How will Tunisia fare at the 2022 World Cup? Join @SteTudor123 as he looks at Les Aigles de Carthage in his everything you need to know guide ahead of this winter's competition...
Tunisia History at the World Cup
After gaining independence from France in 1956, Tunisia steadily evolved as a footballing nation, eventually qualifying for their first World Cup in 1978 with the aging squad of what is still deemed today their ‘golden generation’.
In South America, the Eagles of Carthage equipped themselves well, becoming the first African side to win a World Cup fixture by beating Mexico in their tournament opener.
A narrow loss to Poland and an admirable draw with reigning champions West Germany saw them just miss out on progressing from their group.
This was an encouraging introduction to the global stage but sadly then came decline, with Tunisia absent from the competition for the next two decades, their golden generation long retired.
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 30, 2022
In recent years however, they’ve found a way back, reaching three consecutive finals between 1998 and 2006 and then participating four years ago in Russia.
Granted, Tunisia have yet to compete in a knock-out game in the finals but last year’s AFCN quarter-finalists are in good shape to do so on this occasion, with decent technical players throughout the side.
So long as they’ve allowed, that is.
Even at this late juncture there remains a doubt about Tunisia’s involvement in Qatar, with FIFA seriously troubled by the Tunisian government meddling in footballing matters, in doing so undermining the country’s football federation.
A tournament ban cannot be ruled out.
Tunisia Nickname
The national team is colloquially known as Les Aigles de Carthage (The Eagles of Carthage) and if the players are at a disadvantage on the pitch, they can at least lay claim to having the coolest nickname in the competition.
The ancient city of Carthage was once one of the most influential and affluent of the classical world. It now makes up part of Tunis, the country’s capital.
A bald eagle meanwhile, is prominent on the team’s badge.
World Cup 2022 Group
World champions four years away, and with an all-star cast, France have to be strongly fancied to lead the charge out of Group D though Denmark are dangerous too. Ranked 11th in the world, the Danes impressed by going deep at Euro 2020.
For Tunisia to reach the last 16 for the first time, one of these giants must be slayed, while a result against group outsiders Australia is a must.
Subtle print patterns are everywhere at this World Cup and Tunisia’s home and away kits are no exception, with Kappa honouring the Carthaginian military leader Hannibal and the distinctive armour that he favoured in battle.
Both shirts are identical save for a switching of colours from red on white, to white on red. The third shirt, however, is a thing of beauty.
🚨 Shirt Alert 🚨
Tunisia release their new third shirt! The colour has been chosen to reflect and celebrate their historical culture around the olive tree. pic.twitter.com/olKv13DQAc
Jalel Kadri’s former clubs could form a league, such is their high number and it’s disconcerting that a relatively young manager has burned through so many opportunities since first stepping into a dug-out in 2001.
A short stint coaching the under 20s and two spells as an assistant at national level means he is a familiar presence within the Tunisian set-up.
Best Tunisia Player
Montpellier forward Wahbi Khazri will be known to Sunderland fans, after making 38 appearances in the North-East before departing in 2018.
With 24 goals in 71 international outings, the 31-year-old is the one to watch in the live betting markets, his eye for a strike making him a constant threat.
A Wahbi Khazri wonder strike! ✨
This has to be one of the best goals you'll see this season... 😮💨
The Eagles of Carthage are 13/2 in the World Cup betting to overcome Denmark in their opening game and its 90 minutes that will define their whole adventure.
With a good defensive record of late and an industrious midfield, Tunisia certainly have the means to frustrate their betters.
Elsewhere, progress beyond Group D is the sum of their ambitions and if you were unfortunate enough to get Tunisa in the office sweepstake, there is very little need to keep hold of your slip.
Bet on Tunisia at the 2022 World Cup with 888sport today!
Stephen Tudor is a freelance football writer and sports enthusiast who only knows slightly less about the beautiful game than you do.
A contributor to FourFourTwo and Forbes, he is a Manchester City fan who was taken to Maine Road as a child because his grandad predicted they would one day be good.
Here in Blighty, the Melbourne Cup means either a late night or a very early morning alarm call in order to watch your favourite international raider.
On the other side of the world, it means the biggest party of the year and a bumper nine race card that has one of the world’s most famous races as its centrepiece.
Commonly referred to as “The Race That Stops A Nation”, the race is now a truly international affair, attracting participants from Japan, the UK, Ireland, and France, and with that comes an even wider global audience.
