/ Michael / 06 June 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Lucas Neill is back from injury to help Australia maintain their recent form
"Australia are yet to lose in 90 minutes in 2011 and are undefeated in three meetings with European nations."
Serbia aren't short of motivation as they make the long trip to Australia for a reunion with the team that dumped them out of last summer's World Cup and forced them to settle for last place in Group D by beating them 2-1 in Nelspruit.
But while they will be eager to end a testing 12 months that started with failure to justify their tag as dark horses in South Africa and worsened in October with the crowd trouble in Genoa that saw Italy awarded a win over them on a high, there is reason to believe that more disappointment awaits.
The squad that coach Vladimir Petrovic has taken with him to Melbourne for this friendly - which is available for Betfair customers to watch courtesy of Betfair Live Video from 10.30am on Tuesday - is lacking some of his most experienced players, such as Nemanja Vidic, Branislav Ivanovic, Milan Jovanovic, Milos Krasic and Nikola Zigic.
Australia have let some of their household names have a rest too after a tough season in Europe, like Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell, however their selection is far less weakened than Serbia's, with captain Lucas Neill, veteran Brett Emerton and World Cup match-winner Brett Holman all included.
The Socceroos have had an encouraging 2011 to date, reaching the final of the AFC Asian Cup, where they were cruelly denied by Japan in stoppage time, and recovering from that setback with impressive friendly victories over Germany - who destroyed them 4-0 last June - and New Zealand.
They are yet to lose in 90 minutes and are undefeated in three meetings with European nations, triumphing in the last two. Those statistics indicate that they are great value at [2.12] to overcome a Serbia side that lost in South Korea on Friday.
Serbia's form has improved since that shameful night in Italy last autumn though and they have found the net in each of the last eight fixtures that they have been able to fulfil, so over 2.5 goals appears an attractive proposition at odds of [2.12].
Best Bet: Australia to win @ [2.12]
Other Recommended Bet: Over 2.5 goals @ [2.12]
World Cup winners Spain will be without some star players when they travel to the United States, but the hosts themselves will be looking to use many of their squad. Mike Norman gives his brief preview....
Friendly internationals don't come much more appetising than Brazil v Netherlands, and with goals galore expected, Mike Norman can't wait for this one....
Portugal have a chance to draw level with Norway at the top of Group H when the teams meet in Lisbon on Saturday night, writes James Eastham....
No comments:
Post a Comment