International Football Betting Tips – 22nd, 23rd & 24th March 2018

The top leagues around Europe take a break this week as international football takes centre stage. The likes of Wales, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, England and Northern Ireland – plus many other top nations – are all in friendly action over the coming days.

Ryan Giggs takes charge of his first Wales match as they play China in the China Cup on Thursday. Meanwhile, England are in Holland, Republic of Ireland travel to Turkey, and Northern Ireland host South Korea. Also, Alex McLeish starts life in the Scotland dugout with a home game against Costa Rica on Friday.

  • China v Wales – Wales Win & BTTS (17/5 at Bet365)
  • Turkey v Republic of Ireland – 1-1 Draw (11/2 at Betfair)
  • Argentina v Italy – Argentina Win (10/11 at BetVictor)
  • Germany v Spain – Both Teams to Score (4/5 at Bet365)
  • Netherlands v England – England Win (11/5 at Betfred)
  • Scotland v Costa Rica – Scotland Win (Evens at Bet365)
  • Northern Ireland v South Korea – Draw & BTTS (15/4 at Bet365)

China Cup

China v Wales – 22nd March

Wales have been invited to participate in the China Cup, with Uruguay and Czech Republic also involved. The Welsh get things up and running against China on Thursday before the third-place match and the final taking place on Monday.

Ryan Giggs gets the first chance to look at his Welsh squad as the Dragons hope to build on a solid World Cup qualifying campaign. As for the Chinese, they were knocked out at the AFC Third Round stage to miss out on Russia.

This promises be an intriguing fixture between these two nations, but Wales should kick off the Giggs era with a win in Nanning on Thursday. Bet365 are offering odds of 17/5 for the Dragons to win and both teams to score in the Guangxi Sports Center.

Wales Win & Both Teams to Score – 17/5 at Bet365

International Friendlies

As a number of countries gear up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, the first international fixtures of 2018 take place in earnest. England – the only home nation to qualify for the World Cup – begin their year with a trip to Amsterdam to play Netherlands. Wales and Scotland start life with new managers, while Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland look to rebuild after missing out on the World Cup in play-off defeats back in November.

Turkey v Republic of Ireland – 23rd March

Martin O’Neill takes his Republic of Ireland team to the Antalya Stadium on Friday to face Mircea Lucescu’s Turkey in a tough-looking friendly fixture. As expected, the Turks head into this home match as the bookies’ favourites.

Despite being thumped in the WC play-offs by Denmark at the end of the last year, Ireland had a superb World Cup qualifying campaign. The road to the 2020 European Championship begins now for O’Neill’s Green Army.

Turkey will not be an easy team to beat in Antalya, so a draw would not be a bad result for the Irish. Betfair are offering the top price of 11/2 for this to end in a 1-1 stalemate on Friday.

1-1 Draw – 11/2 at Betfair

Argentina v Italy – 23rd March

Jorge Sampaoli’s Argentina and Luigi Di Biagio’s Italy go head-to-head in mouth-watering friendly at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium on Friday night. This high-quality fixture could go either way in Manchester.

Argentina needed some Lionel Messi magic in their final qualifying game to make it through to Russia unscathed. As for Italy, they failed to qualify for the first time since 1958 as they were beaten by Sweden in the play-offs.

This may only be a friendly, but both teams will want to kick off 2018 with a win. Argentina could just edge this tasty clash in Manchester, so back them to prevail at 10/11 with BetVictor.

Argentina Win – 10/11 at BetVictor

Germany v Spain – 23rd March

The standout match from this round of friendly fixtures comes from Dusseldorf as Joachim Low’s Germany and Julen Lopetegui’s Spain square off in the Esprit Arena on Friday.

These two, who qualified for the World Cup with ease, are among the bookies’ favourites to go far in Russia in the summer. The pair have both been world champions over the last decade, but will either Germany or Spain lift the 2018 World Cup in July?

With either side more than capable of winning this one, it might be worth just backing both teams to score. The best odds you can get on that outcome are 4/5 with Bet365.

Both Teams to Score – 4/5 at Bet365

Netherlands v England – 23rd March

Gareth Southgate’s England begin 2018 with a difficult test in Amsterdam as they face Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands in the Amsterdam ArenA on Friday night. The Three Lions may be the ones going to the World Cup, but Holland head into this clash as favourites.

Southgate has picked an experimental squad for the trip to the Dutch capital, with the likes of James Tarkowski, Nick Pope, Alfie Mawson and Lewis Cook all earning a first call-up. The England boss will be looking for a good performance in Holland on Friday.

The English may be second favourites in Amsterdam, but we fancy them to bring home a win. Betfred are offering 11/5 for Southgate’s Three Lions to prevail in the Amsterdam ArenA on Friday night.

England Win – 11/5 at Betfred

Scotland v Costa Rica – 23rd March

Scotland begin life under Alex McLeish with tricky-looking match with Oscar Ramirez’s Costa Rica at Hampden Park on Friday. The Scots are the slight favourites with the bookies to win in Glasgow.

Scotland start a new era under McLeish after Scotland failed to reach the World Cup for a fifth successive time. Costa Rica, meanwhile, will be in Russia in the summer after an excellent CONCACAF campaign.

It won’t be easy for Scotland, but we can see the home team sealing a victory in McLeish’s first match in charge. Have a punt on the Scots win at evens with Bet365.

Scotland Win – Evens at Bet365

Northern Ireland v South Korea – 24th March

Our final preview is Saturday’s clash at Windsor Park as Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland host Shin Tae-yueng’s South Korea. The bookies are having a very hard time splitting these two in the betting.

Norn Iron had another superb qualifying campaign, losing out on a place in Russia at the final hurdle after falling to an agonising defeat to Switzerland in the play-offs. As for South Korea, Shin’s men qualified for Russia by finishing runners-up to Iran in their AFC Third Round group.

This promises to be a close but entertaining matchup at Windsor Park. We’re also struggling to pick a winner, though, so back the draw and both teams to score at 15/4 with Bet365.

Draw & BTTS – 15/4 at Bet365