Ireland kick-off their Euro2012 campaign against Croatia this evening (7.45pm KO), and look worth a wager in the draw/no bet market at 17/10 with BetVictor.
Giovanni Trapattoni has turned them into a well organised outfit and in Shay Given they have an outstanding goalkeeper who is always hard to put one past.
They have not conceded more than one goal in their last 14 games and have kept back-to-back clean sheets against Bosnia and Hungary in warm ups friendlies for this.
Through in the fact that they have also shut out Russia and Slovenia in competitive games this term and drew 0-0 with tonigh’s opponents when they met in Dublin last August and you can see why this game is likely to be a low scoring affair.
If Ireland can stop Luka Modric pulling the strings in midfield and shut out Everton’s superb striker Nikica Jelavic then I can see them getting at least a draw.
the problem is that they lack a world class striker, but Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle will battle hard up front and if they can manage to nab one it is likely to be enough to see them prevail.
Backing them outright at 3/1 with BetVictor does make some appeal, but backing them at 17/10 with the same firm in the knowledge that we will get our cash back if it does turn out to be the more likely draw looks the best option.
