DRT Daily Research Bulletin, March 22, 2017

Both teams did score and Luton not lose; Accrington got the better of Morecambe but no trading angle as Accrington led 0-2; Bolton were in total command - as I said yesterday if they score away they do not lose - again no trading angle given Bolton goals dominance; Coventry 0-0 was close to halftime - 37 mins it lasted - I tend to trade out of 0-0's at halftime; NAILED IT! 3-3 in the Rochdale match was one of my choices and it came in - hope you played at lovely odds! - I hope you layed Millwall 0-1 and even 0-2 up given the Rochdale propensity for 3 goals?; Livingston won 1-0. All in all, I was happy with the research, particularly Rochdale and their 3 goals.
Today sees some precarious friendlies given that the teams have World Cup Qualifiers on the 26th March. On that basis, these matches below must be treated cautiously. Czechs look in good nick. Scotland really should be beating Canada, even with a second string out. Germany v England I have no angle in, apart from the guaranteed singing of the dambusters theme at some point during the match.
16:00 - Cyprus v Kazakhstan - 2.12 Cyprus
- The match to stop the world! What a mouth-watering clash this is going to be. These 2 have not met since 2004.
- Cyprus have not had a draw since May 2014 in all competitions.
- Recent wins have come v Andorra (twice), Israel and Gibraltar.
- Since October 2012 at home, Cyprus have only beaten Andorra and Gibraltar.
- Since 2011 Cyprus have not won a friendly and failed to score in 5 of their last 7.
- Yek Shamesh! Kazakhstan have no win in 5 matches in all competitions and were roundly thumped by Montenegro and Denmark.
- We see a surprisingly good Kazak side in friendlies (that or their opponents in friendlies are surprisingly weak?)
- Wins v China, Azerbaijan,and a 0-0 with Russia and 1-1 with Georgia, suggests they can pull something out. A gentle reminder though with a 1-1 v Moldova that the Kazaks are no world beaters.
- The only angle? Hope Cyprus avoid another draw? Apart from that, I see these 2 teams as well-matched.
17:00 - Czech Republic v Lithuania - 1.31 Czech
- These 2 have not met since 2011.
- Only 2 wins in 10 for the Czechs in all competitions.
- Recent losses came v Spain, Turkey and Germany. No disgrace there.
- Unbeaten in 5 at home, the Czechs have had 0-0's with Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan in World Cup qualifiers.
- They play San Marino on 26th March 2017 so I suppose the manager can put out a first team tonight knowing even a second string will beat San Marino.
- Only 1 loss in 6 friendlies.
- Only 3 wins in 20 matches for Lithuania came v San Marino, Estonia and Malta.
- No win in 13 away in all competitions.
- No win in 15 friendlies proves Lithuania are at least consistently bad in all competitions.
- They failed to score in their last 6. Win to nil for Czech Republic? Anything from 1-0 to 3-0 I'd say.
19:45 - Germany v England - 1.79 Germany
- 2-3 England in the last friendly saw England come from 2-0 down.
- Both teams have World Cup qualifiers on the 26th March. If I was a manager, I would think twice about playing a First XI. Do you agree?
- 6 consecutive clean sheets now for Germany attests to their defensive strengths.
- Recently at home Germany have 3 consecutive wins to nil.
- A look at Germany's friendlies and they have lost to USA, France, England and Slovakia. This suggests that friendlies are not prioritised as must-wins.
- Recently they have beaten Hungary, and Finland 2-0 at home and drew 0-0 away at Italy.
- England have also been defensively strong, keeping 4 consecutive clean sheets in World Cup qualifiers. A recent friendly saw a 2-0 lead v Spain, which was brought to 2-2 by 2 very late Spanish goals.
- Since 2014, only Spain have beaten England away from home.
- England are a little more generous in friendlies, having conceded in 5 of their last 6 friendlies.
- 5 wins, a 1-2 loss and a 2-2 draw in their last 7 friendlies.
- Only 2 England wins in 8 away friendlies goes back as far as November 2012.
- I don't know why I am researching friendlies with World Cup qualifiers on in the same week. It smacks of management making changes, particularly at halftime.
- A match for in-play stats. There is an air, though, of vulnerability with Germany in friendlies.
19:45 - Scotland v Canada - 1.43 Scotland
- This is the conundrum with these friendlies. They precede a far more important World Cup qualifier on the 26th March.
- 4 consecutive 1-0 wins for Scotland in friendlies ended with losses to France and Italy away from home.
- 3 consecutive 1-0 wins at home for Scotland in friendlies.
- It is tough to evaluate Canada's form as they play teams that Scotland would not ordinarily play.
- Recent friendly wins came v Uzbekistan, Mauritania and Bermuda.
- Scotland should be winning this match, even with the likely halftime changes.
- 1-0? Or can they score a few more with their sights lowered?