Betfair Official Blog

The Pacman's Midweek Multiple

13 November 2007

1. Back over 2.5 goals in Alcoyano v Barcelona match @1.58
2. Back India to beat Pakistan @1.76
3. Back England to beat Austria @1.72
5.61 for £10

It's a little-known fact that Charlie Chaplin once came third in a contest aiming to find the best lookalike to...Charlie Chaplin. And that a team of under-nourished prisoners of war featuring a cockney actor and some guy called Sly recovered from a 4-0 deficit to draw the match 4-4 against the German national side. Ok, not only did the second event occur in a fictional film but the so-called team of under-nourished prisoners of war included a World Cup winning captain and the world's greatest ever player. That said, they did also have a former Ipswich player in the side so that balanced things out a bit. Incredibly, the story about Charlie Chaplin is actually true.

Barcelona's 2-0 loss away to Getafe at the weekend was the latest ridiculous upset to occur in the world of sport. Barcelona have one of the most expensive squads ever assembled in world football, Getafe have Kapo Blanco, who was on loan at West Ham last season and struggled to get a game. Its probably a good thing for Rijkaard's men that they're taking a break from league football in midweek and will instead be involved in the Copa Del Rey against Alcoyano of the Segunda Serie B. Even though Barcelona are likely to be without some of their key players due to international commitments, they will still be able to produce plenty of goals, for two simple reasons. Firstly, there is a huge gulf in class between the two sides irrespective of Barca fielding a weakened side and secondly those that fill in for the regulars will see this as a great opportunity to push for a place with some of the stars out of form. They're unlikely to take the foot off the gas when they go ahead and 1.65 on over 2.5 goals looks a good bet and that is the first leg of the Pacman's midweek acca.

Yuvraj Singh is one of a string of athletes with millionaire parents. Gianluca Vialli had blue blood in his veins long before he put on a Chelsea shirt and Zara Phillips' old man isn't short of a few bob either. Yuvraj's father is former Indian fast bowler and Punjab movie star Yograj Singh and its one of the worst-kept secrets in India (along with the fact that English people eat rubbish curries) that Yuvraj has a Bollywood career awaiting him when he hangs up his big bat.

Before he does that, Yuvraj continues to establish his reputation as one of the very finest ODI batsmen in the world. His 77 against Pakistan in the 3rd ODI was probably the difference between the two sides and I suspect he's not done just yet in this Series. Dhoni's captaincy has been mature and inspirational and Tendulkar's 99 in the 2nd ODI was right out of the top draw, which he followed up with a lightning 29 in the next match. Pakistan continue to struggle despite Salman Butt's career-best 129 on Sunday and need to decide sooner or later where it is that their potential match-winner Shahid Afridi (http://betting.betfair.com/cricket/cricket/boom-boom-or-bust-is-afridi-a.html) should bat. Get on Yuvraj's India to Boom Boom Afridi's Pakistan at 1.76.

By 8pm on Saturday Russia will have beaten Israel and England will be out of Euro 2008. McClaren will be out of a job, Beckham won't reach his beloved 100 caps and England fans won't have a summer of thinking they have "every chance" and "the best squad we've had in years" before crashing out in the quarters. But don't let all that put you off backing England to beat Austria on Friday night just hours before their Euro 2008 fate is sealed. Austria are an awful side and despite their probable failure to make next summer's championships, England should prove to be too good for them. Michael Owen wants to break Booby Charlton's goalscoring record before he goes off to feed some sugar lumps to some horses and this is the sort of match where he will be expecting to get on the scoresheet. Back England at 1.72.