JUDE CAN BE BELL OF BALL
Real ace to help England down Brazil
ENGLAND can give new Brazil coach Dorival Junior a baptism of fire when the South Americans run out at Wembley tonight.
The Three Lions don’t have the best record against Brazil, having won only one of their last 11 fixtures – but that could change tonight against a Samba side that will be a relatively unknown quantity.
With 11 players in the visitors’ squad uncapped, it’s no surprise that Brazil are 3-1 outsiders with bet365, with Gareth Southgate’s men odds-on at 10-11 for the home win with Sky Bet, while the draw is 11-4 with Betfred.
Dorival’s side lost their last three matches in World Cup qualifying under previous coach Fernando Diniz – their worst streak for more than 20 years – so the new man will be keen to reverse that form.
Many onlookers will be keen to see how Dorival fares on the international scene, with his entire 40-year career as player and manager having been within Brazil.
And I reckon he will come up short here as England, on a 10-game unbeaten run going back to the 2022 World Cup, should be too strong.
Brazil have 10 Premier League players within their squad – and have Tottenham’s Richarlison and Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior in attack – but Southgate has his own Madrid magician in the shape of Jude Bellingham and if he turns on the style, England will be hard to contain.
The home side have conceded in four of their last six outings so Brazil may well find the net at some point – but I fancy England to win this one 3-1 at big odds of 14-1 with bet365 and betfair.
I’d also consider Betfred’s 11-4 that England win and both teams score.
Bellingham can pull the strings for England and Sky Bet’s Requestabet odds of 9-1 on him having one or more assists, shots on target, fouls committed and fouls won could pay dividends.
The former Birmingham City midfielder should be fresh, having missed five of Real’s last seven games through injury and suspension. But his 20 goals this season speak for themselves – while four goals and four assists in just six Champions League fixtures are further evidence of his form.
He’s certainly worth taking at 4-1 with Sky Bet to score at any time, while he’s 10-1 to get the opener. Bellingham is also worth a punt at 11-4 to grab at least one assist but the 20-1 on offer for him to provide two can’t be ignored!
Phil Foden has been in superb form for Manchester City recently and I’d expect him to shine on the Wembley stage.
Sky Bet offer an enhanced 4-1 that he simply gets two shots on target, which may be a better option than the 11-4 that he scores at any time.
And if Aston Villa’s 22-goal striker Ollie Watkins gets the nod from the start, then I’d fancy him to find the net at 13-8. He’s also 9-2 to get the last goal.
For Brazil, the form of Vinicius Jnr will have pleased boss Dorival, having scored six goals in his last four games for Real. But it’s worth noting he’s also picked up a yellow card in each of those games.
He must be fancied to find the net at 7-2 – but don’t ignore the better odds of 13-2 that he picks up a booking!