England Italy odds as punters take advantage of football offer on international friendly
England and Italy go head to head on Wednesday evening in a repeat of the Euro 2012 quarter-final as Paddy Power report plenty of betting interest in their new free bets offer of a refund if the game finishes goalless.
Not many Premier League managers are happy that this friendly is taking place so close to the new season, but it is a chance for Roy Hodgson to begin a new era for the Three Lions.
It was the Italians that knocked England out of Euro 2012 of course. After a 0-0 draw – during which Italy had much more possession – Hodgson’s men were knocked out on penalties and this is their first game since this disappointment.
In terms of the squad Hodgson has picked, it is definitely an experimental one. A range of of senior players have been left out and it seems very much a case of the new manager seeing what certain squad members are capable of on the international stage.
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As is customary for these typs of games, there have been late withdrawals as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joe Hart and Daniel Sturridge all missing the game through injury.
Highlighting this point, it is Jack Butland and John Ruddy that will play 45 minutes each in goal as each makes their international debut. There were then surprise call ups for Steven Caulker, Jake Livermore and Jack Rodwell who will all be hoping to impress the England boss.
There are some experienced names in the squad, including Michael Carrick and Frank Lampard. However, neither of these players were involved in Euro 2012, so Hodgson wants a chance to work with them on the international stage.
Overall, this is not a friendly where the result is too important. England want to win the game of course, but it is more about Hodgson finding out which of the fringe players can make the step up.
As for Italy, they will be looking to put the disappointment of a Euro 2012 final defeat behind them with a victory in this match. Despite not quite going all the way in Poland and Ukraine, this is their chance to kickstart the new era positively.
They quite clearly have some talented young players and this is where the preparations begin for the 2014 World Cup. With this in mind, they have chosen a very young squad for Wednesday’s friendly.
They have named eight uncapped players, with Mario Balotelli – who had a cracking Euro 2012 – set to lead the line.
This will be a very different encounter to the one earlier in the summer, but it should still be a fascinating contest between two experimental teams.
