HARRY KANE cost me a fortune at the weekend. After England went behind to Spain at Wembley, 15 minutes later they were trading at a monster 40-1.
With £10 riding, the Three Lions 2-1 up and the Bayern Munich striker stepping up for the penalty, a major coup looked to be in unstoppable progress.
He slipped, missed, so no, drawing board back out.
And Thomas Tuchel’s had his out over the summer following England’s crushing World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, when the retreat was sounded at 1-0 up.
Yes, the world champions ultimately prevailed in the Nations League opener but improved England had them on the rack around half-time and Anthony Gordon’s breakaway equaliser was as good as Tuchel’s side has got.
While England have the ability to launch quick counterattacks that can clearly trouble anyone, at the other end, it’s another story.
Tuesday night’s 2-0 win in the Czech Republic was the kind of impressive display you’d expect of a side ranked No 4 in the world – behind Spain, Argentina and France.
But it was also a first clean sheet in seven games, against 10 men, with 13 goals conceded in the previous six outings.
SunSport’s Kevin Dunne banged in a couple of very tidy winners last weekend. First up, our football tipster’s Dark Horse bet builder of Spain/draw double chance, Harry Kane to score anytime, with over 2.5 goals came good at 10-1. And the – reluctantly advised – Spain to win from behind also obliged at 10-1.
So while the drawing board is not going anywhere soon, England are better to watch and have a lot of goals in them.
Despite losing to Spain, with the top two going through to the Nations quarter-finals from each League A group, they don’t look a bad bet at a best-priced 6-1 with Betway and BetGoodwin to still win it.
Next step is in Croatia tonight, against a side who are not quite the bogey team for England they once were.
Having beaten us in the 2018 World Cup semi-final, England have since seen them off three times in a row, including the ding-dong 4-2 group match in this summer’s tournament.
Grounds for optimism for Coral’s John Hill. He said: “For a good 20-minute spell, England were all over the world champions Spain. Unfortunately, we just don’t seem to be able to get over the line in the big games against the top teams.
“But Croatia are on the decline, with many of their top stars getting older. Spain put them away 4-1, so we’ll have too much class for them tonight. I like England’s chances, and I’ll be backing them at 10-11.”
Given Tuchel’s side’s habit of conceding, England win and BTTS at a best-priced 29-10 with BetGoodwin looks the route to profit.
The visitors winning 2-1 is second-favourite in the correct-score market at 15-2 with Sky Bet, Unibet and bet365 – with 1-1 leading the way at 13-2 with Betfred.
England, though, are very good going forward and the big price jump to 14-1 with Sky Bet and bet365 they win 3-1 looks a chance worth taking.
Come on Harry, weigh me in.
Dark horse
35-1: Jude Bellingham was on the bench against Czech Republic, so should be chomping at the bit tonight. Spain destroyed Croatia 4-1 in midweek, so England to win 3-0 and Bellingham to score anytime has long-shot appeal at William Hill’s 35-1.
Small bit
Well, I suppose Man City have come back from worse than this.
While today they’re worrying about being expelled from the Premier League, back in 1999, while United were winning the Treble, getting in the Championship looked a massive long shot.
In what would be the League One play-off final these days, City trailed Gillingham 2-0 at Wembley with five minutes left before Kevin Horlock and Paul Dickov rescued them and they won on penalties.
Currently, as we await City’s punishment for financial irregularities, they have, not surprisingly, drifted out to 4-1 for the title.
The markets, though, think the Premier League will most likely act – and City are now a best-priced 9-4 with Star Sports to go down. They are as short as 5-4 in places.
UEFA tried to ban them from the Champions League in 2020 but lost the appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Enzo Maresca’s side are now 9-1 to land a second European title. City to become the first side ever to win the Champions League and get relegated in the same season? That would be a best-price 46-1 with bet365.
Not a bad Last Dance.
Goodwinners’ Enclosure
Anyone can lose to Spain and England proved it once again on Saturday night.
Since beating the Three Lions 2-1 in the 2024 Euro final, La Roja have added the World Cup to their collection so Tommy Tuchel’s boys were always gonna be up against it.
Once the visitors went 1-0 up at Wembley, few doubting Thomases began to emerge, with little support behind England to mount a comeback despite their tempting 9-2 price!
But when England did turn the game around, leading 2-1 before missing a penalty, here at BetGoodwin Towers punters were hit with flashbacks to the Argentina World Cup semi-final – and wasted little time piling on to Spain at a tasty 4-1! Ouch!
