The Punters Lounge - The World's Best Betting Forum - View Single Post - Euro 2004 play-offs

edtkh · 13-11-2003, 19:29

I'm not as optimistic as you guys are about Russia - if anything, Croatia(which is already as inconsistent a side as you could find) would definitely make a much better bet than Russia IMO. :p

I wouldn't even touch the Russians at 8/11, nevermind anything less - their results may have been impressive at home but their performances have not been all that impressive if truth be told. Let's face it, they're no world beaters and if they were anything decent, they should have taken the automatic spot at a canter considering their group comprised of 2 minnows in the form of Albania and Georgia, an out-of-sorts Ireland and perhaps, the surprise package of the group, Switzerland. Their defence is clearly not up-to-scratch either - if they're conceding goals at the rate they did in their group given the quality of their opponents, god knows how many they'll be shipping in Portugal(if they qualify!

). If anything, I see the mounting injury crisis in the Welsh camp as perhaps, the only silver lining in what's an otheriwse pretty dark cloud. :b

Wales, on the other hand, performed credibly in a group comprising of a world-class side in Italy, 2 fairly mediocre sides(which would be no worse than any of Russia's opponents IMO) in Serbia & Montenegro and Finland and minnows Azerbaijan. I certainly won't be as surprised as some of you're should Wales get a decent result in Moscow - Matt, I certainly can't see a 3-0 scoreline! In essence, I believe this playoff is a 50-50 chance for both sides.

Quite clearly, the inconsistency of the Russians does not make them remotely attractive at 1.44 to qualify - my money's on Wales here and should they get a score draw(or better) in Moscow, then I think I'd have every reason to believe they'd be on their way to Portugal next summer.

13-11-2003, 19:29	#43 (permalink)
edtkh Legendary Punter Join Date: 26 Oct 2004 Posts: 2,474	Russia v Wales I'm not as optimistic as you guys are about Russia - if anything, Croatia(which is already as inconsistent a side as you could find) would definitely make a much better bet than Russia IMO. :p I wouldn't even touch the Russians at 8/11, nevermind anything less - their results may have been impressive at home but their performances have not been all that impressive if truth be told. Let's face it, they're no world beaters and if they were anything decent, they should have taken the automatic spot at a canter considering their group comprised of 2 minnows in the form of Albania and Georgia, an out-of-sorts Ireland and perhaps, the surprise package of the group, Switzerland. Their defence is clearly not up-to-scratch either - if they're conceding goals at the rate they did in their group given the quality of their opponents, god knows how many they'll be shipping in Portugal(if they qualify! ). If anything, I see the mounting injury crisis in the Welsh camp as perhaps, the only silver lining in what's an otheriwse pretty dark cloud. :b Wales, on the other hand, performed credibly in a group comprising of a world-class side in Italy, 2 fairly mediocre sides(which would be no worse than any of Russia's opponents IMO) in Serbia & Montenegro and Finland and minnows Azerbaijan. I certainly won't be as surprised as some of you're should Wales get a decent result in Moscow - Matt, I certainly can't see a 3-0 scoreline! In essence, I believe this playoff is a 50-50 chance for both sides. Quite clearly, the inconsistency of the Russians does not make them remotely attractive at 1.44 to qualify - my money's on Wales here and should they get a score draw(or better) in Moscow, then I think I'd have every reason to believe they'd be on their way to Portugal next summer.