Premier League Betting: No penalty joy for England stars

Premier League / Ralph Ellis / 07 December 2009 / Leave a Comment

"Liverpool are only two points ahead of Fulham and, after being knocked out of Europe, have been matched as long as [2.28] for a top four finish."

After Frank Lampard and Jermain Defoe came unstuck over the weekend, Ralph Ellis is hoping that England's World Cup fate doesn't come down to penalties again.

Frank Skinner and David Baddiel are getting together again to do another World Cup song. How many years of hurt is it now? You almost need a calculator. If it was 30 in 1996 when Three Lions was a hit the first time round, then it must be 44 when we get to South Africa next summer.

For a few happy hours after England got drawn in the Group of Joy on Friday night you could start dreaming. And people did, because the odds on Fabio Capello to lead a successful bid to win the trophy have come in to [7.0]. Then came the weekend and a welcome to reality of what might happen if we have to rely on a penalty shoot-out!

Frank Lampard missing the late opportunity from the spot to save a point for Chelsea at Manchester City conjured memories of Germany 2006 when the midfield man was one of three who failed to score against Portugal in the quarter-finals. This time it meant [1.76] favourites Chelsea had their lead at the top of the table cut to just two points after their 2-1 defeat.

Then came Jermaine Defoe's miss at Everton that cost Tottenham the chance to go above Arsenal into third place. The quicksilver striker had already got one of Spurs' goals that built a 2-0 lead, and after seeing that wiped out by a late rally should really have taken his season's tally to 13 with an injury time spot kick. This morning's papers are full of Tim Howard's brilliant save but the truth was that Defoe scuffed his shot dreadfully. He might be leading the Premier League scoring list now with 12, and trading at [5.0] to finish the season as top hotshot, but that was a reminder that Robbie Keane normally takes the penalties for Spurs!

Steven Gerrard was one of the other men who missed in 2006, but was denied a chance to show his form from 12 yards at Blackburn when referee Martin Atkinson wasn't taken in by a theatrical dive during the 0-0 draw. Liverpool's captain has converted twice from the spot this season - more worrying for England is that he's only got two other goals from open play.

That's reflected in Liverpool's slide to seventh place, incredibly only two points ahead of Fulham after their 1-0 win over Sunderland. It's now [1.6] a new top four at the end of the campaign, and the Reds, after being knocked out of Europe, have been matched as long as [2.28] for a top four finish.

At least Wayne Rooney has been deadly reliable from the spot, although that wasn't needed as he helped himself to one of the goals from open play in a 4-0 win at West Ham. He's got two penalties among his 11 goals and remains [2.32] favourite to be top English goalscorer.

When you are looking for the people who might make up Capello's five takers then don't rely on James Milner, however much he is earning star ratings for Aston Villa. Milner got the goal of the weekend with his brilliant bit of quick thinking in the 3-0 win over Hull - with the help of super sub Steve Sidwell's ballboy act. But when it came to Villa's late penalty it was John Carew who stepped up. Milner missed one a few weeks ago against Cardiff in the Carling Cup.

At least it's not only English strikers who can't be relied upon from 12 yards. If Ivory Coast make it through the "Group of Death" with Brazil and Portugal you wouldn't fancy Aruna Dindane in a shoot-out in the last 16. He missed horribly for Portsmouth in their vital relegation game with Burnley, but at least he made up for it with one of the two late goals that brought a 2-0 win. Pompey are [3.1] favourites to finish rock bottom despite the victory.

Cesc Fabregas gave a reminder why he's not yet a certain starter for Spain's national side by failing to convert what should have been the opening goal for Arsenal in what was eventually a 2-0 win over Stoke. Fabregas and Rooney are currently joint favourites at [6.0] to lay in the market to be PFA Player of the Year.

No, when it comes to the shoot-out the only team you can rely on are the Germans. That Michael Ballack never misses, does he? Oh, hang on, Carling Cup penalty shoot-out last week at Blackburn - maybe there's hope for us yet!