2 months ago
53 The Premier League is on a break this week as international football takes over.
Lots of top-flight stars will be in action for their respective nations and there are some great match-ups, including England vs Belgium and France vs Portugal – which pits Kylian Mbappe vs Cristiano Ronaldo.
England and Belgium clashed twice at the World Cup in 2018 – with Belgium coming out on top both timesGETTYWe’ve picked out some top bets from three of the stand-out games this weekend to get you in on the action…
Ukraine vs Germany – Nations League (Saturday, 7.45pm)
Chelsea’s £70m summer signing Kai Havertz impressed for Germany in midweek, claiming two assists as Joachim Low’s side drew 3-3 with Turkey.
While it was a disappointing result for the Germans, they rested a number of key men and were without Timo Werner – another big Chelsea signing in the summer – through illness.
Werner is expected to return to start vs Ukraine and will be in the mood to prove his goalscoring qualities after his slow start to life in England.
He’s 14/5 to score first and 10/11 to net anytime, while it is 4/1 he nets twice or more. The latter could be a good bet as half of Werner’s international goals (6 of 12) have been scored in braces. Ukraine are woeful at the back too and have conceded 11 goals in their past two games, against France and Spain.
Werner has become the main man for Germany and will hope to add to his international tally this weekendGETTYSerge Gnabry will also fancy his chances of finding the net as the former Arsenal man looks to continue his remarkable record on the international stage.
The Bayern Munich star has developed into one of the world’s best forwards since leaving the Emirates and has 13 goals in 13 games for Germany. He’s 21/20 to score anytime and 3/1 to open the scoring.
We’re backing a comfortable Germany win – they’ve never lost to Ukraine in six meetings – but Andriy Shevchenko’s side haven’t lost any of their previous ten home matches. So – unlike us – if you do fancy an upset, the 10/1 on offer for a home victory could well be tempting.
talkSPORT’s best bets:
Germany To Win Both Halves, Germany Over 2.5 goals in the match and Germany to keep a clean sheet: 4/1 (BET HERE) Havertz to have an assist: 11/5 (BET HERE) Werner to score twice or more: 4/1 (BET HERE) Havertz to have an assist, Werner to score anytime: 10/3 (BET HERE)England vs Belgium – Nations League (Sunday, 5pm)
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has had a nightmare start to the season and was heavily criticised after the 6-1 defeat to Spurs last Sunday – and we don’t reckon it will get any better for him this weekend.
Maguire has a big job on his hands keeping Romelu Lukaku quiet, with the striker in great form.
Lukaku was not wanted at Manchester United but has starred since joining Inter Milan and has an incredible record at international level.
He is Belgium’s all-time top goalscorer, having netted 52 goals in 85 appearances – 30 of them coming in his last 29 games.
We reckon he will bully Maguire and the England defence at Wembley, with Joe Gomez also coming into this on the back of a nightmare display for his club, as he was hauled off during Liverpool stunning 7-2 defeat to Aston Villa last weekend.
Lukaku is 4/1 to open the scoring, 17/10 to net anytime and 10/1 to score twice or more.
Lukaku has been unstoppable for Belgium in recent yearsGETTYBelgium boast one of their most talented squads in world football, with Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne and Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard pulling the strings for them, and have scored 42 goals in their last ten games.
De Bruyne was the Premier League’s top playmaker last season, claiming 20 assists, and will be confident of getting the better of England’s midfield.
Belgium won’t have it all their own way though and, like Lukaku, Harry Kane comes into the match in great form too. The England captain has eight goals in eight games for Tottenham this season and has 32 goals in 47 caps for the Three Lions. It’s 6/4 that Kane scores anytime.
talkSPORT’s best bets:
Lukaku to score anytime: 17/10 (BET HERE) Belgium to win and both teams to score: 18/5 (BET HERE) Over 2.5 goals: 13/10 (BET HERE)France vs Portugal – Nations League (Sunday, 7.45pm)
What a battle this is – the world champions vs the European champions in Paris.
Cristiano Ronaldo comes up against the man tipped by many to take over the mantle from him and Lionel Messi as the world’s best player, Kylian Mbappe.
Ronaldo has an incredible 101 goals for Portugal and is desperate to claim yet another record by becoming international football’s top scoring player – he needs just nine more to overtake Iran’s Ali Daei.
After failing to find the net against Spain in midweek, the 35-year-old will be even more determined to add to his tally – and who are we to back against him? Get on him to score anytime at 29/20.
Mbappe, meanwhile, is fresh and in form having come off the bench and found the net in France’s 7-1 demolition of Ukraine in midweek. He already has 15 goals for France, aged just 21, and is just 11/8 to net anytime.
Ronaldo won’t want to be upstaged by the youngster and the 19/4 for both strikers to score may be worth a punt.
Ronaldo is showing no signs of slowing down at 35GETTYAs well as Mbappe vs Ronaldo, there will also be an intriguing battle for midfield dominance between Manchester United teammates Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes.
Pogba looks a different player in a France shirt and it won’t be a surprise if he comes out on top. That could be key to helping France to edge out Portugal and, while we expect Ronaldo to have a major say, we’re backing a home win.
There’s little value in the 11/10 on offer for a France win but a home victory and both teams to score stands out at 19/5.
talkSPORT’s best bets:
Ronaldo to score anytime: 29/20 (BET HERE) Ronaldo and Mbappe to both score: 19/4 (BET HERE) Ronaldo to score and France to win: 15/2 (BET HERE) France to win and both teams to score: 19/5 (BET HERE)*All odds from Ladbrokes and correct at time of publication
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