For international horse racing punters it also offers the chance to get involved with some top value in the online horse racing betting.
Identifying the key trends and patterns can be all important in helping you single out a potential Melbourne Cup winner.
With so many variables in horse racing, it’s important to be looking in all the right places for the information, especially if you’re not over familiar with the Australian territory.
Trainer with most wins: Bart Cummings
Jockey with most wins: Bobby Lewis & Harry White (4 each)
Barrier with most wins: Barrier 5 (8 times)
Heaviest weight carried: 65.5kgs (Carbine 1980)
Horse age most wins: 4-year-old horses have won 45 cups; 5-year-old horses have won 44 cups.
Four and five-year-olds have the best record of any age group racking up 89 victories from the 161 renewals thus far, that’s 55.27% strike-rate!
The last three-year-old to win was Skipton (1941), and the last eight-year-old was Twilight Payment in 2020. Twilight Payment broke an 82 year wait for the eight-year-olds so it is still rather unwise to side with these two ages groups in the cup.
Draw Statistics
Barrier 5 (8 wins)
Barrier 10, 14 & 19 (7 wins)
Barrier 11 (6 wins)
Barrier 1,4,6,8 & 17 (5 wins)
The barriers (stalls) have been in use for 84 years and barrier 18 has never produced the winner.
If you suffer from Triskaidekaphobia, then you really don’t have to be as that barrier has been victorious on four different occasions: Phar Lap (1930), Baghdad Note (1970), Ethereal (2001) and Dunaden (2011).
In the last 35 years only Makybe Diva (2005) has carried 58kgs or greater to victory so it would be prudent to avoid the top weights when making your selection.
Melbourne Cup 2022 Runner-by-Runner Guide
Gold Trip - Having finished a narrow second in the Caulfield Cup two starts back, the former Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe fourth can be a big player.
Duais – Out of form in her four runs this season but was seen running on to good effect in the Caulfield Cup.
Knights Order – Winner of the Sydney Cup over this distance and loves wet ground. Ran third in the Caulfield Cup so holds a chance here.
Montefilia - Her Caulfield Cup run was excellent but she is somewhat of an unknown over this distance.
Numerian - Always thereabouts at Listed and Group level this season but the step up in trip leaves a lot of questions marks.
Without A Fight – The mount of this year’s champion jockey in the UK – William Buick. Should handle the distance but barrier 18 is a concern. Popular pick for those betting on horse races online.
Camorra - Previous Melbourne Cup winners Twilight Payment and Rekindling won the Curragh Cup – as did this horse this season.
Deauville Legend – He was dominant in the Great Voltigeur Stakes and has only finished outside of the top two once in his seven-start career. Holds a leading chance.
Stockman – The more rain the better for this runner but was well beaten in the Sydney Cup.
Vow And Declare – Won this race in 2019 but has only placed on two occasions in his 14 starts since.
Young Werther – Has won just the once in 13 starts but his form this campaign has been solid. Previously fared well in the Cox Plate.
Hoo Ya Mal – His trainer Gai Waterhouse won the 2013 Cup with Fiorente and she can do so again with this top ranking UK horse.
Serpertine – Winner of the Epsom Derby in 2020 and finished in the podium positions in the Archer Cup recently.
Daqiansweet Junior - He won the Adelaide Cup over this trip and went well in the Sydney Cup too.
Grand Promenade – Finished sixth in this race last year but has struggled since and will not get his ground.
Arapaho - 12 of his 14 career placings have come on rain-affected ground so he’s in there with an each-way shout.
Emissary – Nice winner of the Geelong Cup on his last start, a race that has been a decent pointer to the Cup in the past.
Lunar Flare - Placed in the Moonee Valley Cup. Beaten a long way on her only attempt at this trip however.
Smokin’ Romans - A three-time winner over 2500m and took the G1 Turnbull Stakes earlier in the season.
Tralee Rose – Finished 9th in this race last season and could well be a lively outsider this year.
Point Nepean – Won the Andrew Ramsden Stakes here back in May and his owner has won the Cup seven times already.
High Emocean – Even though she was successful in the Bendigo Cup, the form doesn’t look like its strong enough to take this.
Interpretation - Has been disappointing for his new stable so far but could be a threat if finding his form again off such a low weight.
Realm Of Flowers - She was a five length winner over 2800m here last year and clearly acts on the soft. Very dangerous to dismiss.
