Ed Chamberlin backs Holland as an outside bet for the World Cup, and praises England's cricketers.
Netherlands can shake off 'nearly men' tag in South Africa
Highlight of the week: I interviewed Fabio Capello for the first time at the Stock Exchange on Monday. Despite having so much on his mind, he was polite, business-like and has quite an aura about him with a real sense of authority.
The provisional 30-man squad Capello chose the next day looks strong and I particularly like the inclusion of flair players like Joe Cole and Adam Johnson, who will be needed to open up defences in the tight matches that always prevail in the knockout stages.
Excitement is building here at Sky Sports, with promos to shoot and articles to write, as it's only three weeks now until I fly out to South Africa to host the daily 'World Cup Reports'. Over the next few weeks I shall build up to tournament, assessing the multitude of Sky Bet markets.
Remember Sky Bet's cash back offer if England win the World Cup, which means I'm going to snap up the 12/1 now that they are offering on the Netherlands, knowing I will get my money back if England triumph. Whenever I say I fancy Holland to win the World Cup, people say the same thing: "they always flatter to deceive and never win major tournaments". Well, we said the same thing about Spain before Euro 2008 and I'm convinced it will be different with Holland this time too.
Determined
Head Coach, Bert van Marwik seems determined to unite the squad and have no repeat of the controversies that have dogged World Cup campaigns in the past. He has got rid of the big egos and troublemakers and seems to have a happy and settled squad.
Van Marwik employs recently-retired Philip Cocu and Frank de Boer as coaches to relate to the players and it seems to work as they were brilliant in qualifying with a 100 per cent record. There can be no doubt that they have the quality players to win a World Cup. Robin van Persie (28/1 to win the Golden Boot) will lead the line, with world class players in behind him including Robben, Van der Vaart, Elia, Van Bommel and the brilliant Wesley Sneijder, who I think will be one of the stars of the tournament.
12/1 about the Netherlands looks a big price to me and the best value on the outright market. I'm hoping to interview Steve McClaren on Sky Sports on Sunday, and I will ask about FC Twente, Wolfsburg and the Netherlands' chances of winning the World Cup! I'll look at groups, goalscorers and all Sky Bet's specials next week.
I make my debut presenting Goals On Sunday this weekend so don't miss it at 11am on Sunday morning!
Whatever happens in the semi-final against Sri Lanka on Thursday, it's been an excellent tournament for England and seems to have changed the way the team is perceived.
Andy Flower has completely changed the mindset of the players and we now look like an attacking, innovative and well-oiled unit that has a bright future in Twenty20 and 50-over cricket. Lumb, Kieswetter and Morgan could well be world class players in this format and even progress to put pressure on the top order in the Test side. For the first time in a long time, I'm excited about what Andy Flower is doing with this England side.
Team Sky finished a good second in the team time-trial on Wednesday and Bradley Wiggins remains in the mix. But he is using the race as preparation for the Tour de France as is rightly a 40/1 chance to win the pink jersey.
There has been plenty of drama in the first week but the truth is that despite all the jostling, the Giro will be won and lost in the final week (10 days time). That is when they hit the high mountains and the last few stages look brutal. This will play into the hands of Carlos Sastre, who looks a great bet at 6/1. The top four in Sky Bet's market, Evans, Basso, Nibali and Vinokourov, are all vulnerable in the mountains and will do well to live with Sastre on the big climbs.
We have already collected on our ante-post bet on Leicester topping the regular-season table so can sit back and enjoy the two play-off semi-finals on Sky Sports HD2 from 12.30pm on Sunday.
First up, Northampton will be odds on favourites to beat Saracens and then Leicester, who will be even shorter, play Bath and I reckon that game will be a lot closer than people think.
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