On Sunday, our traders got their revenge as Germany suffered a shock home defeat against 5-1 Greece. The backers were out in force pre-match, seeing plenty of value in Germany at 4-9. And they continued to pile into Jurgen Klopp’s new side in-running, so that 0-1 result was definitely the most frustrating one of the weekend for our customers.
While many feel England have the quality to go all the way, the bigger question for punters is whether the value lies with the Three Lions, Spain or France, or is it elsewhere?
With a strong record in the competition, they’ve won it twice already, Portugal at 6-1 could be the value in this market.
Tonight, in the game of the weekend, England fans will be hoping for a repeat of their World Cup meeting with Croatia, when Tuchel’s side ran out 4-2 winners with Harry Kane being the star man with two goals.
England have shown plenty of firepower but can look vulnerable at the back, making England to win and BTTS out in the Balkans at 29-10 our best bet of the game.
Straight after that finishes, world champions Spain host the Czechs, with plenty of our punters already eyeing up a convincing victory for La Roja.
They are in fantastic form and facing the group whipping boys, who we make 20-1 to cause what would be a huge upset. So Spain to win 3-0 at 5-1 is our prediction for that.
Let’s not forget, there’s plenty of League One and Two action this weekend – and that’s where we’ve gone hunting with our BetGoodwin Banker Acca. Huddersfield, Plymouth, Chesterfield and Accrington Stanley all to win pays you a boosted 14-1!
TV Previews
Chesterfield v Tranmere
Is Enzo Maresca running his eye over these two? Who knows, Man City’s big Merseyside clash next season could be at Prenton Park.
Last term, Rovers just dodged relegation but are unbeaten in Birkenhead and have drawn three of their four away games.
Lunchtime hosts Chesterfield made the play-offs last term, are odds-on here but the draw at 3-1 is the call.
Lee Bonis could pay out as the first-scorer pick at 4-1 with Sky Bet.
FORECAST: 1-1
North Macedonia v Scotland
Scotland have now scored only once in five games and were taught a lesson by the Swiss at Hampden in midweek.
That 3-0 defeat did come on the back of a 10th-minute Jack Hendry red card but new boss Sebastien Pocognoli is in danger of leading the Scots into Nations League C.
Tonight’s trip to North Macedonia then is a big one – luckily the hosts are in even worse form.
Narrow away win and Oli McBurnie to strike first at 5-1 with Paddy Power are the selections.
FORECAST: 0-1
Wales v Denmark
After six games without a win, Wales snapped that streak with an impressive 2-1 victory over Norway in midweek.
With the hangover from missing out on the World Cup shaken off, Craig Bellamy’s side now have a decent stab at keeping hold of their Nations League A status.
Pivotal is tomorrow’s return with Denmark who cruised to a 2-0 win in Copenhagen last weekend.
Take the Welsh to get revenge at 3-1 and Lewis Koumas to score anytime at 7-2 with bet365.
FORECAST: 2-1
Top Tips
Pro bet
Estonia to beat Luxembourg, Iceland to beat Bulgaria, Portugal to beat Norway, Ireland to beat Israel, Gillingham to beat Newport. Acca pays 36-1 with Unibet.
Retirement bet
Wales to beat Denmark, Burton to beat Huddersfield, Orient to beat Plymouth, Cheltenham to win at Accrington, Crewe to beat Bristol Rovers, Swindon to win at Rochdale, Aldershot to beat Carlisle, Sutton to win at Kidderminster. Perm 1 x Acca, 8 x 7-folds, 28 x 6-folds. Acca pays 12,054-1 with Unibet.
Away day
England to win in Croatia, Germany in Greece, Bradford at Reading, Worthing at Gateshead. Acca pays 18-1 with Betfred.
Top draw
Exeter v Rotherham, Eastleigh v Woking, Scunthorpe v Forest Green, Barrow v Wealdstone. Acca pays 156-1 with William Hill.
TV Special
Chesterfield v Tranmere draw, England to win in Croatia, Scotland to win in North Macedonia, Wales to beat Denmark. Acca pays 49-1 with Paddy Power.
18+ New customers only. One participation per customer. Qualifying bet must be placed within 7 days of registering your Account. Terms and conditions apply. BeGambleAware.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – gamcare.org.uk
- GambleAware – GambleAware.org
Read our guide on .
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
