is a 4/1 shot courtesy of bet365, however, ‘the Tri’ are far more effective when plying their trade at the high altitude of the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, where they won seven and drew one of their eight qualifiers and away from Quito, Reinaldo Rueda’s charges have tended to struggle.
Indeed, in the last year or so they have managed just two wins in 13 outings and accordingly Hodgson’s side are odds-on at 10/11 via Paddy Power to rack up another success, with Ecuador considered 10/3 outsiders by bet365.
Nevertheless, the South Americans are robust enough to ensure it’s a close affair at Miami’s Sun Life Stadium, where Skybet chalk England up at 5/2 to shade it by a one goal margin, Ladbrokes make them 6/1 to prevail 1-0 as they did when the teams faced-off in the 2006 World Cup and it’s 2/1 at betway for the ‘Three Lions’ to again triumph ‘to nil’.
Elsewhere, BetVictor go 4/1 about Hodgson’s troops coming out on top following an even first half, it’s 8/13 (Stan James) for England to break the deadlock and William Hill mark odds of 11/10 against the game’s opening goal arriving after the 31st minute.
Daniel Sturridge made the breakthrough against Peru, a feat bet365 make him 5/1 to repeat in this fixture, BetVictor price the Liverpool front man at 13/8 to notch at any stage and Stan James offer 8/11 about a match tally of fewer than three goals.
Winner.com meanwhile, rate Hodgson’s team at 7/20 in the ‘Draw No Bet’ market, a wager that will appeal to those not yet convinced that England will give a decent account of themselves when the tournament finally gets under way.
Recommended Bets:
England to beat Ecuador ‘to nil’ – 2/1 (betway)
First goal after the 31st minute – 11/10 (William Hill)
Draw/England in HT/FT betting – 4/1 (BetVictor)
Compare all international friendly odds and bet at the best prices.
