Hi gang! Here are my first tips for the international break. Click here to bet.
Armenia 0 v 2 Italy – Thursday 5 September – Euro 2020 qualifiers – Italy Win with 1:0 Handicap (1.65)
Armenia have started their qualifying campaign with two wins and two losses, and I don’t expect them to get any points here. They have only won four of their last ten home games, and home form is vital if they are to reach the tournament next summer. Italy are looking to qualify for the Euros after they missed out on last year’s World Cup. They have only lost one of their last ten games, conceding just four times. The Azzurri have won five games in a row and I expect them to do it again here.
Republic of Ireland 1 v 1 Switzerland – Thursday 5 September – Euro 2020 qualifiers – Under 2.5 Goals (1.45)
I expect a tight game. Ireland are unbeaten in qualifying with three wins and a draw, and they’ve only lost two of their last ten games overall. Their games aren’t known for being high-scoring, either, as the last nine have all featured Under 2.5 Goals. The Swiss have one win and one draw in qualifying. Following their poor performance at the Nations League finals in June, they have gone three games without a win. They lost to the Irish when they last met in 2016, but I’m going for a Draw this time.
Romania 1 v 2 Spain – Thursday 5 September – Euro 2020 qualifiers – Over 2.5 Goals (1.75)
Remarkably, Romania have only suffered defeat once in their 14 games since the start of 2018. They have also only lost one of their last ten games on home soil, so I don’t think it will be that easy for Spain. The visitors have won eight of their last ten matches, including all four so far in qualifying, so I do think that they will narrowly win. I’m also backing Over 2.5 Goals. It’s happened in all four of Romania’s qualifiers so far, and eight of Spain’s last ten games.
Argentina 1 v 0 Chile – Thursday 5 September – Friendly – Under 2.5 Goals (1.75)
The last game that each of these teams played was… against each other! These sides met in the third place play-off at the Copa America in July, which Argentina won 2-1 to end another disappointing tournament. Chile were the reigning champions at the Copa, but they were underwhelming to say the least. They haven’t recorded any wins in their last four games and have only won four of their last ten friendlies. Argentina will be without Lionel Messi. They have won three of their last five games and four of their last five friendlies. I think they will win here too.
Germany 2 v 1 Netherlands – Friday 6 September – Euro 2020 qualifiers – Over 2.5 Goals (1.55)
This is an international derby and these clashes are always entertaining. Eight of the last ten matches between these teams have featured Over 2.5 Goals, the last of which was a 3-2 win for Germany earlier this year. The hosts are unbeaten in their last six games and have won all three of their qualifiers so far. The Dutch, on the other hand, have only won one of their last five games. Their last result was a defeat in the Nations League final to Portugal in June. Even though they are a much-improved outfit, I still think that they will lose here.