Live on ITV1: Sat 17.15: Spain are worthy favourites at 10/11 with Boylesports to beat Fabio Capello’s England in their friendly at Wembley.
Earlier in the week, World and European champions Spain were available at 11/10 to get the better of England in Saturday’s friendly but those odds were predictably gobbled up and now Vicente del Bosque’s side are trading at just 10/11 with Boylesports to emerge triumphant at Wembley.
Given the strength of the squad named by the visitors and the absence of talismanic striker Wayne Rooney for the ‘Three Lions’, it’s easy to see why punters have deserted the hosts and with bookies seeing very little trade for a home win, rate Fabio Capello’s men at 3/1.
Indeed in the circumstances, a draw, priced by Stan James at 5/2, would have to go down as a very respectable result for England, who have failed to score in three consecutive defeats to the Spanish and those fancying a stalemate could do worse than consider Skybet’s 9/1 chalked against a goalless encounter.
Without Rooney, Capello’s troops could struggle to find the net and on that basis, a case can be made for a match tally of fewer than 2.5 goals at 1.67 (4/6) via Betdaq and in turn there could be market support for Ladbrokes’ 8/1 for Spain to again notch twice without reply, as they did when the pair last met in February 2009.
England’s last victory in this fixture came back in 2001 as Nick Barmby, Emile Heskey and Ugo Ehiogu fired them to a 3-0 success in Sven Goran Eriksson’s first game in charge in 2001 but as Spain are the number one ranked side in the world, a repeat is considered pretty unlikely by Paddy Power, at odds of 66/1.
Home supporters intent on a flutter on the ‘Three Lions’ should instead contemplate a more realistic 2-1 scoreline at 12/1 (Totesport) or alternatively Partybets price Capello’s charges at 5/1 to shade it by a one-goal margin.
In attack, Sportingbet quote the hosts at 9/20 just to find the net against the outstanding Spanish, who are 5/4 courtesy of bet365 to again keep a clean sheet while Rooney’s absence gives an opportunity for the likes of Darren Bent to shine and the Villa man is 8/1 with the same firm to break the deadlock. Barcelona striker David Villa however, heads the first scorer market, rated by Betfred at 5/1 to notch first.
Recommended Bets:
Spain to beat England – 10/11 (Boylesports)
Spain to beat England 2-0 – 8/1 (Ladbrokes)
Compare all friendly odds and bet at the best price.