International Friendlies(Wednesday)

Mexico - Iceland 2@6.60(centrebet)
There is a very interesting text: Mexican football officials are being criticised for arranging Wednesday's friendly international with Iceland only three days before a decisive round of matches in the domestic championship.Jorge Vergara, the flamboyant president of Guadalajara, led the protests while even national team coach Ricardo Lavolpe admitted the timing of the match in the U.S. city of San Francisco was wrong.Vergara was angry at having goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez, midfielder Ramon Morales and striker Omar Bravo selected for the game.Guadalajara are away to San Luis on Saturday on a day which will decide which teams join UNAM, UNL and Pachuca in the quarter-finals of the Mexican championship.The Chivas are one of the teams still in with a chance of making the last eight. "We have to make sure this doesn't happen again," Vergara told reporters. "We have to plan things better and give some importance to our championship."Lavolpe agreed with Vergara: "It's not an adequate moment to play a friendly as everyone is thinking about Saturday," said the Argentine-born coach.I think that price 6.60 represents some value in this situation.

Japan - Cameroon 2@3.40
I will try with away win here.It's hard to understand such a big price for Cameroon.They will play with strong team,including Samuel Eto'o(Mallorca),Eric Djemba Djemba(ManUtd) and Rigobert Song(Lens).Japan has some well known names,but still they are just a mediocore football team.Japan will be able to field their stars:Takahara(HSV),Inamoto(Fulham),Ono(Feyenoord) ,Nakata(Parma),...But they have some problems,because two players got injuries in the last 24 hours,Mitsuo Ogasawara(Kashima) and Yuji Nakazawa(Yokohama).And midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura(Reggina) is out too,so price 3.40 at centrebet isn't so bad at all.Japaniese national coach said that this match,against finalist of the Confederatin cup,should be a one more lesson for his players.They will try to win of course,but there is no pressure on them.

As a Scotsman, the name 'Costa Rica' still makes me wince.

Anyone got team news for their game with finland? Hills offer 5.00 for the away win and I think this could be value. (My nobookie pick this week btw.)

Any team info, etc guys?? I'm off to see if I can find anything on this game.

Finland coach Antti Muurinen has announced an experimental squad for friendlies against Honduras and Costa Rica on 16 and 19 November in the United States.

"This is a chance to look at some new faces and also give more minutes to players who have been sitting on the bench," said the coach, who included one newcomer in the party, FC Haka centre-back Juha Pasoja, and seven domestic-based players in all.

Finland squad
Jääskeläinen, Kaven, Heikkinen, Hietanen, Koppinen, Kuivasto, Nylund, Pasoja, Eremenko jr, Hakanpää, Kopteff, Kottila, Litmanen, J Niemi, Nurmela, Riihilahti, Roiha, Tainio

Well, this 'experimental' squad won last time out and I think I'll give the 2 a shot.
As far as I know, Cost Rica will be without Wanchope also.

Finland have been cut to 3.50 now at Hills.

'Course that is neither here nor there 'cos i had them in a double with Turkey.

Damn you Turkey. Damn you all to hell! :o