Euro 2012 action concludes Friday Night from Stadion Miejski, featuring Russia v Czech Republic. The whole game is being shown Live on ITV 1 High Definition, with a scheduled 19:45pm (BST) Kick Off Time.
Hello and thank you for stopping by to view our Russia v Czech Republic Betting Preview from Group A of Euro 2012, where we have provided you with the latest team news, head to head statistics, best betting odds markets and our free betting tips predictions on the match.
Russia head into their first game of the finals having comfortably qualified from the group stage which they won by two points from runners up Republic of Ireland.
Coach Dick Advocaat has a strong squad and will be looking to at least match what his predecessor Guus Hiddink achieved back in Euro 2008, when guiding Russia to the Semi Finals where they were beaten by eventual winners and now world champions spain 3-0.
The Czech Republic head into the game having finished in runners up in their group during qualification for these finals, but they did win their play off match against Montenegro quite comfortably 3-0 on aggregate to secure their place here and will be quietly confident of at least making it through to the knock out stages of the tournament if their defeat at home against Hungary 1-2 just six days ago doesn’t weigh too heavily on the players minds.
Russia v Czech Republic Team News
Russia Team News : Igor Akinfeev has firmly secured the goal keeping spot since his debut in 2004 and will be protected by a back four consisting of Yuri Zhirkov, Aleksei Berezutski, Sergei Ignashevich and Aleksandr Anyukov with Kirill Nababkin and Vladimir Granat as possible replacements should any of the veterans need a rest.
The Midfield will probably see Marat Izmailov, Igor Denisov, Roman Shirokov and Konstantin Zyryanov as the main four players likely to be involved from the start of this game, with Yuri Zhirkov and Konstantin Ziryanov as cover.
Leading the attack up front for Russia will be a familiar face in Andrei Arshavin who has recently left Arsenal on loan and gone back to previous club Zenit, and he will be joined up front by fellow club member Aleksandr Kerzhakov who was controversially left out of the squad for Euro 2008 and will be looking at this tournament as a real chance to prove he should of gone.
Czech Republic Team News : Champions league hero Petr Cech is the obvious choice between the sticks and he will have Gebre Selassie, David Limberský, Michal Kadlek and Tomas Sivok taking up the positions in the back four.
Midfield will likely consist of Thomas Rosicky, Jaroslav plasil, Milan Petrzela and Tomas Hubschman with Vaclav Pilar and Vladimir Darida both hoping to gain some crucial tournament experience late on.
The Czech attack will be led by Milan Baros with support likely to come from Jan Rezek. Toma Pekhart and David Lafata are also alternatives to coach Michal Bilek.
Russia v Czech Republic Head to Head Statistics
Friday night’s game will become just the second time these two nations have met each other before where the game finished all square at 3-3 back in Euro 96 at Anfield Stadium.
Russia v Czech Republic Best Match Betting Odds
The online bookmakers have it right in my opinion by pricing up Russia as the clear favourites to win this game. Dick Advocaat’s side comfortably came through qualification without really coming out of second gear and their follow up friendly matches have all gone to plan without defeat.
- Russia : 2.30 with BetVictor – £25 Free Bets, No Deposit Required !
- Draw : 3.25 with Totesport – Deposit £5 and Receive £10 Free Bets Today !
- Czech Republic : 4.00 with Paddy Power – £50 Free Bets on Your First Deposit.
Russia v Czech Republic Popular Betting Odds Markets
Unlike the opening game of Euro 2012 between Poland and Greece this game does have a strong element of goals being scored and let us not forget, the last time these two sides met each other back in Euro 96 the match finished 3-3.
As such this game will attract a very large interest when it comes to having a bet on the game and below is a small list of the most popular betting markets along with the very best betting odds from the associated bookmaker.
