The 2014 World Cup qualifiers are coming thick and fast and a host of matches taking place across the globe once more on Tuesday night.
I’m focused mainly on the action in Europe and, while Spain’s clash with France in Madrid is the undoubted highlight, it is Greece’s trip to Slovakia that perhaps offers the best value.
This pair enter the game in Bratislava both unbeaten in three matches in Group G and only goal difference currently separates them and Bosnia at the top of the standings.
Each of the trio has seven points to date and, with this section lacking a heavyweight nation, first place is very much up for grabs.
While Tuesday’s hosts were beating Latvia 2-1 on Friday night, their upcoming opponents were held to a goalless draw by the Bosnians but that stretched Greece’s run to just four defeats in their previous 26 World Cup qualifiers.
When you consider that Fernando Santos’s team have also only been beaten once in their past 28 European Championship qualifiers then Greece’s record is mightily impressive and I’m expecting them to emerge from tonight’s match with at least a point.
Santos does have some injury concerns ahead of the trip to Slovakia but Greece are odds against in the draw no bet market and that represents value.
Slovakia won just twice in five matches in front of their own fans in their failed attempt to reach Euro 2012, alarmingly beaten 4-0 by Armenia at home, and Greece’s run of just two defeats in 23 competitive away matches since October 2004 suggests they have more than enough about them to add to their points tally.
Greece are masters at getting the job done at this level, if not always impressing, and have been fairly well-backed to land the spoils in the previous 24 hours.
2pts Back Greece (Draw No Bet, vs. Slovakia) @ 2.25 (Paddy Power)