England meet Croatia on Monday needing a draw to progress to the quarter-finals of the European Championship. They can do better than that, and are worth backing at a best-priced evens with Premier Bet.
The way group B has developed gives England an advantage. Croatia have to win, and that will mean that they have to commit more players forward should the game remain level.
England, though, can afford to play a waiting game, giving nothing away before taking any attacking risks. Expect them to make a cautious start.
The fly in the ointment is that should Croatia take the lead, the positions are then reversed and it is England who must chase the game. Nor is that out of the question given that Croatia gave group leaders France a fright in the last game before securing a 2-2 draw.
A Rooney-inspired England beat Switzerland 3-0 in their latest game, and England will again be relying on his muscular running to upset a Croatia defence led by Igor Tudor, usually reliable but having to bounce back from a nightmare game against France.
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Croatia, too, have a rugged threat up front in Dado Prso, but Sol Campbell and John Terry should be able to keep him under control.
Overall, though, England have more potential match-winners and can book their place in the knockout phase.
A win for Croatia is best at 7-2 with Paddy Power and totesport, with the draw at 13-5 with totesport.
On the first golascorer market, Paddy Power bet: 4-1 Owen, 5-1 Rooney, 7-1 Beckham, Heskey, Vassell, 15-2 Scholes, 8-1 I Klasnic, Prso, 10-1 Lampard, Olic, Sokota, 11-1 Mornar, 14-1 Joe Cole, Gerrard, 16-1 others.