If jump racing is much more your preference then please be sure to check out all our Cheltenham betting odds here...
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
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.
How will Australia fare at the 2022 World Cup? Join @SteTudor123 as he looks at the Socceroos in his everything you need to know guide ahead of this winter's competition...
Australia History at the World Cup
For the first half a century of their existence the Australian national side almost exclusively toured in exhibition matches, failing to appear in any major tournaments of note.
Initially, this was chiefly due to logistics, with international air travel financially prohibitive pre-war. Let’s face it, the Antipodes is an awfully long way away.
Then came play-off defeats, lots of play-off defeats. On six different occasions throughout their history, Australia have stumbled at the final hurdle when attempting to qualify for World Cup finals.
They did manage to qualify in 1974, a much-celebrated achievement in the country even if it did only lead to a solitary point gained and a swift exit.
It took another 32 years for the Socceroos to next participate, ironically for the second time in Germany, and impressively they have been a permanent fixture ever since, blessed as they have been in the 2000s with some terrific players, such as Tim Cahill who was always capable of turning the live betting market on its head with a spectacular strike.
Elsewhere, and crucially, Australia now regularly exports its best talent to the major leagues across the world, gaining experience and making the national side better as a consequence.
This time out, the Socceroos reached Qatar by becoming the first team to progress through a World Cup Play-Off via pens. Given their unlucky past, nobody could possibly begrudge them of that.
Australia Nickname
Writing for the Sydney Daily Mirror in 1967, sports journalist Tony Horstead asked readers to suggest a nickname for the national side. By an overwhelming majority they went with ‘Emus’.
Regrettably, and perhaps aptly however, ‘Emus’ never got off the ground.
When a World Cup-inspired logo appeared seven years later, featuring a kangaroo wearing football boots, the ‘Socceroos’ was born. The rest is history.
World Cup 2022 Group
There’s no getting around the fact that Australia are in an extremely tough group, but drawn out of Pot 4 that was always going to be the case.
World Cup winners four years ago, France are the obvious stand-out, with their squad packed full of household names, while last year’s Euro semi-finalists Denmark are a classy outfit.
Tunisia meanwhile went deep at AFCON last January and have more than enough ability to surprise.
Nike have described the colours of their home shirt as ‘University Gold, Tour Yellow and Green Noise’ and insists it ‘conjures the rugged, sandy landscape of the Outback and the rich wetlands and forests’.
🚨 SOCCEROOS WORLD CUP KIT ALERT 🚨
The new Australia kits are here and wow, they’re cleannnn.
Fair enough. All we know is it’s a beauty that was narrowly edged out of making our top ten of best kits from the tournament.
The away top is pared back save for green glow accents.
Who Is The Australia Manager?
This is Graham Arnold’s second spell in charge of the Socceroos having also twice coached the Under 23s and twice been an assistant.
In between, he has guided two different teams to A-League success, being awarded the A-League Coach of the Year on three occasions.
As Australian as Home And Away and animals that kill you, when asked what his managerial philosophy was he simply replied with ‘fighting spirit’.
Best Australia Player
At 32, Aaron Mooy has bags of experience to go with his calm, clever link-up play in midfield and such qualities will be vital against three sides that are – on paper at least – Australia’s betters.
Now at Celtic, Mooy once turned down the chance of representing Holland after emerging as a genuine talent.
"Shades of Dennis Bergkamp here"
Brighton have their second goal at last and it's a wonderful bit of skill from Mooy to provide it.
The Socceroos are a lengthy 49/4 in the World Cup betting to beat France in their opening fixture and that’s hardly a surprise given the reigning champions widespread quality.
But we have seen before big teams caught cold in their first game and what we know for sure is that the underdogs will turn up, graft for each other, and show plenty of fighting spirit.
Bet on Australia at the 2022 World Cup with 888sport today!
Stephen Tudor is a freelance football writer and sports enthusiast who only knows slightly less about the beautiful game than you do.
A contributor to FourFourTwo and Forbes, he is a Manchester City fan who was taken to Maine Road as a child because his grandad predicted they would one day be good.
Once a prominent face in football betting with Arsenal, Marseille, Milan and Crystal Palace, Mathieu Flamini has been making headlines over the last few years for reasons unrelated to the Beautiful Game.
An industrious midfielder turned entrepreneur, Flamini’s journey after football is a long way off the beaten track of coaching or punditry.
