Gareth Bale plays for Wales. He plays for Real Madrid. They’re odds-against away to a team whose capital city I can’t spell. Their players play in the Premier League. Easy money.
Not quite.
The Welsh defensive options consist of without-a-club Chris Gunter, Jose-Mourinho-doesn’t-like-me Ben Davies, I’m-eleven-years-old Neco Williams and Connor Roberts. Let’s not get ahead ourselves.
In midfield there’s next to no experience, with Jonny Williams of Sunderland ‘Till I Die fame being the standout in that regard. Yes, Harry Wilson is a tantalising prospect alongside Dan James, but they’ll be surrounded by 19-year-old Ethan Ampadu and the remainder of the childminder’s sitting room.
- Our 14/1 Same Game Multi for Ireland’s trip to Bulgaria
- Our 10/1 acca for the rest of Thursday’s International action
Hal Robson-Kanu certainly aids in the experience department but he’s only scored five times for his country.
This is not a star-studded Welsh side, nor is the Finnish team without its high-level performers. Teemu Pukki has shown he’s a lethal finisher when in the mood, and their starting goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky is a Bundesliga standout with Bayer Leverkusen.
Don’t be fooled into things this will be a cakewalk – it won’t be. Here’s your three best bets for this Nations League Group *checks notes* B4 matchup.
Double Chance: Finland and the Draw
I really like this price for what it offers us. The simple fact is this – I can’t see the Welsh scoring twice, and I can very easily see the Fins grabbing a goal. With that in mind, do you really feel comfortable taking a smidge of odds-against about Ryan Giggs’ charges?
Teemu Pukki is the best striker on the pitch in this game, and the Welsh back four really don’t have a tonne of experience against crafty top-level players. That, combined with the fact that their surrounds can easily see them fall into the trap of simply expecting to turn up and win, is a real pothole.
Many people will take the price about Wales for this, but I would strongly advise against it.
Under 2.5 Goals
My preference for games taking place in this climate where there are extra precautions being taken everywhere is simply to expect fewer goals, and I suspect we’ll see a trend emerge soon where traders will adjust to this. Take advantage while you can.
Sessions are being interrupted. You can’t train with the same intensity anymore given you need to be exceptionally careful and the general aura around these games is that we’re playing in an alternate dimension rather than the norms we’re used to.
Sorry for going all Roswell on you there, but you know what I mean.
Gareth Bale to Score Anytime
Now, this doesn’t fit into my narrative at all, and he may not even start given his severe lack of football in the last while, but there’s a few other players in this game more likely to score than him, according to the prices.
While you can make a case for Pukki, you have to remember that nobody commands the ball more than Bale in any given Welsh game. For the price alone, I’d be happy to suggest this.
Our 3 best bets for Finland v Wales
Double Chance: Finland and the Draw
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