Spain v England
Friday 13th November, 19:45
Live on ITV1
Spain
In addition to the Silva injury, Real Madrid's Isco will also miss this game after withdrawing from the squad due to a muscle injury, as will Sergio Ramos.
England
This is the first of several 'hard' friendlies lined up by Roy Hodgson to try and prepare England for playing more impressive teams in a tournament proper. For years now, the same problem has reared its head - England qualify easily for a tournament having played no-one of note only to struggle in the tournament itself when faced with a talented side that will take the game to them.
Hodgson is clearly hoping his side learn how to play on the back foot from these upcoming games, and as first tests go it doesn't come too much tougher than Spain away from home. The Three Lions qualified handsomely for next summer's football soiree though, complete with an injury list as long as your arm, and will come into this game in ebullient mood knowing that their record under the current manager is a good one - no defeats in their last eight friendlies makes for soothing reading.
And if Spain have problems in the goalscoring department, then enter England. The English have no-one in the squad other than Wayne Rooney with more than three goals to their name at international level and Hodgson will be hoping that the in-form Jamie Vardy can make a further step up, with a view to making a serious impression at Euro 2016.
Match Odds
The hosts are a short, odds-on price to emerge victorious on Friday night, and their reputation as a footballing powerhouse certainly has something to do with that. 1.80 on a side that has been known to fall short on occasion in friendly matches doesn't hold much interest however - in the last four years La Roja have been beaten by Germany, Netherlands, South Africa and yes, England in non-competitive games and tend to play their best football when it really counts, unlike Friday night's opposition.
England are way out at 5.70 for this affair and that's a price that seriously does tempt because we don't know exactly how serious Spain will take it, and whether Del Bosque will use it to fine-tune bits and pieces and work out how certain players perform certain tasks for him. England will absolutely make it their business to win this game, that we can be sure of.
The Draw is available at 3.70.
Over/Under 2.5 Goals
Keen observers of statistics though would undoubtedly inform me that England have failed to score in their last three matches in Spain and of course, you can't win if you don't score, so maybe the Under 2.5 Goals market is one to look at instead. England are a defensively solid unit and each of their last three encounters have had fewer than three goals in them. Unders, at 1.72 looks a pick here.
Half Time Score
I like the idea of England and Spain both working on different things in this game and Hodgson will probably ask his charges to keep it defensively tight and invite the Spanish to come on strong with a view to seeing how his side holds up, and whether or not they can play on the break. To that end, 0-0 in the Half Time Score market in a game featuring two defensively solid teams is nice bet at 2.80 or better.
Recommended Bets
Back Under 2.5 Goals at 1.72
Back 0-0 in Half Time Score market at 2.80 or better
Friday 13th November, 19:45
Live on ITV1
Spain
The current European champions head
into this friendly with England in the sort of nick we've all been
accustomed to over the last seven years or so; they qualified handily
for next summer's tournament, losing just one game along the way and
conceding only three times in the entire process to finish five points
clear of second-placed Slovakia.
That said, the Spanish aren't without their problems. The current squad named by manager Vicente del Bosque
is notable by its lack of real goalscorers at international level, and
with David Silva currently injured the most prolific player in the 23 is
Chelsea's Pedro, who is enduring a difficult start to his career in the
Premier League.In addition to the Silva injury, Real Madrid's Isco will also miss this game after withdrawing from the squad due to a muscle injury, as will Sergio Ramos.
England
This is the first of several 'hard' friendlies lined up by Roy Hodgson to try and prepare England for playing more impressive teams in a tournament proper. For years now, the same problem has reared its head - England qualify easily for a tournament having played no-one of note only to struggle in the tournament itself when faced with a talented side that will take the game to them.
Hodgson is clearly hoping his side learn how to play on the back foot from these upcoming games, and as first tests go it doesn't come too much tougher than Spain away from home. The Three Lions qualified handsomely for next summer's football soiree though, complete with an injury list as long as your arm, and will come into this game in ebullient mood knowing that their record under the current manager is a good one - no defeats in their last eight friendlies makes for soothing reading.
And if Spain have problems in the goalscoring department, then enter England. The English have no-one in the squad other than Wayne Rooney with more than three goals to their name at international level and Hodgson will be hoping that the in-form Jamie Vardy can make a further step up, with a view to making a serious impression at Euro 2016.
Match Odds
The hosts are a short, odds-on price to emerge victorious on Friday night, and their reputation as a footballing powerhouse certainly has something to do with that. 1.80 on a side that has been known to fall short on occasion in friendly matches doesn't hold much interest however - in the last four years La Roja have been beaten by Germany, Netherlands, South Africa and yes, England in non-competitive games and tend to play their best football when it really counts, unlike Friday night's opposition.
England are way out at 5.70 for this affair and that's a price that seriously does tempt because we don't know exactly how serious Spain will take it, and whether Del Bosque will use it to fine-tune bits and pieces and work out how certain players perform certain tasks for him. England will absolutely make it their business to win this game, that we can be sure of.
The Draw is available at 3.70.
Over/Under 2.5 Goals
Keen observers of statistics though would undoubtedly inform me that England have failed to score in their last three matches in Spain and of course, you can't win if you don't score, so maybe the Under 2.5 Goals market is one to look at instead. England are a defensively solid unit and each of their last three encounters have had fewer than three goals in them. Unders, at 1.72 looks a pick here.
Half Time Score
I like the idea of England and Spain both working on different things in this game and Hodgson will probably ask his charges to keep it defensively tight and invite the Spanish to come on strong with a view to seeing how his side holds up, and whether or not they can play on the break. To that end, 0-0 in the Half Time Score market in a game featuring two defensively solid teams is nice bet at 2.80 or better.
Recommended Bets
Back Under 2.5 Goals at 1.72
Back 0-0 in Half Time Score market at 2.80 or better
