Betting Update; Scotland v Croatia with the bookmakers making Croatia their 7/5 favourites

Added: (Wed Mar 26 2008)

Pressbox (Press Release) - George Burley has hardly had the smoothest of preparations for his first game in charge of Scotland. They face Croatia at Hampden Park on Wednesday without 7 regular squad members, including Captain Barry Ferguson and national hero James McFadden.

With a massive Old Firm game on Saturday, it’s no surprise that five of those missing are Rangers or Celtic players. And with only half the tickets sold it’s clear to see where the Tartan Army’s footballing priorities lie at present. The home side can be backed at 21/10, but the visitors start as worthy favourites at a best-priced 6/4. Everyone south of the border now knows about Slaven Bilic’s side, Croatia having topped a Euro 2008 qualifying group which included England and Russia.

Now up to 12th in the FIFA World Rankings, the Croats also boast an excellent away record, only losing once on their travels in the Euro group stages and infamously beating England 3-2 at Wembley.

Their last result, a 3-0 defeat to Holland in Split, should not detract from what is an extremely capable side packed with talented players, including two of Europe’s most sought after players in Luca Modric and Mladen Petric.

Scotland’s saving grace is usually their home form and they were only turned over once at Hampden in the Euro qualifiers, to World Champions Italy. They also scored 21 goals in 12 group games, perhaps indicating a new potency to their attack. However, it must be noted that 6 of these came against the Faroe Islands and 4 others were bagged by the crocked McFadden. This being a friendly, there is no reason to get involved in the outright market and value may lie in Canbet’s 7/8 on Under 2/2.5 goals.

With Hampden lacking its usual atmosphere and so many injured players, it’s hard to see a goal-packed game. And rumours of Bilic himself moving to an Old Firm side this summer is sure to make this fixture an unwanted one for the Croatian FA. Mladen Petric is the 3rd top scorer in Germany and has almost single handedly kept Borussia Dortmund away from a relegation scrap. He scored a cracker at Wembley to embarrass England and Bet Direct are 9/1 on him to score first, which is worth taking.


Recommended Bets - 2 points, Under 2/2.5 Goals, 7/8 Canbet
Recommended Bets - 1 point, Petric to score first, 9/1 Bet Direct