Can England record a convincing victory in Bulgaria?(credit:
Ryu Voelkel)
England are top of Group G going into tonight’s match in Sofia, with Ladbrokes offering 33/1 that the Three Lions win 4-0.
Home draws against Montenegro and Switzerland have seen England’s Euro 2012 qualifying campaign stutter recently, although the Three Lions remain in pole position to reach Poland and Ukraine next summer.
On Friday night, Fabio Capello’s team travel to the Natsionalen Stadion Vasil Levski to face a Bulgaria team that were soundly beaten at Wembley last September, with Jermain Defoe scoring a hat-trick and Adam Johnson also getting in on the act.
The bookmakers have England as the odds-on favourite to beat the Bulgarians on Friday night, with
Ladbrokes and
Stan James offer a best price 4/6 that the visitors continue their 100% away record in qualifying.
It will be interesting to see the team picked for an assignment against a team whose hopes of qualifying are very slim although we can be certain that Wayne Rooney will start as centre forward and the Manchester United man is likely to be very popular when it comes to First Goalscorer betting.
Sky Bet have initially quoted the Red Devil at 7/2 and Rooney is buzzing after his hat-trick against Arsenal helped him reach the 150 goal mark for his club.
Rooney’s United team-mate Ashley Young made a difference when replacing Frank Lampard in the last qualifier against Switzerland and the manager will surely not leave out a player who scored two long-range goals against the Gunners, with
Sky Bet offering a best price 15/2 about the former Villa winger.
England are available at 13/8 with
Ladbrokes to lead at half-time and full-time in this match, although we should remember that players don’t always replicate their club form when it comes to pulling on the Three Lions jersey and Draw / England can be backed at 7/2 with
Unibet.
Bulgaria have little to lose from having a go at their opponents and will be out for revenge after that 4-0 drubbing nearly a month ago which got their qualifying campaign off to the worst possible start.
Pinnacle offer 11/2 that the home side win the match and allow Montenegro to gain the upper hand in Group G with just three games remaining, while the draw is priced at 14/5 with the same firm.
However, there will be many punters inspired by the goalfests we have recently seen in the Premier League and another 4-0 win for England is 33/1 with
Ladbrokes which looks worthy of a small bet.
RECOMMENDATION: England to win 4-0 @ 33/1 with
Ladbrokes (small stakes)