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Jimmy’s Punt: March 24th
Some people may find international breaks boring, not me, I love it.
Pedestrian and predictable, yes, but they are as good a time as any to land an audacious 12-fold, as long as you stick with the favourites.
The range in ability also provides an excellent opportunity for egotistical strikers to stad-pad and with that in mind this week’s punt is a goalscoring treble, featuring an anytime goalscorer bet, a brace and a hattrick.
I am hoping it will be as easy as one, two, three.
In this article:
- Czech Republic vs Poland Preview & Best Bet
- France vs Netherlands Preview & Best Bet
- Serbia vs Lithuania Preview & Best Bet
- Jimmy’s Punt Odds
Czech Republic vs Poland Preview
European Championships Qualifier, Friday, March 24 19:45 (UK)
Poland kick off their European qualification campaign with a trip to Prague on Friday evening to meet the Czech Republic.
These are the two heavyweights of Group E. The hosts will be looking to maintain their record of qualifying for every single Euros since gaining independence. At around 2.45, Národák are marginal favourites here as well.
The visitors had a bit of a bad deal in Qatar, drawn in the group with Argentina, they also met the other finalists, France, in the first knock-out stage.
Despite reaching their first knock-out stage at a World Cup for over 30 years, manager Czeslaw Michniewicz’s overly pragmatic style of play was criticised as his side scraped through the group on goal difference.
I am not sure if they know but his replacement, Fernando Santos, did not build a reputation on exciting tactics either…
Czech Republic vs Poland Best Bet
Internationals are great because you get one of the best strikers in world football, priced at 2.70 to score anytime.
Robert Lewandowski is eight goals shy of 500 club career goals, with 65 goals for the Red and Whites, he already tops his countries goalscoring charts.
The frontman hit six in 10 appearances last Euro qualifying campaign and nine in nine for the WCQ. He has found the net five times in his last seven appearances at major tournaments.
Sure, playing for Poland will beef up his odds, but he still finds himself amongst the goals.
- Selection: Robert Lewandowski Anytime Goalscorer
- Best Odds: 2.70 (Paddy Power)
- Stakes: 5/10
More Czech Republic vs Poland Tips
France vs Netherlands Preview
European Championships Qualifier, Friday, March 24 19:45 (UK)
It is the first time since the World Cup that we will see these nations in competitive action.
France went so close to becoming only the third country in history to win back-to-back world titles, only to fall at the final hurdle in a breathless final against Argentina.
Despite that heartache, Didier Deschamps will remain as the Les Bleus supremo until 2026. With such a talented crop of players all amidst the peak of their powers, you would expect their purple patch to continue.
At 36 years old, France’s all-time leading goalscorer, Oliver Giroud is Deschamps’ oldest player. The striker is the perfect foil for Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann, two of the three in operation behind him, though there is a bit of tension between the duo.
Mbappe was named captain, Griezmann his vice and the latter felt he was primed for that role.
Shocking really, as it is not like the French national team to be embroiled in some form of controversy.
Like Friday’s opponents, the Netherlands suffered defeat at the hands of the Champions, in a swashbuckling quarterfinal that went the distance.
Personally, I thought Louis van Gaal’s Oranje side were a bit of a boring watch. His style of play is not too popular with the natives either, and it is difficult to see them getting a result in Paris.
France vs Netherlands Best Bet
Mbappe became only the second player in the competition’s history to score a hat trick in a World Cup final. While it was enough to secure him the Golden Boot, it was not enough to secure his nation their third world title.
It took his French tally to 36 in 66 games, a goals per 90 average of 0.66.
He was irresistible in Qatar, bagging a brace or more in three of his seven appearances.
- Selection: Kylian Mbappe Brace (TRACKED BET)
- Best Odds: 8.50 (Sky Bet)
- Stakes: 10/10
More France vs Netherlands Tips
Serbia vs Lithuania Preview
Serbia, European Qualifier, Friday, March 24 19:45 (UK)
As I write, Lithuania are 41.00 to triumph at the Rajko Mitic Stadium.
Since becoming an independent nation, they have taken part in seven European qualifiers, failing to reach the finals every time. Their chances look as good as ever this campaign though, pitting their wits against Serbia, Bulgaria and Montenegro in Group G.
Serbia have endured a topsy-turvy few years.
Dragan Stojkovic’s side failed to qualify for the last Euros, eliminated via penalties against Scotland in the play-offs.
The Eagles then topped Group A ahead of Portugal to reach Qatar, only to finish bottom of the group, winless.
Friday evening’s clash provides a great opportunity to put the World Cup behind them.
Serbia vs Lithuania Best Bet
Aleksandar Mitrovic has bagged five goals in his last three appearances against Lithuania, hitting the double in each of the last two, and I think he will add to his tally here.
Mitrovic has caused a real storm for what he did in Fulham’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester United.
Lambasted by the media in England, this international break comes at the perfect time, and he is exactly the type of player to channel his frustrations into this fixture.
Serbia’s all-time leading scorer has bagged 52 goals for his nation and hit 10 in the last European qualifiers.
- Selection: Aleksandar Mitrovic Hattrick
- Best Odds: 10.00 (Sky Bet)
- Stakes: 5/10
Odds as at 12:00 March 23 2023. Odds may now differ.
Jimmy’s Punt Odds
- Czech Republic vs Poland – Robert Lewandowski Anytime Goalscorer
- France vs Netherlands – Kylian Mbappe Brace
- Serbia vs Lithuania – Aleksandar Mitrovic Hattrick
Acca Odds: 212.50 (TRACKED BET)
- Stakes: 10/10
Odds via Unibet as at 12:00 March 23 2023. Odds may now differ.
WHAT IS A FOOTBALL ACCA?
A football acca is an accumulator bet, a type of bet that consists of several selections across different matches that are combined together into one single bet. An acca usually. consists of at least four selections but many more can be included. There will be odds for the single bet as a whole which is calculated by multiplying the odds of all of the selections. A football acca is one of the most popular ways to bet. This is the case because they can create potentially massive odds for a small stake. Many punters choose to create Premier League accas which is what we have created here. If one of these selections loses then the football acca will lose. This type of bet needs every selection to win in order to succeed.
