Slovakia: impressive in qualifying, awful in friendlies

England/Slovakia, 5.15pm, Setanta Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Photo Credit: Lewis Whyld/PA

The only one of England’s four home games under Fabio Capello that they failed to win came against the Czech Republic, who are below Slovakia in the incredibly tight World Cup Qualifying Group 3. However, Slovakia have a curious habit of performing worse when the pressure is off, putting their feet up in friendlies rather than carrying over their form in competitive matches.

» Slovakia have won four of their last five competitive games - an impressive record for a team who have never qualified for an international tournament.

» However, they have won just one of their last eleven friendlies. That win came at home to Liechtenstein, the team ranked 151st in the world.

» Their two friendly matches so far this year - at home to Ukraine and away to Cyprus - have ended in 3-2 defeats. England are 41.0 on Betfair to win by that scoreline tomorrow.

Posted: March 27th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

IG Sport offer advice for betting on the Superbowl

The spread betting firm think the New York Giants offer value

Our friends at IG Sport have kindly previewed the spread betting markets on this year’s Superbowl. Here’s what they had to say:

““It is a truth universally acknowledged that any Premiership team bottom at Christmas will be relegated”!  Apart from West Brom in 2004 of course! “Okay, okay, it is however a truth universally acknowledged that when Ian Rush scored for Liverpool they never lost a match”!  Except against Arsenal in the 1987 Littlewoods Cup final.  “Okay, okay, however it is a truth universally acknowledged and backed up by the facts that any NFL team to win a match at Wembley goes on to win the Superbowl in the same season!

Posted: January 8th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment