Birmingham City’s incredible unbeaten run is over but the Blues have the ideal opportunity to get back to winning ways when they host Hull City on Saturday afternoon. Birmingham are priced at 19/20 to claim three points at St Andrew’s in this clash.
Garry Monk’s men had won four league games in a row before last week’s defeat to Derby County and the home fans will be hoping for another victory. The Blues ran out 3-0 winners in this fixture last season – a good omen for fans backing Birmingham with 888sport.
27/25 for over 1.5 Birmingham goals is an excellent price. The hosts will want to put on a show for the ardent St Andrew’s crowd and Hull’s away record will give Garry Monk’s side confidence. The visitors have lost five of their last six on the road.
It will come as no surprise to see Lukas Jutkiewicz selected for 888sport’s special wincast. The Blues striker has been in superb form as of late and the 29-year-old could profit against an inconsistent Hull defence. 888sport customers can back Jutkiewicz to score in a Birmingham win at an enhanced 16/5 ahead of Saturday’s clash.
Monk’s men are heading in the right direction and another positive result looks likely here. 19/20for a Blues triumph looks like the best bet.
Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.
He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.
As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.
Birmingham City will try to extend their impressive unbeaten run to 12 games when they visit Derby County on Saturday afternoon and are 3/1to snatch a huge win at Pride Park.
Garry Monk’s side have won four Championship matches in a row and punters will fancy the visitors to push Derby close this weekend. The Rams were in Carabao Cup action on Wednesday night and Birmingham may benefit from that distraction.
The Blues snatched a draw in this fixture last season and 12/5 is a solid price for another close affair on Saturday. Monk’s men are full of confidence right now and an away win will see Birmingham climb above their opponents in the Championship table.
Lukas Jutkiewicz has scored eight league goals in 2018/19 and the 29-year-old could profit again this weekend. 888sport customers can back Jutkiewicz to score in a Birmingham win at an enhanced8/1 ahead of Saturday’s clash.
Monk’s men are heading in the right direction and another positive result looks likely here. 22/25 for Birmingham to avoid defeat is worth considering but both teams to score could be the best bet at Pride Park.
Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.
He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.
As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.
Blues are worthy odds-on 4/5 favs to claim all three points at home to Reading on Tuesday night.
Monk’s men are nine matches unbeaten in the Championship and are up to 14th in the table after victory away to Stoke on Saturday.
The last six matches between these two teams have featured under 2.5 goals so the 4/5 on under 2.5 goals is worth considering if you fancy another low-scoring affair under the lights.
Blues were rock solid defensively away to Stoke and now have the fourth-best defensive record in the Championship – get on the 13/10about the hosts completing another shut-out.
The visitors bounced back from a couple of defeats to beat Millwall at the weekend but are still five points off Blues and could slip back into the relegation zone with defeat here.
Reading’s 21 goals conceded is one of the worst in the league. Blues’19/20 price to score over 1.5 is decent value.
Lukas Jutkiewicz caused Stoke plenty of problems at the weekend. The striker features in our 3/1 enhanced wincast and is 7/4 to score anytime.
Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.
He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.
Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.
Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.
Blues are 3/1 to beat Stoke City when they travel to the Potteries this Saturday afternoon.
Birmingham are unbeaten in eight matches in the Championship after a brilliant 3-1 victory over Rotherham prior to the international break.
Garry Monk’s side have been excellent on the road of late, drawing away to Brentford and winning at Leeds in their last two. A solid defence has been key for Monk this season and Blues are 13/4 to keep another clean sheet in Stoke this weekend.
Blues have scored in all of their last four matches and Stoke’s defence has been inconsistent this term, therefore the 13/5 on Blues bagging two or more is a real tempter.
After a poor start to the season, the hosts have somewhat improved of late, winning two and drawing one of their last three, but Blues can leapfrog the Potters with victory and are 6/1 to be winning at half-time and full-time.
Lukas Jutkiewicz is a good price at 5/2 to score anytime after his hat-trick last time out and 13/2 to bag anytime in a Birmingham win.
Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.
He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.
Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.
Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.
Former Chelsea hit-man Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes Maurizio Sarri is bringing the good times back to Stamford Bridge with dominant football being played and happier players following the departure of Antonio Conte.
“The year they won the title it was through counter-attacking football and often the other team had more of the ball even at Stamford Bridge.
"You can win the league like that, with what Chelsea were doing in the transition, that’s all right. But in the second season you have to see a progression and that wasn’t the case.
“Sarri has come in and changed that straight away. It has happened a lot quicker than people thought it would.
"And they are improving too, very dominant and have the ball a lot. Because of that you’re seeing the smiles back on the players’ faces again as well.”
Since the chain-smoker from Naples introduced Sarri-ball to our shores this summer the Blues have looked like a team transformed, racking up points galore and remaining unbeaten to this point.
Does the likeable Dutchman think they could go all the way this year, upsetting the odds that have Manchester City down as firm title favourites with Liverpool their only feasible rival?
“I think Chelsea are still a little behind Man City. City have so much strength in depth and the Champions League is not affecting them. But if Chelsea can keep on improving and don’t allow the gap to become bigger than it is now then you never know.
“With Liverpool they are not as fluid as they were. I don’t know if they have enough to keep on challenging City and maybe they’re suffering a bit from coming out of a big group in the Champions League."
If the West London giants are to continue improving – and even perhaps mount a serious title charge – it is imperative that Eden Hazard carries on his phenomenal form.
The twinkling Belgian has been directly involved in 11 goals in 11 games this term and put in a series of performances that have genuinely astounded. For Hasselbaink though there is a down-side to that.
“For me it’s a very bad thing if you become a one-man team. Hazard is magnificent but if you look at last season with Liverpool, Salah scored so many goals and they became a one-man team as well.
"They didn’t win anything. If you are a one-man team you won’t win any trophies so others are going to have to step up. They have to step up and help him.”
What’s more they have to help him while they can because right now the rumour mill is churning out ‘Hazard to Real Madrid’ stories faster than we can read them.
Even with the astronomical fee that Chelsea will surely demand can they afford to lose such a special talent at the season’s end?
“If the player wants to go, he’s going to go. He’s been a great servant and he has done it the right way if he wants to go.
"But Chelsea should build a team around Hazard and not lose him. They need to get more stars on the same level as Hazard and be a force in England and Europe like what Man City is trying to do now.”
As a two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner Hasselbaink knows a thing or two about finding the back of the net which makes his thoughts on his former club’s misfiring striker Alvaro Morata all the more fascinating.
For the 46 year old pundit it comes down to the old adage of staying true to yourself.
“I like Morata. A lot of people are taking about him and he’s getting a lot of mixed messages. That is not helping him. He needs to keep on looking at his qualities and he’s got big qualities.
"I don’t think he should play the physical game. He should play to his strengths which is an eye for goal and his little runs behind the defence.
"He’s quick and he makes things difficult for defences and that’s what he needs to keep on doing. He shouldn’t play like Giroud because that’s not him.”
The divisive Italian will be desperately hoping to add to his five goal haul this Saturday as Chelsea travel the short distance to Wembley to take on Tottenham in an engrossing top six bout.
At the other end of the pitch of course will be a fellow front-man who has already raised the roof at the famous ground this week in England colours; a striker who Hasselbaink has nothing but the highest regard for.
“At the moment we have three really good out-and-out strikers in the world. We have Aguero, Lewandowski and definitely Harry Kane. I like him a lot. He gives a lot of versatility.
"He can play off a striker or as a number nine. He’s not the quickest but he’s quick enough. He’s not the strongest but he’s strong enough.
"He has a great shot and most importantly for any striker he has the feeling for where he has to be in the box to score goals. You can’t teach that.
“He also has the habit of scoring important goals. You look at a lot of striker who when leading two or three nil they score two goals.
"All goals are important of course but it’s the 1-0s and the 2-1s and 1-1s; that’s where the pressure is and can you cope with the pressure? Can you put the ball in the net then? He has the skill to do that.”
