International break fortnight has some rather tasty fixtures on the cards, mostly friendlies, but also a a few very serious World Cup play off matches. Expect the first legs of the European games to be very tight affairs; France’s difficult trip to the Ukraine is almost a certainty to be an Under 2.5 goal result as the Ukrainians have only conceded two goals in Kiev in over two years of competitive action.
The glamorous friendly meeting between Italy and Germany on Friday night should provide us with Over 2.5 goals as three times World Cup winners Germany have seen 33 goals fly in, in their last 6 matches, while four times World Champions Italy have seen 19 goals scored and conceded in their previous 6 games. All the games, bar one Italian 1-0 victory against Bulgaria, have ended in an Over 2.5 goal result.
Football hipsters everywhere will be relishing the prospect of seeing two of the most stylish teams in World football come head to head on Tuesday night as Belgium take on Japan in Brussels. The Japanese usually produce excitement and goals, but this is a hard game to call because of the Belgians domination of possession and their ability to close off matches through their relentless ball retention.
The biggest game of the FA’s 150th celebrations is on Tuesday night at Wembley when England take on the Old enemy, Germany. This is another encounter which I think will be end to end, with plenty of goal-mouth chances, no matter who drops out through injury because of pressure from their club to not get injured.
Roy Hodgson hit upon an attacking formula in England’s must win games against Montenegro and Poland, and I see no reason why he won’t persist with this new, enlightened approach for this show-piece friendly international. Traditionally, England usually win these type of fixtures (9 months before the World Cup, and with nothing at stake) in a relaxed and gung-ho manner, which exhilarates the supporters and has the national press exclaiming certain victory at next Summer’s World Cup.
Hodgson will have the midfield axis of Wilshere, Gerrard and Rooney available, surely England’s most accomplished footballers in the middle of the park. Also, the exciting Andros Townsend should keep his place on the right wing, with Sturridge, Lambert and Lallana vying for the other two places in the front three positions.
The Germans take any game at Wembley seriously, and I can see this being an Over 2.5 goal result.
International » Friendly
