Euro 2016 betting: Blunt Three Lions can still carve out a win over Iceland
Just what England needed – a well organised, spirited team who are tough to break down.
With Harry Kane firing blanks, and Jamie Vardy lacking starts, service and clear-cut chances, there’s been little to cheer in front of goal thus far.
Conversely, the Three Lions might have benefited from facing a more expansive team than Iceland.
You can only beat what’s in front of you, however, and the Premier League’s best should be confident of beating a squad of talented but limited footballers.
What’s less certain is how they’ll achieve the victory.
At half-time in their three games so far, England have been drawing twice and behind once.
Their failure to get ahead, strangely, hasn’t been reflected in the match statistics.
It’s certainly not down to possession – they’re averaging more than 60 per cent control across their three Euro 2016 group games.
Nor is it their attempts on goal – they’ve had at least 13 shots per game too.
It all boils down to a lack of clinical finishing, and I can’t see them blowing Iceland away.
Neither can I foresee a plucky Iceland team getting ahead of our heroes.
That makes draw/England on the half-time/full-time market at 11/4 with Betway an attractive bet.
For all the concerns about England’s defence entering the tournament, they’ve actually been relatively solid.
Joe Hart has only had to pick the ball out of his net twice in three games – and one of those was following an uncharacteristic blunder.
His opposite number, Hannes Dor Halldorsson, has been similarly robust, conceding just three goals in the group stages.
Sadly for England fans, I fear this will be yet more dour viewing.
It must be more than a decade since the international team set the field alight, which means both my head and heart are going against a scorefest.
Sporting Index have total goals at 2.05-2.25, which I’ll be selling while cheering on an England victory.
Here’s hoping there’s no penalties.
Pointers
Draw/England 11/4 with Betway
Sell total goals 2.05 with Sporting Index