World Cup classics relived this Wednesday

A large programme of international friendlies this midweek has thrown up some repeat fixtures of past World Cup classics with several teams looking for revenge. Italy travel to Germany for a friendly, the scene of their 2006 World Cup semi-final over Die Mannschaft, while France and Brazil play each other at the Stade de Frane, the same stadium which saw France famously win the World Cup in 1998 with a 3-0 final win over Brazil.

Denmark play England in a repeat of the second round tie at Japan & South Korea 2002 while Netherlands and Austria meet again after Netherlands' famous thrashing of the Austrians in the second round in Argentina '78. Turkey versus South Korea is a repeat of the third-place play-off between the two surprise packages of tyhe 2002 tournament.

France vs Brazil

Brazil, considered to be the best team in the world at the time, combined the early 1990s class of Taffarel, Aldair, Dunga and Bebeto with the younger generation of Ronaldo, Denilson, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos and Cafu, who would go on to win the world cup in 2002. They faced the host nation France, who had suffered the trauma of a golden goal decider against Paraguay in the second round and penalties in the quarter-final against Italy. France demolished Brazil 3-0, with two goals from Zinedine Zidane. Brazilian star Ronaldo had had a seizure the night before the game, but sponsors insisted he played. He was hauled off at half-time.

They also met in 2006 in the quarter-final, when a sole Thierry Henry goal sent Les Bleus on their way to the final. Both have new coaches after last year's World Cup in Laurent Blanc leading Les Bleus, who was an unused substitute in the 1998 final, and Brazil's Mano Menezes.

France are priced best at 11/5 (bet £5 to win £11) to beat the 5-times World Champions with Bet365 only, while Brazil are 6/4 to win on Betfair. Punters can back the draw at 7/3 on Betfair.

France vs Brazil Match Result Odds

Italy vs Germany

After their humiliating 3-0 quarter-final defeat to Croatia in World Cup 1998, Germany planned a rehabilitation of their national football team. New academy, more coaches, more trust in homegrown talent. They had their eye on the 2006 tournament they were due to host, and come the latter stages of that competition, they found themselves in a semi-final against Italy. A wonderful semi-final followed, despite no goals in 90 minutes - a game full of suspense, drama and tension. Goals from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero sent the Italians on their way in extra time to the final, which they would go on to win on penalties.

The legacy lives on however, with a semi-final place at the 2010 World Cup for Germany, with a young team which s sure to get close to success in the coming years. Italy on the other hand, crashed out of the 2010 group stage to Slovakia, and have some rebuilding to do for themselves.

Germany are odds-on favourites to win the match, priced at 10/11 (bet £11 to win £10) with Stan James and Betfred only, while Italy are priced at 4/1 with Victor Chandler and on Betfair to win the game. Punters can back the draw at 11/4 on Betfair.

Italy vs Germany Match Result Odds

England vs Denmark

England and Denmark met in the second round of the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan as Sven Goran Eriksson looked to take England further than the second round in his first major tournament as manager, something they hadn't done for 12 years. Denmark had knocked world champions France out at the group stage but England disposed of them easily, overpowering Denmark 3-0 with goals from Rio Ferdinand, Michael Owen and Emile Heskey, before falling to Brazil in the quarter-finals. Since then, England crashed out at the same stage in 2006 to Portugal before a shameful second round exit to Germany in 2010. Denmark didn't qualify for the 2006 tournament before falling at the group stage disappointingly in 2010.

England are favourites to win the game at a price of 11/8 (bet £8 to win £11) only on Betfair and frontmen Darren Bent and Wayne Rooney are 9/4 with Bet365 and Ladbrokes and 2/1 with Paddy Power respectively to score at any point in the friendly. Rooney is 6/1 to score the first goal, best with Paddy Power while Bent is a top price f 15/2 only with Victor Chandler to open the scoring.

Match Result Odds

Netherlands vs Austria

These two small mid-European nations met in the second group stage of the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, which was effectively a match to compete for a place in the final. Austria had advanced as winner of their first group stage, beating Spain, and came up against a Dutch side that had drawn to Peru and lost to Scotland. Netherlands demolished Austria 5-1 however, and advanced to the final, where they lost 3-1 to Argentina, after Johann Cruyff had refused to play for the national side.

Since 1982, Austria have only qualified for two World Cups, and not advanced past the first group stage. Netherlands are of course off the back of a very un-Dutch run to the final in last year's World Cup, where they tragically lost to Spain in extra-time.

The Netherlands are 2/5 to win the friendly on Betfair while the draw is 4/1 with most bookies and Austria are a top price of 10/1, offered only by Victor Chandler.

Match Result Odds

Turkey vs South Korea

Both teams made impressive runs to the semi-finals of the 2002 tournament which South Korea joint-hosted with Turkey. They both fell to superior opposition in Brazil and Germany, and met in the 3rd place play-off, which Turkey won 3-2.

South Korea are 4/1 on Betfair to beat Turkey on their home turf, while a draw can be backed at 14/5 on Betfair. Turkey are 4/5 with Ladbrokes and Paddy Power to win.

Match Result Odds