England will look to stack up the goal difference in their favour when international whipping boys San Marino arrive at Wembley for their Group H World Cup 2014 qualification showdown on Friday.
Roy Hodgson’s men comfortably put five past Moldova away from home in their opening group clash before being held by Ukraine at Wembley so it could be that qualification goes down to goal difference and goals scored in what is already looking like a tight group.
England (2/5 Group H winner) will be aware that current group leaders Montenegro stuck six past San Marino in their own backyard so it is no surprise that they are 1/100 to come out on top on Friday evening.
However, the real value will be looking at the correct score and anytime goal scorer markets as the Three Lions will no doubt tear into their opposition, who are officially ranked as the joint-worst team in the world by FIFA.
They have lost their last 19 competitive matches ‘to nil’, conceding 101 goals in the process, an average of just over five per game so expect the San Marino net to ripple on numerous occasions during this match.
Hodgson does have injury and suspension problems to contend with going into the match as captain Steven Gerrard is suspended following his red card for two bookings in the Ukraine clash, Glen Johnson is also banned while Frank Lampard and Ryan Bertrand have joined Kieran Gibbs on the sidelines having withdrawn from the squad on Thursday because of respective knee and illness issues.
But, that should not have a detrimental impact on the outcome of this match as it will be one-way traffic throughout.
Looking at potential score-lines and England have not scored six since the 6-0 drubbing of Andorra in 2009, while their last seven-goal haul came against San Marino in Graham Taylor’s last game in charge when the Three Lions recovered from falling behind to an early goal to win 7-1 in late 1993.
Punters who feel England are not prolific in games against teams of San Marino’s stature might fancy 6/1 for 6-0 in the Correct Score market, while those fancying a double figures haul can get 20/1 for a 10-0 rout.
In the anytime scoring market it is better to steer clear of the likes of Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe, both currently 1/5, and look to the defensive players.
Kyle Walker, who will deputise for Johnson and is always liable to bomb forward down the right flank is 7/2 to find the net and left-back Ashley Cole can be backed at a tidy 9/2 to make amends for his recent Twitter outburst and grab a first goal for his country while collecting his 99th cap.
If set-piece and penalty specialist Leighton Baines is given the nod over Cole on the left side of defence with one eye on the game in Poland on Tuesday, he can be backed at 7/4 in the anytime goalscorer market.
Value Bet: England 8-0 Correct Score @ 10/1
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