International football makes a welcome return this week as England face Bulgaria and Scotland host Russia in Euro 2020 qualifying action.
Running total: +£31.50
The Banker
Bulgaria head to Wembley on Saturday to face an England side who look well set to qualify for Euro 2020. The Three Lions are already in a cosy position in Group A after scoring 10 goals in easy wins over Czech Republic and Montenegro.
In the 1990s, led by the inimitable Hristo Stoichkov, Bulgaria were a major force in world football. However the current national side is pretty unremarkable, as demonstrated by a defeat to lowly Kosovo last time out. Unsurprisingly then, England are heavy favourites for the win and are as short as 2/5 to win without conceding at Wembley.
The last time these teams met was during qualifying for Euro 2012, with England posting a 4-0 win at home before winning 3-0 in Sofia. With rising stars Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho set to feature a similar scoreline looks entirely possible so bet365’s 4/6 quote about England covering a two-goal handicap looks a stick on.
Selection: £6 on England (-2) to beat Bulgaria at 4/6 with bet365.
The Tasty Treble
Both teams to score looks the bet when Scotland host Russia on Friday evening. Over 2.5 goals has landed in all of Scotland’s home games so far in this qualifying campaign and all of Russia’s away qualifiers. With this in mind the even money about both teams finding the net in Glasgow looks generous.
Elsewhere we like Germany at 10/11 to beat Netherlands on Friday evening. Germany for the better of the Dutch in Amsterdam back in March and look primed to follow up here. Joachim Low’s men have hit 13 goals in three qualifiers to date and can make home advantage count.
Finally add in Switzerland at 6/5 to beat Republic of Ireland on Thursday night. The Swiss impressed away in Georgia recently and should have too much for an Irish side who lack a real cutting edge up top. The European treble pays almost 15/2 with bet365.
Selection: £4 on the treble at 7.4/1 with bet365.
The First Goal Flutter
Gemrany’s Marco Reus looks an interesting price at 6/1 to score first against Netherlands having already bagged three goals for the Germans in qualifying. He’s also made a bright start to the domestic season with Borussia Dortmund and if he can negate a path past Dutch colossus Virgil van Dijk, which admittedly will be no easy task, he can set Germany on their way in Hamburg.
Selection: £2 on Reus to score first at 6/2 with bet365.
The Wildcard Tip
France are big favourites to see off Albania this weekend and we reckon Barcelona star Antoine Griezmann could be worth following at 11/4 to score first. Les Bleus lead Group H with nine points out of a possible 12 and the French could again be inspired by Griezmann, a player who has been lauded in the Spanish press after making a sizzling start to life at the Nou Camp.
Selection: £2 on Griezmann to score first at 11/4 with bet365.
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