La Liga's recent attempts to host a Spanish league match in the United States has raised questions once again about the benefits of reaching out to a wider audience, but also the cost of neglecting local crowds.
Football is more reluctant to adopt this approach beyond prestigious international friendlies taking place in neutral venues, but there are many other sports that have been willing to allow regular-season matches and stages to hit the road and attract a new audience.
Football: Girona vs Barcelona (Miami)
This one looks like it won't happen, much to La Liga's dismay. A 39th Premier League match was mooted a few years ago, a proposal that would have seen an entire round of fixtures take place in undetermined neutral venues outside of England.
The logistics of such a plan made it unworkable, possibly inspiring La Liga to suggest a more streamlined version of taking the league overseas.
Taking just one fixture, namely Girona vs Barcelona, to the United States would open up La Liga to a new market, while demonstrating the viability of staging games abroad.
The Premier League is now readily embraced by the lucrative market of the United States, NBC's broadcasts attracting a record audience of 39.3 million.
La Liga are seeking to emulate that growth in popularity. The initial rejection of a proposal that included heavy subsidies for fans has now been followed by a petition driven by La Liga.
Barcelona wouldn't consider such a trip a disadvantage, but then being 1/4 favourite to win La Liga offers a certain luxury. It is the adverse effect that it would have on Girona that has prompted mass criticism.
Denying Girona a home fixture could have an unquantifiable but profound influence on the final league table, as well as robbing Girona fans the chance to enjoy a home match against the country's foremost side.
Rugby League: England vs New Zealand (Colorado)
Similarities with American football has perhaps reduced the Stateside market for rugby, with NFL scratching most Americans' itch for both watching and playing contact sports.
Yet, as CNN reported in 2017, rugby is on the rise in the USA. It needs to keep rising, too, with the USA and Canada set to host the 2025 Rugby League World Cup.
Efforts are being made to create a groundswell in the popularity of rugby to ensure that audiences are passionate and informed by 2025, with England's 36-18 triumph over New Zealand in Colorado in June a step in the right direction.
An attendance of 19320 appears modest, but it surpasses the crowd that witnessed the same fixture in Hull in October by 2000.
If rugby league can break the American market, it could be crucial for the success of the rugby variant that is often overlooked in favour of its union counterpart.
Attracting two legendary rugby nations in England and New Zealand is a coup, although plans to repeat the American fixture in the coming years have been cancelled due to a lack of payment to both teams.
There needs to be sufficient incentive to encourage players to travel such a distance for one match, so this could be an opportunity missed for rugby league in the USA.
NFL: International Series (Wembley/Mexico City)
The intention of hosting NFL games abroad is to grant American football greater exposure to a global audience. Yet for many British sports fans, the more immediate effect of NFL at Wembley was felt when the stadium reverted to its primary purpose.
With NFL imagery and boundaries still visible on a torn-up pitch when Spurs hosted Manchester City, American football received some unexpected bonus publicity.
Of course, that is a consequence of mismanagement of Spurs' move to a new ground rather than a criticism of NFL abroad. The game itself was an unmitigated success, demonstrating the United Kingdom's growing appreciation for American football.
Matches now come to Wembley with regularity, Philadelphia Eagles 26-18 Jacksonville Jaguars becoming the third sold-out game in London in October 2018.
Creative seating boosted attendance to a record 85,870, with the NFL reaping the benefits of a prolonged presence in London. This was the 24th match in the British capital since 2008.
In 2014, Deloitte reported that an NFL London franchise could provide a £100 million boost to the British economy each year.
Fans flocking to watch lesser giants in the NFL bodes well for that proposal to become a reality, with odds of 22/1 and 66/1 for Eagles and Jaguars respectively to win the Super Bowl in 2019 reflecting that British fans are hardly being given the cream of the crop.
Cycling: Tour De France (Leeds)
Taking the Tour de France seems to contradict everything that the cycling event stands for, but there have often been stages held outside of France.
The first three stages of the 2014 Tour de France took place on British soil, with the world's most famous cycle race completing the illustrious route from Leeds to Harrogate on its first day.
York to Sheffield and Cambridge to London followed on subsequent days, before normal service was resumed as the cyclists headed to France.
Heading to Leeds in 2014 was timed perfectly to generate interest in cycling within the region, with 2.5 million people flocking to watch the Yorkshire stages.
The following year, the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire took place. The event is not so subtly influenced by the Tour de France and has gone from strength to strength with each annual iteration.
As for the 2014 Tour de France, perhaps starting in Leeds was bad luck for British riders. Vincenzo Nibali ended with the yellow jersey, the only year since 2012 in which a British rider hasn't prevailed.
In May 2018, Mexico hosted its first regular-season matches for 19 years as San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers took their three-game series to Monterrey.
The venture rekindled suggestions that a Mexican franchise could enter MLB in the future. Monterrey had been proposed as a venue for a side back in 1994, with the city mooted alongside Montreal as an international expansion for MLB.
The success of this series has encouraged future MLB trips to Monterrey, with six different sides set to travel to Mexico in 2019.
There is certainly a demand for MLB in Mexico. Baseball players of Mexican heritage are cheered affectionately from afar, while the Estadio de Beisbol in Monterrey sold out its capacity of just over 22000 with remarkable speed for each match.
American sport cannot be criticised for being insular. Three Canadian sides participate in MLS, while the Toronto Raptors are in the NBA. It is inevitable that the country looks to its southern border next to expand sporting audiences.
These examples of other sports embracing new environments almost make it inevitable that a major European football league will endorse taking a game overseas, most likely to the United States.
While the financial benefits may be substantial and the new crowds may be welcoming, long-suffering local fans will find it hard to take.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
For most of us, managing a reasonable level in one sport is something to be proud of.
The euphoria that comes from being able to complete a short five-a-side match without getting a stitch is as close as most people get to experiencing the thrill of being an athlete.
Annoyingly, there are some athletes who aren't content with mastering one sport. Many footballers have shown impressive aptitude in other sports, while Usain Bolt recently attempted to get up to speed in professional football.
Usain Bolt
It would be unwise to start with anyone other than Usain Bolt. After all, this is the greatest sprinter of all time we're talking about.
Having the 100m world record of 9.58 is pleasant, but Bolt was determined to top it off by sealing a professional contract at Central Coast Mariners.
As it happens, Bolt didn't do enough to convince his Australian suitors that his considerable salary was a worthwhile outlay.
Andy Keogh, once of Wolves and now of Perth Glory, declared that Bolt has the touch of a trampoline. Be that as it may, he still has the unparalleled pace of Usain Bolt.
Maltese giants Valletta clearly value this attribute (or maybe the publicity), although Bolt has rejected their overtures. Still, Bolt will always have his brace in a friendly against Macarthur South West United to look back on favourably.
Tim Wiese
Wiese may have been an inspiration for Bolt, as the German has secured professional status in two sports.
A regular fixture in Werder Bremen's net for several seasons and an occasional deputy for Germany, Wiese has carved out a career as a professional wrestler since hanging up his boots and gloves.
At 6ft 4in, Wiese has never exactly been a shrinking violet. Yet Wiese bulked up even further to appear at live WWE events in Germany.
Known as The Machine in the ring, Wiese claimed victory on his pro-wrestling debut in 2016. Wiese has since dabbled with his original passion, appearing in sixth-tier German football last year with aspirations of returning to the Bundesliga.
At 36, time is still on this goalkeeper's side, although woe betide anyone who gets in the way of Wiese coming out to punch a cross.
Ian Botham
Considered to be one of the finest all-rounders to play cricket, Botham was blessed with a wealth of sporting talent.
That talent was not confined to the cricket pitch, with Botham displaying footballing skills in his early years.
Botham had to choose between football and cricket, ultimately plumping for the latter in a decision that worked out rather well for both him and England.
Yet, Botham still managed to find the time to rack up a handful of appearances for Scunthorpe United and Yeovil Town as a professional footballer.
Botham is one of just four cricketers to have racked up 100 runs and 10 wickets in the same Test match, so he may have made the right choice in devoting himself to the cork ball rather than the leather.
Luis Enrique
The best managers are those who can coax an extra mile or two out of their players, getting them to put the hard work in for the whole match.
Luis Enrique has a unique advantage when it comes to this, the Spain manager having run six marathons in Morocco in 2008. That sounds admirable already, but Enrique completed those six marathons in a six-day period.
The Marathon des Sables is known as an ultramarathon, making Enrique's achievement ultra-impressive.
The former midfielder demonstrated his stamina as a mainstay of the Spain engine room, while his switch from Real Madrid to Barcelona shows his uncompromising desire to win.
Enrique has not only competed in marathons across the globe, but also completed the 2007 Ironman competition in Germany for good measure.
He completed the gruelling 140-mile triathlon as a 37-year-old, so good luck to any fresh-faced players in their twenties thinking about complaining to Enrique that they're a bit tired after thirty minutes of football.
Ramsey has enjoyed some of his best sporting moments at Wembley, but it could almost have been Challenge Cup finals rather than FA Cup finals in which he was making the crucial difference.
In his youth, Ramsey demonstrated an enviable aptitude for both football and rugby league, his proficiency in the latter prompting St Helens to offer him a contract.
Ramsey elected to join Cardiff City instead, much to Arsenal's benefit. The Welsh midfielder has scored the winning goal in two FA Cup Finals.
It is ironic that, having had to make a difficult decision between football and rugby, Ramsey has ultimately spent the bulk of his sporting career in a football side that is perhaps most removed from the sport of rugby.
Arsene Wenger's Arsenal were rarely attritional, certainly during Ramsey's time at the club, and became characterised by the deft touches of midfield maestros like Ramsey.
The future of the Welsh midfielder is uncertain, with Premier League and Bundesliga clubs rumoured to be eyeing him up.
Maldini was a rare breed of player who could make the art of defending actually appear like an art form, effortlessly graceful and blessed with an intuitive reading of the game.
The defender's dedication to AC Milan is as legendary as his footballing ability, amassing a staggering 902 appearances for I Rossoneri in a career spanning 25 years.
Maldini formed part of a phenomenal Milan side and scored against Liverpool in the Champions League final in 2005, although he may not look back upon that goal too fondly.
He may not have mixed it up in his footballing career, but Maldini has been more adventurous in retirement. The 49-year-old Italian entered the 2018 Milan Challenger (where else would Maldini play?) to compete in tennis doubles alongside Stefano Landonio.
Maldini and Landonio lost 6-1 6-1 in a thoroughly economical 42 minutes, so Maldini will just have to settle with being regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time.
The Future?
Neymar to take up professional diving? Sergio Ramos to follow Tim Wiese into the world of wrestling? Trent Alexander-Arnold to become a chess grandmaster? Footballers should never be criticised for a lack of transferable skills.
The physical and mental skills that footballers require can sometimes be underappreciated during a match, but these are proper athletes. That much is proven by those players who have been too good to stick to football.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
In the autumn of 2018, England manager Gareth Southgate displayed great bravery, with the Euro ’96 semi-finalist giving call-ups to a number of young players that have yet to make their international bow.
Derby County midfielder Mason Mount was, arguably, the most eyebrow-raising of the England players that went into the November 2018 international break as part of Southgate’s plans.
He did so as part of a Derby side that ranked high in the Championship outright odds list ahead of that break. Here, we look back at four others who "got the call" whilst plying their trade outside their respective top flight leagues.
Kevin Phillips (England, 1999)
In 1998/99, Phillips was lighting up the second tier with Sunderland, and Kevin Keegan duly rewarded him with a first international call-up.
Subsequently, Phillips made his England debut on 28 April 1999 against Hungary in a Budapest friendly, but it was a low-key affair, and Phillips would make just seven more appearances for the Three Lions.
Though called up for Euro 2000, Phillips did not play in that disastrous affair, but his focus was always on keeping Sunderland in the top flight after a blistering first season in the Premier League.
He never hit the same heights thereafter, and transferred to Southampton after Sunderland’s relegation in 2003.
He enjoyed an excellent second half to 2003/04, but once more found himself a victim of circumstances as the lack of leadership at St Mary’s Stadium culminated in the Saints’ relegation in 2005.
It was here that Phillips would become the archetypical journeyman, twice being on the losing side in a playoff final for West Brom and Blackpool, (in 2007 and 2012, respectively).
There was a happy ending, however. During his spell with Leicester, his wisdom was a great asset to the dressing room in the Foxes’ promotion campaign of 2013/14.
Thus, it is certainly open to interpretation just how much of a role his presence played, in making the club’s initial promotion possible, just two years before the greatest sporting miracle of modern times.
Massimo Maccarone (Italy, 2002)
Back in March 2002, Serie A-bound Empoli striker Maccarone travelled to Elland Road to face England for his international debut.
He made no direct impact on the game in terms of goals scored, but he did make it a memorable international debut by winning the penalty that sealed victory for his side.
With the striker berths of for the Italian World Cup squad of 2002 long since spoken for, Maccarone would have little chance thereafter of making a good case for a place in the first XI.
He scored a modest tally of nine goals in his first season on Teesside. However, that was still enough for him to be crowned as his club’s top gun, in a 2002/03 campaign best described as ‘nondescript’ for the 11th-placed Boro.
He never hit the same ‘heights’ and became increasingly redundant in a Boro side that spent much of the mid-2000s fighting on two fronts. That said, he did score some important goals in Boro's remarkable run to the 2006 UEFA Cup final.
For Maccarone, there has never been any place like home. After successful loan spells in Italy, Maccarone moved permanently to Siena in 2007, hitting double figures in two of the next three seasons.
He is also living evidence that some players do enjoy an ‘Indian summer’ in their twilight years, having returned to Empoli in 2012, helping the club greatly in its successful promotion campaign of 2013/14.
Lukas Podolski (Germany, 2006)
Head coach Marcel Koller made the big call in November 2003 to give Podolski his professional debut.
Though Podolski’s impact was immediate for Koln, the ten goals he plundered were not enough to keep his club up – but they were enough to see him included in the Euro 2004 squad.
With Podolski’s call up came the inevitable slew of links to better clubs. However, he stayed at Cologne, and fired his club to immediate promotion back to the Bundesliga – only to see them drop back into the second tier despite his best efforts.
The World Cup arguably completed the ‘making’ of Podolski. He scored in Germany’s third group-stage game (vs Ecuador), and bagged a super-quick brace against Sweden as his country reached the semi-finals and finished third.
While his club career might have been more prolific, he is still a winner of club-level silverware in three different nations.
A final tally of 49 goals in 130 appearances for the four-time World Cup winners is also no mean feat and, on the balance of it all, Podolski can take many more positives than negatives from his career.
Federico Bernardeschi (Italy, 2014)
Now part of a Juventus squad that was odds-on to win Serie A before the season's start, the Fiorentina-reared Bernardeschi made a name for himself after spending the 2013/14 season on loan at Serie B club Crotone, getting 12 goals in 39 appearances.
While he looked like a promising addition, nobody could have foreseen just how quickly he would rise to the top of his nation’s pyramid.
Many people would argue that it all began with his shock call-up to the Italy squad in April 2014, with players vying to become the next shock inclusion in the squad for the upcoming World Cup.
While there was never any question of him playing in the side for that round of friendlies, it was as sure a sign of any that he was the future of his country.
Once back at Fiorentina, Bernardeschi continued to impress. He netted in only his second appearance for the club, on 18 September 2014 in a Europa League match against EA Guingamp, earning the number ten jersey the following season.
In Florence culture, owning that number has real significance, and it is deeply associated with the expectation of being a consistent deliverer of through-balls or crosses for the main striker.
Thereafter, it was only a question of when he would make his international debut, and he did in March 2016 against fellow Euro 2016 favourites Spain and Germany.
His impact was clearly enough to see him named in the 23-man squad for that tournament, but he would play only once, in an inconsequential defeat to Ireland.
As of autumn 2018, Bernardeschi is a valued part of a title-defending Juventus squad, which spent the November break of 2018/19 as third-favourites to win the Champions League.
He is also a symbol of hope for a nation utterly devastated by its failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
The entries were revealed last week for the two races over the Grand National fences at Aintree on Becher Chase Day, Saturday, December 8th.
The 2017 Randox Health Grand National hero One For Arthur (Lucinda Russell) is one of 58 entries for the feature £150,000 Becher Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles.
One For Arthur has not raced since April 2017, having sustained a tendon injury when being prepared for the following season in October of that year.
Blaklion was one of the most impressive Becher Chase winners in recent times when scoring by nine lengths last year.
His trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has won the Becher six times since its inception in 1992, making him the most successful trainer in the race. Twiston-Davies has also entered Ballyoptic, Go Conquer and Calett Mad in the race.
Dr Richard Newland sent out Pineau De Re to win the Grand National in 2014 and already has his eye on the 2019 renewal with Abolitionist. Formerly trained in Ireland by Ellmarie Holden, Abolitionist finished third in the 2017 Irish Grand National.
The ten-year-old made the perfect start for current connections when landing the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle by 10 lengths at Aintree on November 10th.
"We bought him 15 months ago and we were trying to target this year's Grand National. He had finished third in an Irish National, but it all went a bit pear-shaped for him last season.
"He had a stress fracture on his pelvis and then when we tried to bring him back, he had another stress fracture on his pelvis. I thought we were nearly finished with him, but we got him sorted and gave him plenty of work and thankfully it has worked out.
"The Becher Handicap Chase is the plan for him now. From our point of view, his run at the weekend was a prep for the Becher. Obviously, we hoped he would win it off a low weight so it was a pleasing run.
"He is not that dissimilar to Pineau Du Re. Abolitionist probably has more untold stamina as he seemed to stay the three miles on Saturday at Aintree well, but I guess we don't know far he will get in time.
"They both share a similar zest for racing and are quite keen going sorts. Abolitionist is a better jumper, but perhaps Pineau Du Re had slightly more class in his younger years, highlighted by what he did over shorter distances.
"It was a great start for us from Abolitionist and we are looking forward to the rest of the season."
Irish trainer Gordon Elliott, who captured his second Grand National in April with Tiger Roll, accounts for six of the 12 Irish-trained entries for the Beche.
Elliott's sextet features multiple group scorer Don Poli, 2018 Irish Grand National winner General Principle and French import Borice.
The remaining Irish-trained contenders include Crosshue Boy (Sean Doyle), successful in a novices' handicap chase at Ayr's Scottish Grand National Festival in April, talented mare Baie Des Iles (Ross O'Sullivan), and the Joseph O'Brien-trained Vieux Morvan.
Ms Parfois is one of two entries for Anthony Honeyball. She was just touched off when second in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and filled the same position behind Terrefort in the Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree in April.
Honeyball has also entered 2017 Ladbrokes Trophy third Regal Encore.
Step Back (Mark Bradstock) improved race upon race last season and ended the campaign with a 13-length demolition of his rivals in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown Park in April.
The Ditcheat trainer’s four entries are led by dual Scottish Grand National victor Vicente and Present Man, successful for the second year in succession in the Listed Badger Ales Trophy Handicap Chase at Wincanton on November 10th.
Ultragold (Colin Tizzard) has been victorious in the last two renewals of the Topham Chase over the Grand National fences, including at odds of 50/1 in 2017. He has yet to race beyond an extended three miles.
Other horses to note include Captain Redbeard (Stuart Coltherd), a decent chaser last term who shaped with promise when third on his return over hurdles at Carlisle on November 4th, and Listed Future Stars Intermediate Chase second Thomas Patrick (Tom Lacey).
The weights for the Becher Handicap Chase will be decided on Wednesday, November 21st.
