Big Value Nations League Tips to Watch This Week - Gameweek 4

Italy ran out deserved winners against the Netherlands in this reserve fixture last month, thanks to a goal from Nicolò Barella in the 1-0 victory.

It is certainly an intriguing tie between two teams who are seemingly even on paper, and who are looking to return to some form of previous glory. Italy have found a unique blend of experience and youth, with the old guard of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci leading the backline, while budding young talents in Nicolo Zaniolo and Nicolo Barella showing their worth in recent games.

The Netherlands looked somewhat off that pace in their opening fixture against Mexico last week, and Frank de Boer will be hoping to grab the victory here to ease some the pressure placed on him following Ronald Koeman’s exit over the summer.

We can see both teams demonstrating their attacking prowess, so we’ve gone for a big value bet with both teams to score in both halves at a high 11/1.

The 2018 World Cup final and every other subsequent meeting between these two sides have provided neutrals with end-to-end football.

World champions France have assembled a monumental squad, with depth, youth and experience in nearly every position - they are certainly the team to beat at international level. Croatia, meanwhile, have had their ups and downs since reaching the final in Russia in 2018, but they still pose a threat to France in this round of the Nations League.

They played out an exact replica of that highly entertaining World Cup final in the reverse fixture back in September, with France running out the eventual winners, once again with a 4-2 scoreline.

We’re predicting a similarly action-packed tie here, so we’ve gone for France to grab a convincing 4-1 at 40/1 victory, whilst 4-2 is once again boosted to 80/1

Germany returned with a spectacular 3-3 draw with Turkey last week, which exposed some of the questions that hang over the new-look defence Joachim Low has assembled over the past few years. A poor finish in their Nations League group last year was met with outrage back in Germany, with many fans calling for Low’s resignation, a year after their shocking 2018 World Cup group stage exit.

It certainly won’t be an easy task for Germany as Switzerland are notoriously pragmatic in their defensive style, upsetting the odds last Nations League to knock out Belgium and advance to the semi-finals.

The Swiss clawed their way back into this fixture last month after Ilkay Gundogan’s early goal, and managed to walk away with a point. Indeed, bot sides missed big chances throughout the match, and it certainly could’ve been a higher scoring game than the final 1-1 scoreline suggests.

Therefore, we’ve gone for an ambitious bet in both teams to score in both halves at 9/1.

Spain’s evolution under treble-winning manager Luis Enrique is certainly interesting, with the former Barcelona manager eager to bring through the next generation of technicians. Overseeing the transition from a period of international dominance was always going to be a tall order, but there are certainly players who can keep Spain’s hope for glory alive.

Most notably, 17-year-old Ansu Fati, who has taken Barcelona and the national team by storm. With eight goals in his breakthrough season last year, he has since cemented a starting place in Ronald Koeman’s new-look Barcelona, registering three goals in three La Liga games so far.

The youngster scored his first international goal on his first start for Spain in this fixture last month, with La Roja putting Ukraine to the sword in an emphatic 4-0 victory. We’ve tipped Fati to get on the scoresheet once again, but this time from outside the area at 20/1.

By Charlie Rhodes