Several of the world’s top nations are in international friendly action over the next few days, with France and Italy getting the weekend up and running with a mouth-watering matchup at the Allianz Riviera in Nice on Friday night.
Gareth Southgate’s England welcome Nigeria to Wembley Stadium on Saturday, while Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland face USA in Dublin on Saturday evening. The likes of Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Brazil and Spain are also in action this weekend as sides look to hone their squads ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
- France v Italy – France to Win -1 (15/8 at Coral)
- Austria v Germany – Germany HT/FT (13/10 at Bet365)
- England v Nigeria – England to Win 2-1 (8/1 at BetVictor)
- Belgium v Portugal – Belgium Win & BTTS (18/5 at Betfred)
- Republic of Ireland v USA – Draw (23/10 at Betfred)
- Mexico v Scotland – Mexico to Win 2-0 (9/2 at Ladbrokes)
- Brazil v Croatia – Brazil to Win to Nil (7/5 at Betfair)
- Spain v Switzerland – Spain to Win 3-0 (7/1 at BetVictor)
International Friendlies
With the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup just a couple of weeks away, the top nations are putting the finishing touches to their squads ahead of the big kick off in Russia. England are the only home nation taking part in the competitive action this summer, but Scotland and Republic of Ireland will already be getting preparations in place for the upcoming UEFA Nations League, which gets underway in September. These may only be friendly matches, but there are several fascinating games well worth having a bet on this weekend.
France v Italy – 1st June
Roberto Mancini takes his Italy side to the Allianz Riviera to play Didier Deschamps’ France this Friday night. Les Bleus head into this one on home soil as the clear favourites with the bookies.
France, who were runners-up at UEFA Euro 2016, are one of the pre-tournament favourites to lift the World Cup in Russia. They are currently available at odds of 13/2 (with Bet365 and other bookies) to go all the way and that’s sure to tempt some. As for Gli Azzurri, who failed to qualify for the World Cup, they started life under Mancini with a narrow win over Saudi Arabia on Monday and will face a long, hard summer watching the other nations bid for glory.
France will be looking for a victory here, and we can see Deschamps’ Bleus being too strong for the Italians in Nice. Back the French to win -1 at competitive odds of 15/8 with Coral.
France to Win -1 – 15/8 at Coral
Austria v Germany – 2nd June
Austria and Germany square off at the Worthersee Stadion in Klagenfurt on Saturday. With both sides in good form, this promises to be an entertaining game in Austria and one well worth tuning in to.
Joachim Low’s Germany head to Russia as World Cup holders and one of the pre-tournament favourites (they are vying for outright favouritism with Brazil). This will no doubt be a test in Klagenfurt, but this class of German stars will be looking for another victory.
Having lost their last game to Brazil back in March, Die Mannschaft will be eager to return to winning ways on Saturday. Low’s side to be winning at half time and full time is nicely priced at 13/10 (Bet365) and we predict they will make their class show here.
Germany Half Time/Full Time – 13/10 at Bet365
England v Nigeria – 2nd June
Southgate and his England team entertain Gernot Rohr’s Nigeria at Wembley Stadium this Saturday. The Super Eagles have some very good players and will not be easy opponents for the English, but the Three Lions are fancied to win in London and maintain their good recent run of results.
These two nations have not met since a 0-0 draw in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup in Japan, but both will be going to Russia. After facing Nigeria at Wembley, England play Costa Rica at Leeds United’s Elland Road on June 7th. Southgate and his staff will be eyeing up two confidence boosting wins before flying out to Russia.
This will no doubt be a difficult test for England, but we fancy them to get the job done on home turf this weekend. The Three Lions to prevail 2-1 is available at 8/1 with BetVictor.
England to Win 2-1 – 8/1 at BetVictor
Belgium v Portugal – 2nd June
Both Belgium and Portugal could be dark horses at the World Cup. This Saturday, the pair meet in Brussels for a tasty-looking friendly that will hopefully give the country something positive to focus on after Tuesday’s terrorist attack in Liege.
Roberto Martinez has done a terrific job as Belgium national coach already, and his side could be worth keeping an eye on in Russia. They have tremendous quality in virtually every position and good strength in depth too. As for the Portuguese, the current European champions are capable of anything with Cristiano Ronaldo in their team.
This will be an entertaining matchup, but we think Belgium will see the job through at home. You can get the hosts to win and both teams to score at 18/5 (Betfred) whilst a 3-1 home win may be worth a small punt at big odds too.
Belgium Win & Both Teams to Score – 18/5 at Betfred
Republic of Ireland v USA – 2nd June
O’Neill’s Ireland host USA at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday evening. After missing out on Russia in the play-offs, Ireland’s bid to reach UEFA Euro 2020 starts now.
Having qualified for every World Cup since 1990, USA also failed to make it to Russia. When the Irish and the Americans last went head-to-head, Ireland ran out emphatic 4-1 winners back in November 2014.
With these two nations pretty evenly matched, this one could go either way in Dublin. With that in mind, have a punt on the draw at 23/10 with Betfred, good value given neither side will be overly motivated here.
Draw – 23/10 at Betfred
Mexico v Scotland – 3rd June
Juan Carlos Osorio’s Mexico and Alex McLeish’s Scotland do battle at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on Sunday. As with all of these games, nothing too important is at stake but there is money to be made for sure.
Mexico could only manage a 0-0 draw with Ryan Giggs’ inexperienced Wales side in California on Tuesday. As for the Scots, they beat Hungary 1-0 away from home back in March in their previous international.
Mexico will back themselves to make home advantage count on Sunday though, so check out Ladbrokes’ decent price of 9/2 for this to end in a 2-0 victory for El Tricolor.
Mexico to Win 2-0 – 9/2 at Ladbrokes
Brazil v Croatia – 3rd June
Tite’s Brazil and Zlatko Dalic’s Croatia meet in a friendly at Anfield on Sunday. The Croatians may have a strong squad, but the Brazilians go into this one in Liverpool as the clear favourites.
Having been humiliated by Germany in their own World Cup four years ago, Brazil mean business in Russia and are tournament favourites with most bookies. Meanwhile, Croatia qualified for their second successive World Cup after beating Greece in the play-offs.
This may be on neutral turf, but Brazil should be too strong for Dalic’s side at Anfield. The Croats have some top class players and one of the best midfields in the world but we fancy they will come up short here. You can get Brazil to win without conceding at very decent odds of 7/5 with BetVictor.
Brazil to Win to Nil – 7/5 at Betfair
Spain v Switzerland – 3rd June
Last but not least, Julen Lopetegui’s Spain and Vladimir Petkovic’s Switzerland square off in Villarreal on Sunday night. FIFA’s dubious ranking system sees the away side ahead of the hosts in sixth (Spain are currently eighth) but unsurprisingly it is the home side who are the big favourites here.
Spain may have been poor in Brazil four years ago, but La Furia Roja qualified for Russia by dropping just two points from 10 matches. Switzerland, meanwhile, beat Northern Ireland in the play-off round.
This could and should be an easy victory for the Spanish at the Estadio de la Ceramica, and we like the look of BetVictor’s 7/1 for a 3-0 Spain triumph. Spain have found goals easy to come by of late and can make a mockery of the world rankings with a big win here.
Spain to Win 3-0 – 7/1 at BetVictor