Ten statistics about England’s qualifying clash with Ukraine

England/Ukraine, Wednesday 8pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

England fans have a reputation for fickleness but the antics of the Wembley crowd must seem refreshing to Fabio Capello when compared to the actions of some supporters in his homeland. Italy fans in Bari are expected to boo Marcello Lippi, the man who won them the World Cup, tonight and cheer his predecessor Giovanni Trapattoni, the man who twice flopped in international tournaments. The reason? Lippi refused to call up their favourite son Antonio Cassano. Capello on the other hand can expect a hearty applause this evening despite trying to pick even Darren Bent ahead of Michael Owen. Here’s ten stats about tonight’s game with Ukraine:

1. Both teams are unbeaten in Group 6, with England winning all four of their games. Ukraine have won two and drawn one of their three.

2. Ukraine are unbeaten in eight games and have won four consecutive away games.

3. However, they have been seen off easily on their two previous trips to England - losing 2-0 in 2000 and 3-0 in 2004.

Posted: April 1st, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

A glimmer of hope for Scotland as they prepare for Diego Maradona’s Argentina

Scotland/Argentina, 8pm, Sky Sports 1, Best Odds, Free Bets

Diego Maradona’s Argentina side are understandably clear favourites in tonight’s friendly at Hampden Park but don’t despair Scotland fans, we have found a pretty lengthy straw for you to clutch:

The previous two Argentina managers appointed this decade failed to get off to a winning start in their first away game. José Pekerman drew 0-0 away to Chile while Maradona’s predecessor Alfio Basile’s first game was in the United Kingdom when Argentina lost 3-0 to Brazil at the Emirates, before then losing their next away game to Spain a month later. The South American side have won none of their last five away games and encouragingly for Scotland have drawn friendlies with Switzerland and Belarus and lost to Norway over the last eighteen months. Furthermore, Scotland were 1-0 victors in their last home meeting with Argentina back in 1990.

Posted: November 19th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment