Crouch has the record to make England reign in Port of SpainAn England victory is a foregone conclusion for the bookies so go for correct scoreline and first scorer
Dan Roebuck
The Guardian, Friday May 30 2008
Without any home-nation involvement in Euro 2008, turnover was high for England's winning, if at times dull, display against the United States. The 2-0 result and generally solid performance will ensure interest in the markets for the final game of the season for Fabio Capello's team against Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday.
Even a comprehensive England victory, however, is unlikely to force a change in the betting for their World Cup chances in 2010. They are chronically short at 6-5 (Sky Bet) to win Group Six - with their conquerors in European Championship qualifying, Croatia, inexplicably longer at 7-4 (Paddy Power and Totesport) - and are fifth favourites at 12-1 (general) to win the tournament in South Africa. Ridiculously, in the outright market they are ahead of France, who at a freely available 16-1 look a fair long-term investment.
The routine victory at Wembley was achieved with a starting XI that could arguably have been described as England's strongest possible for the fixture. But with the majority of players who were on Champions League final duty last week dropping out of the travelling party to Port of Spain, the team to face the Soca Warriors will be very different.
England, however, are prohibitively priced at 2-5 (Ladbrokes) to win at Hasely Crawford Stadium, with Francisco Maturana's team 8-1 (general) and the draw 4-1 (general). None of the match prices has much appeal but there could be some value in the correct-score market.
The last time the two sides met, in the 2006 World Cup finals, England were 2-0 winners and that scoreline, along with 1-0, looks the best punt. Available at 11-2 (Totesport) and 6-1 (general) respectively (for combined odds of just under 5-2), 11 of England's past 27 wins have been by those scorelines. Those who want to hedge their bets even further can include a 3-0 England win at 10-1 (Ladbrokes), giving combined odds for all three scores of slightly better than 6-4. If you don't want the hassle of splitting your stakes Boylesports quotes England as 10-11 to win "to nil".
It is always difficult to compare the form of teams from different continents but it is safe to say England's poor results in qualification for the Euro 2008 finals and one defeat in three games under Capello are still better than their hosts have achieved. Trinidad & Tobago did not win a single game at last year's Gold Cup and their better record in 2008, with victories against El Salvador, Grenada and Barbados, is eclipsed by the stature of England's opponents. But they are unbeaten under Maturana, a coach who won the Copa América with Colombia in 2001, so England will perhaps have to be patient before making the breakthrough. Blue Square offers 7-2 the first goal of the game is scored between the 31st and 45th minute inclusive, as it was on Wednesday.
Steven Gerrard's man-of-the-match performance against the United States will have many punters looking to back him at 7-1 (Ladbrokes) to be the first goalscorer on Sunday. But a better bet might be Peter Crouch at a standout 6-1 with Ladbrokes (some firms have him at 7-2). The Liverpool striker is yet to start a game under Capello but should do so in Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen's absence. Seven of his 12 international goals have come in friendlies, including three against Jamaica before the 2006 World Cup. He also scored the opener the last time England played Trinidad and William Hill offers 6-4 he scores at any time in the match.
Gerrard may captain this team but the layers think he will not lead the side out for the first competitive international of Capello's reign. Ladbrokes reckons John Terry will wear the armband against Andorra in September and has shortened its price from 7-4 to evens. Rio Ferdinand is 5-4 and Gerrard 5-1 (Ladbrokes).
Hill's is obviously impressed with the contribution of the second-half substitute David Bentley at Wembley and makes the Blackburn midfielder 8-11 to start England's World Cup qualifier against Andorra, pushing out David Beckham to 11-10. Jermain Defoe's failure to convert the chances that came his way into goals, by contrast, has seen his odds drift to 9-4 with Hill's that he starts against the principality in the match in Barcelona. Owen is 2-5 to make the starting line-up.
Selections
England to defeat Trinidad & Tobago 1-0 in Sunday's match at Hasely Crawford Stadium at 11-2 (Totesport)
England to win the match 2-0 at 6-1 (general)
Peter Crouch to score the first goal of the game in Port of Spain at 6-1 (Ladbrokes)
Poll