Grand Sefton News
The other race over the Grand National fences on Becher Chase Day at Aintree is the £80,000 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase over a distance of two miles and five furlongs, which has seen a prize money increase of £10,000.
Frodon tops the current entries after making a successful reappearance at Aintree in the Old Roan Handicap Chase over the Mildmay Course on October 28th. His trainer Paul Nicholls has six entries in total.
Born Survivor is one of two entries for trainer Dan Skelton. He was a decisive winner of Listed handicap chase at Wetherby on November 2nd, while stablemate Cobra De Mai was successful at Stratford on November 1.
Shanahan's Turn (Colin Tizzard) proved himself over course and distance when chasing home stablemate Ultragold in the Topham Chase back in April.
Several horses have been entered in Grand Sefton as well as the Becher. They include Present Man, Captain Redbeard and Missed Approach (Warren Greatrex), winner of the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The three Irish-trained entries are Poormans Hill (Gordon Elliott) and the Patrick Griffin-trained pair of Heist and Dare To Endeavour.
The Grand Sefton weights will also be revealed on Wednesday, November 21st.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.
He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.
Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?
He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.
The UEFA Nations League is like marmite: you either love it or you hate it. The final round of international fixtures is here and the race to snag top spot in the group is on…
Away from England’s commitments, football fans will be treated to a feast of sporting action this weekend.
Without further ado, let’s get down to the latest UEFA Nations League tips; starting with Portugal and their trip to Italy on Saturday night.
Italy vs PORTUGAL
It has been sad to see Italy’s decline on the international stage. Since September 2017, Italy have won just once on home soil; a disappointing record to say the least.
However, they have shown signs of improvement under Roberto Mancini and this could be an exciting game to watch. Goals at both ends looks very likely indeed…
Avoiding defeat will be enough for Portugal to secure top spot in League A Group 3 – and it would take a brave man to back against the 2016 European Championship winners.
With Cristiano Ronaldo back in action for the national side, the visitors will be confident of picking up the positive result that they need on Saturday night.
PREDICTED SCORE: Italy 1-1 Portugal (Priced at 6/1 with 888sport)
SWITZERLAND vs BELGIUM
A win for Switzerland will see the hosts leapfrog their opponents at the top of the group. On their day, Vladimir Petkovic’s side are capable of giving anyone a game…
The home outfit suffered an embarrassing loss to Qatar in an international friendly this week – bouncing back at the first time of asking will help to win some of their critics over.
Roberto Martinez’s side had to be patient against Iceland on Thursday night and the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists may have to wait until the second half once again in this encounter.
Belgium have the quality to put Switzerland to the sword but it would be foolish to assume that this will be a walk in the park. On home soil, the Swiss will create opportunities.
PREDICTED SCORE: Switzerland 1-2 Belgium (Priced at 15/2 with 888sport)
GERMANY vs Netherlands
Joachim Low’s side got back to winning ways with a convincing 3-0 victory over Russia last time out and the 2014 World Cup champions will take some stopping here.
Germany have one of the strongest squads in international football and a win here is a must as the hosts look to restore some pride after a disappointing UEFA Nations campaign.
For the Netherlands, three points will give them a real chance of pipping France to top spot in League A Group 1. Ronald Koeman’s men will be fired up ahead of this one…
The visitors are outsiders to prevail in this fixture but Netherlands could spring a shock. That 3-0 win over Germany in October should give Holland confidence.
PREDICTED SCORE: Germany 2-1 Netherlands (Priced at 13/2 with 888sport)
SWEDEN vs Russia
Sweden are built on defensive stability and this one probably won’t be the most exciting game this weekend.
Currently bottom of their group after picking up just one point from two games, Sweden need to win in order to stand any chance of pipping Russia to top spot.
The visitors enjoyed a successful home World Cup and Russia will be looking to build on that platform in the coming years.
On paper, they aren’t the most complete national side around but they do have a couple of budding stars. Russia will be relying on these men this weekend…
Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.
He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.
As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.
