iBet: Ireland take on Spain in Euro 2012

Spain v Ireland, kick off 7.45pm

Back Spain (-1) on the handicap at 5/6

After a qualifying campaign characterised by tight and disciplined defending, Ireland must have been fuming to hand the initiative to Croatia through defensive mistakes. Giovanni Trappatoni’s men had been unbeaten in 14 fixtures before that 3-1 reverse but it’s indicative of what happens when you step in class and it’s probably significant that their previous defeat in a competitive fixture was against another class side in Russia. The problem they have is that they don’t score many – and that frailty becomes even more apparent the classier the opposition gets. And they don’t come any more classy that current European Champions and World Cup holders Spain. Manager Vincent del Bosque was probably overly cautious in the 1-1 draw with Italy, but they found the net when they needed to and he is likely to target three points in this game. They are no kind of betting proposition outright at 2/7, but Spain have kept a clean sheet in eight of their last 12 meetings with Ireland and I can see them winning this in a canter. Oddschecker report that you can get 2-1 Spain giving up two goals, but we will stick with the -1 market.

Advices

The US Open sees Tiger Woods going off 9/1 favourite with Betfair after some recent impressive form.  Lee Westwood and Luke Donald are 13.5/1 and there has been some money for Martin Kaymar at 45-1.

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