S.P. Read Esq. England v Italy

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq is still nursing his wounds after Spain’s spectacular defeat last night. But the World Cup show goes on and he is back for more in the England v Italy game tonight and his bet on Star Spreads…….

My bubble burst on what was only the second day of the World Cup 🙁

After a great opening day with a profit of 55 points – that was wiped out and 30 points more after the buy of Spain on the win index went spectacularly wrong.

It’s hard to know what to say about that match, even 24 hours later.

Perhaps Van Persie’s spectacular equaliser just before half-time proved the pivotal moment – but as good as the Netherlands were in the second half I can’t help thinking it was much more a case of Spain being abjectly poor.

The ONLY saving grace was it was a score line that produced carnage on the spread markets and I’m only grateful I didn’t sell total goals or even worse buy Spanish superiority. Every cloud has a silver lining and all that.

On to the 11pm match tonight and the spotlight turns on Group D and England’s first match against Italy (LIVE BBC).

Plenty has been made of the state of the bare pitch which has been painted green (YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS? as McEnroe would have said) but more of a concern will be the sultry conditions at the Arena Amazonia in Manaus.

They are hardly playing conditions that the Italians will look forward too and the Amazonian rainforest will prove a big test for both sides.

The only previous World Cup meeting between these two nations came in the third-place play-off in 1990 when Italy won 2-1.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Max last 10 only)
Aug 2012 International England 2-1 Italy
Jun 2012 Euro Championships England 0-0 Italy
Mar 2002 International England 1-2 Italy
Nov 2000 International Italy 1-0 England
Oct 1997 World Cup Italy 0-0 England
Jun 1997 International England 2-0 Italy
Feb 1997 World Cup England 0-1 Italy
Jul 1990 World Cup Italy 2-1 England
Nov 1989 International England 0-0 Italy
Jun 1985 International England 1-2 Italy

Nobody is expecting much from England this year – which might well be a blessing in disguise for Roy Hodgson’s side.

His side is England’s second-youngest World Cup squad in history with only six of their 2010 World Cup squad and 11 of their Euro 2012 party remaining.

Hodgson received good news with Danny Welbeck being declared fit for the match whilst the Italian goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon is a doubt after sustaining a knock in training.

The earlier Group D result could be interesting. If Uruguay beat Costa Rica, as the market suggests, it will put pressure on both sides later to go for more than just a draw.

As you might expect there are plenty of sports spread betting options on Star Spreads for this game, which will also be traded in running throughout the game.

The general expectation is that it will be a low scoring game but I’m fairly hopeful that will be some early action with first match adrenalin kicking in before the humid conditions take their toll. My plan is to sell BOTH the time of first England AND Italy goal – both are priced at 57 minutes. 1-1 at half time would be perfect.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE MARKET ON STAR SPREADS

RECOMMENDED BET (scale 1-100 points)

SELL TIME OF FIRST ENGLAND GOAL at around 57 minutes with Star Spreads for 2 points

SELL TIME OF FIRST ITALY GOAL at around 57 minutes with Star Spreads for 2 points

WORLD CUP SO FAR: LOSS 30 POINTS

• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
• Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.