Unclear whether Stuart Pearce will be in charge come Euro 2012 but he’ll be in the England dugout tonight at Wembley and might just be able to oversee a victory.
The Three Lions, without a manager following Fabio Capello’s departure earlier this month, take on Holland and it is just about as interesting as any international friendly match gets these days.
Pearce, a genuine candidate to lead his country in Ukraine and Poland, has chosen to give Scott Parker the captain’s armband for the match against the World Cup runners-up and the Tottenham midfielder might well be able to inspire England.
Following the withdrawals of strikers Darren Bent and Wayne Rooney from the squad, the worry is a lack of goals for the hosts but the national team has not relied upon a prolific goal scorer at this level since Alan Shearer was leading the line and that doesn’t concern me too much.
Unbeaten in 2011, and with just one defeat at home in their last 21 matches, England haven been dismissed by the bookmakers this evening but quotes of 3.10 with Bet Victor have gone too far and now is the time to get with Pearce’s boys.
Holland, so impressive in qualifying for this summer’s finals having found only Spain too good in South Africa, are a team still very much to be feared but a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Germany last time out means it’s three games without a win and there are fitness doubts about their star man.
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, performing right at his brilliant best at present for the London club, could well miss out with a groin strain but he doesn’t always produce for the Dutch in any case and the visitors shouldn’t be clear favourites this evening.
Wednesday represents a terrific opportunity for the likes of Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge to stake their claim, as well as Pearce himself, and, at odds against in the draw no bet markets, England are too good to turn down at the prices given their overall record.
2pts Back England Draw No Bet (vs. Holland) @ 2.20 (Betfair)