Fixtures - 9th June

[Winrew]

Romania v France 4.75 3.30 1.70

Holland v Italy 2.85 3.00 2.40

Prices from Sportingodds..

[kompressaur]

holland as high as 3.3 with William Hill. France best priced 1.91 with Skybet. Looks like 2 cracking games

[kompressaur]

Romania v France - Zurich
France's tendency to make a mess of fixtures that they are expected to win is well known. Les Bleus were expected to beat Scotland home and away in qualifying, certainly by the bookies, but famously lost both games 1-0. I'll used that word expected again, because most football fans would assume that a team priced up at odds-on would be expected to go on and do the business against opponents chalked up at 4/1. Most punters know otherwise, however, and France are certainly no good things to win their opening fixture. They are notoriously slow starters and there will be no room for complacency against an underrated Romanian outfit. They topped qualifying Group G and took four points off Holland in the process, and though coach Victor Piturca is known for his attacking style he has adjusted the way his team plays against the better sides. Paul Codrea is a battling, holding midfielder who was instrumental in keeping the Dutch from scoring in qualifying and I'd expect him to keep tabs on Franck Ribery. Romania will be set up to frustrate the French and with Adrian Mutu one of the stars who can threaten their goal they look overpriced at 4/1 to take all three points.

Verdict: Romania 1 France 0

Holland v Italy - Berne
Holland have a squad full of exciting players but they have self-destructed at every major tournament since their 1988 Euro success largely due to a lack of team spirit. As mentioned above they were second to Romania in qualifying and have no right to be shorter in the betting than the Eastern Europeans. One of their exciting players, Arjen Robben, is arguably their most threatening midfielder but he is ruled out of this fixture with a groin strain and that severely impedes their attacking options. Opponents Italy are without Fabio Cannavaro, and while that is an undoubted blow to the world champions they have the resources to cope - especially in this fixture. Holland only scored 15 goals in 12 qualifying games while Italy conceded just nine, and as was the case with many Italian teams in the past they will be set up with a clean sheet in mind. Christian Panucci should be fit for the clash and Roberto Donadoni is expected to play just one up front - the impressive Luca Toni - who netted five times in qualifying. He could well be the difference but 7/4 anytime goalscorer quotes are a little skinny and put us off. The 17/10 Paddy Power offer about Italy keeping a clean sheet, though, is just tempting enough to reel us in.

Verdict: Holland 0 Italy 2

BACK ROMANIA TO STUN FRANCE: Betting Zone - Racing Betting, Football Betting, Cricket Betting, Golf Betting, Rugby Betting, Sports Betting

[Martens]

i predict another day for bookies disaster; that is the two favourites france and italy both to win

romania means nothing to me, what i remember is the way they fixed their defeat in away match against bulgaria, and i have personal opininon since i watched the match

france is better without Henry, i just hope not to see Anelka in starting line up

even with him, i rate french as two classes above here

Italy should do it also against mediocre holland, dutch team is composed of some interesting names, but NEVER been a team

Italy one class above, world champions with many players from that squad

see you, and good luck

[Mrs. Smith]

bit of history here..

Holland - Italy

Netherlands and Italy have met each other in 15 previous matches with Italy winning seven and Netherlands only two.
Netherlands have not won any of the last eight matches against Italy since the second round of the 1978 World Cup.

The last competitive match between the two countries was in the semi-finals of Euro 2000 when Italy beat the hosts 3-1 on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Holland missed two penalties (Frank de Boer and Patrick Kluivert) during the match and another three in the penalty shoot-out (Frank de Boer again, Jaap Stam and Paul Bosvelt).Ten cards were shown during the game, equalling the tournament record which was set in the Germany - Czech Republic group phase match in 1996.

Team facts - Netherlands
Have reached the semi-finals in four of the last five editions of the European Championship. Over that period Netherlands have won 12 European Championship matches, three more than second placed France and Portugal.

Team facts - Italy
Knocked out in the group phase in two of the last three European Championships.
Unbeaten in their opening match at their six European Championships, winning four and drawing two.
Lost only one match in the group phase of a European Championship - a 2-1 defeat against the Czech Republic in 1996.
One of only three nations to have won the European Championship and the World Cup. France and Germany are the others.
Been involved in more goalless draws (six) in this competition than any other nation. Netherlands are second on the list with five goalless draws.


so Holland without win in 30 years? wow. and do not forget last two lines above. goalles draw? do not think so. with all them players in both teams and defence not the best part of teams, speccialy now when Cannavaro is out. If Materazzi will play I wish him red card have completely oposite opinion them Martens, I rate Italians the most luckiest team of all in the world, yes they have names in their team but Dutch team is crowded with names. Their attack is woooow have 5-6 player that can score from enywhere and everywhere. Italians are, as I said, lucky, remember game against Australia? Penalty for them, in 93rd minute. That was not penalty. Materazzi and Zidane? phew. Poor frenchman, felt like that on dirty play from a dirty player.(I like Zidane, who doesn't, kill me, have this thing for bald men ) That is the reason I wish Materazzi red card. Referees knows what he did, what kind of player he is, they might award him for it to make long storry short, I believe this orange team can finally win nerazzure after 30 years, and I wish them to do so. And I have them @ 3,25 which is toooo much for them, couldn't care if they are playing against Brazil. Maybe, possibly open game, and thinking about over 2,5 at the moment, will see about that.

from Gazetta, might be:
Holland: (4-2-3-1): 1 Van der Sar; 3 Heitinga, 2 Ooijer, 4 Mathijsen, 5 Van Bronckhorst; 17 De Jong, 8 Engelaar; 10 Sneijder, 23 Van der Vaart, 20 Afellay; 9 Van Nistelrooy.

