England v Kazakhstan Picks

This is one of those games that can be a punter`s nightmare...but we have a couple of selections.

England v Kazakhstan
World Cup Qualifier
Saturday, 5.15pm (UK time)

This is one of those games that can be a punter`s nightmare – an unbackably short England against minnows about whom we know hardly anything. The hosts are 1/14, with the draw 11/1 and Kazakhstan 50/1 – so it`s time to get creative to find some wagers on the latest step in Fabio Capello`s rehabilitation of the national team.

This is Kazakhstan`s third qualifying campaign since moving across from Asia into Uefa`s catchment area. In 14 competitive away matches as a European team, their record reads: one win, three draws and 10 defeats. Against top European teams, their results are as follows: 3-0 defeat in Portugal, 2-0 in Ukraine, 3-0 in Denmark, 3-1 in Greece and 4-0 against Turkey and, just last month, 3-0 in Croatia. So, as you can see, their 50-1 price in entirely justified.

More interestingly for punters, Kazakhstan`s difficulty in scoring on the road against better opponents dovetails neatly with a stand-out stat for the hosts, because one thing England manage to do consistently against rank outsiders is keeping clean sheets. It`s SEVEN YEARS since The Three Lions conceded in such a fixture, Albania breaching their defence in Tirana in March 2001. England are 3/10 to win to nil – and, with the stats saying that`s an excellent price, we`re taking it. Put your fears about backing short odds-on shots to one side for once, because this price too big.

Alternatively, have a look at England to be leading at half-time. Ah, I hear you say – but what about all those disappointing first 45 minutes you`ve seen England play over recent seasons? Ah… but such mishaps tend to occur away from home. On home soil, England are far more secure, having led at the break in five of their last seven competitive home wins. To me, then, England look too big at 3/10 to be ahead at the break, which is our second bet on the game.

Recommended Bets:
5pts England to win to nil at 3/10
5pts England to be leading at half-time at 3/10