Italia (4-3-3): 1 Buffon; 2 Panucci, 6 Barzagli, 23 Materazzi, 19 Zambrotta; 8 Gattuso, 21 Pirlo, 10 De Rossi; 16 Camoranesi, 9 Toni, 11 Di Natale.

[kompressaur]

I think im just gonna take under 2.5 in the Romania game and over 2.5 in the Italian game Martens. Just an interest bet. I should enjoy these 2 games without a bet

[Mrs. Smith]

Romania - France
Head-to-heads
Romania and France have met each other on 10 occasions, Romania winning three, France winning six times and one match finishing in a draw.
In three competitive matches, Romania have never managed to beat France.
The two teams have played each other once at the European Championship. On 10 June 1996, France beat Romania 1-0 through a Christophe Dugarry goal.
Their latest encounter was on 13 February 2002 in a friendly match, France beating Romania 2-1 with goals from Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit (France) and Ionel Ganea (Romania).

Team facts - Romania
Fourth appearance at the European Championship and yet to win their opening match.
Their best result is reaching the quarter-finals at Euro 2000, in which they were eliminated by Italy.
Won only one of their 10 European Championship matches. They beat England 3-2 at Euro 2000, ending a run of eight winless matches in these tournaments.


agree with Bettingzone Komp. Romanians could be dark horse of the EURO. The way I see it, Holland Italy and France are bin football nations, right? Right! Romania is not, right? Right. Everyone, after the draw was finished, said that 2 of these three teams will go to next round, and kind forgot about Romanias, France already said that games between Italy and Holland will be crucial ones, so I guess the huge amount og underestimation will be present there tonight, anf France is not what they used to be, not in my book anyway. I do strongly believe that we are about to see surprise here. Romanians know that everyone is expecting to see them going home in 10-12 days, and it won't be such a tragedy, as it would be if, (when) one (two) of the other teams leave Switzerland, so they can do what other can not, and that is to play without any pressure, relaxed and that can make huge difference, cause France will be the one with pressure on their back.

Romania to win @ 5,10

[kompressaur]

I dont know how i missed you there Mrs Smith. I must have forgotten to refresh my page after entering the thread. I'd love to see Romania win today Mrs Smith but there's something telling me that they wont. I suppose they have to be the value call. im getting 9/20 for the unders. i cant back anything at that price.

ive taken 3 interest bets on the france romannia game-

1 Second Half @ 11/10 - most goals
2 After 29th Minute @ 1/1 - for the first goal
3 Under 10 Corners @ 10/11

3 x 3pts singles at bet365

[redroar]

Originally Posted by Martens

i predict another day for bookies disaster; that is the two favourites france and italy both to win

romania means nothing to me, what i remember is the way they fixed their defeat in away match against bulgaria, and i have personal opininon since i watched the match

france is better without Henry, i just hope not to see Anelka in starting line up

even with him, i rate french as two classes above here

Italy should do it also against mediocre holland, dutch team is composed of some interesting names, but NEVER been a team

Italy one class above, world champions with many players from that squad

see you, and good luck

Where'nt you tipping Austria and Poland yesterday because you thought Croatia were over rated and you did'nt respect Germany. Are you picking teams simply because you like them? Just curious but it seems a dangerous strategy to me.

Draw and an Italian win in todays games for me.

[BelfastPunter]

FRANCE ARE THE BIGGEST LOADA SHITE,, ABIDAL IS WORSE THAN JOHN OSHEA AND I THOUGHT MALOUDA WAS PLAYING FOR ROMANIA!!!!!! WORSE LEFT SIDE IN A TEAM I HAVE SEEN... TERRIBLE,,

FRANCE LOOK GOOD ON PAPER,, BUT ON THE PITCH IS A DIFFERENT THING

[kompressaur]

Same old story then BP. Actually they did ok last world cup didnt they. that was a freak. Zidane inspired etc. Right what we all thinking about the next?

Nice one on the draw redroar. I did ok really with the corners coming in for me too i spoose. the lack of a goal never hurt me as much as i thought. nah it did as the the 2nd half to have more goals never came in nor the 'after 29 minutes' boooo. right time to get psychic here. Let me get the feeling here...k ive gone for some interest bets on-

1 Over 2.5 @ 33/20 5pts
2 Italy @ 8/5 4pts
3 First Half Most Goals @ 11/5 3pts
4 Over 10 Corners @ 11/10 2pts

and i will bet in-running

[kompressaur]

aye who needs a stinking in-running thread. this is the place to be for all thing holland v Italy. I dont know where i got my 'first half to have the most goals' bet from. I think i was expecting it to be a corker of a game, the first high scoring great game. I havent had a chance to look to my left at the tv but there seems to be a few noises coming from it. Here's hoping its as lively as it sounds. a couple of quick goals would cheer the game and me up

[kompressaur]

Need a quick one from Italy here. that would do me. I would happily take that. the dutch goal is a bummer but not the end of the world. really need to see some more action this half. Only one corner so far too.

[kompressaur]

a corner .oooooo

[kompressaur]

Aye well. Breakaway stuff. Suppose i will take that too. A goal for italy would still cheer me up. then 2 in the 2nd half. am i asking for too much?