His career was not short on success on the field, even if Flamini himself was rarely a player to swing online betting odds.
Playing for some huge clubs, Flamini was renowned for his work-rate and tactical nous, earning praise from Arsene Wenger early in his career. He was also rewarded with a handful of France caps in the late-noughties.
Let’s learn a bit more about the Marseille native.
Net Worth
Estimates of Mathieu Flamini net worth have a massive range. Some claim it is up above £10 billion. The man himself, however, has slammed such suggestions, arguing that he is not a billionaire.
More reasonable figures come in the tens of million, and he was obviously not short on cash following his playing career.
It is in recent years, though, that Flamini has become one of the world’s wealthiest footballers.
A partner in GF Biochemicals, the former Arsenal utility man has committed his post-playing career to renewable energy and trying to tackle climate change.
Company and Other Ventures
Mathieu Flamini founded GF Biochemicals alongside Pasquale Granata in 2010.
Their aim is to provide alternatives to oil-based products, and according to their own website, they are the ‘only company to produce levulinic acid derivatives at commercial scale directly from biomass’.
They acquired Segetis, the leading producer of levulinic acid derivatives, in 2016. Flamini is part-activist, part-businessman, and was central to Europe’s first master’s degree related to bioeconomic education.
He was also a co-founder of The BioJournal, a new online magazine focused on sustainability.
Interviews with the Frenchman have described his infectious enthusiasm for these issues. This isn’t a case of throwing money at a problem, but a former footballer with a deep-held belief that the world needs to change.
Speaking to The Athletic in 2020, Flamini’s commitment to making the world a better place was evident.
He said, “Do you know that today almost every single fish has micro-particles of plastic in it? When you and me are eating fish and other seafood products, we are eating micro-particles of plastic.
"And there are some studies which have been done with the University of Newcastle in Australia and the WWF that show that an average person could consume up to five grams of plastic per week, which is the equivalent of a credit card. My question is, do we all think that’s good for our health?
"For too long we thought that the planet was dissociated from the people. We are guests here. It is literally impossible to live a healthy lifestyle if you don’t live in healthy surroundings. Our surrounding is the planet where we are living.
"And, unfortunately, if we care about our health, which we all do, we have to understand how we can change what’s happening out there. We thought we could close an eye — we can’t anymore."
Around the time of that interview, he had entered into another venture with former teammate and close friend, Mesut Ozil.
The platform, called Unity, was created as a means for professional athletes to share their knowledge with the public on health, fitness and nutrition.
"The reality is that as athletes we have been surrounded by experts on nutrition, mental state, fitness. And what we wanted to do was share some reliable and trusted information.
"What we discovered is most of us are sourcing our information on Google or social media. The question: is that information backed by science? Is that information reliable? Who are the people writing these articles? Are they backed by the big pharmaceuticals?"
Flamini’s irrepressible drive is bound to lead to more investments and projects in the coming years.
Professional Career
Beginning in the Marseille academy, Flamini broke into the first team in 2003-04, and featured in the club’s UEFA Cup final loss at the end of that season.
In an opportunistic move, Arsenal landed Flamini for his first professional contract that summer after the midfielder had made just 24 appearances for his hometown club.
Jose Anigo, Marseille manager at the time, was furious.
"It's a great betrayal. He used me well. It's good for the money that he didn't sign pro with us. His sporting argument that he was afraid of playing less no longer holds. My outlook will never be the same again."
Flamini was an important member of the Arsenal squad, but never nailed down a position. Instead of ascending as a dominant defensive midfielder, it was his energy and versatility that Arsene Wenger valued.
Once his contract came to an end, he opted to head to Italy, with another of the biggest club’s in European football predictions.
Milan again utilised Flamini in a range of roles, but the highlight of his club career came with the Rossoneri when he clocked 23 league appearances in their 2010-11 Scudetto winning campaign.
A severe injury effectively wiped out the following season. By 2013-14, Flamini was training again with Arsenal and ultimately re-signed with the club.
No more than a squad player in his second stint in north London, short spells with Crystal Palace and Getafe followed before retirement.
His playing days might not have lived up to the expectation from when he first signed with Arsenal, but it was a career many would dream of.
Career Statistics
Marseille 2003-04 – 24 appearances, no goals
Arsenal 2004-08 – 153 appearances, eight goals
Milan 2008-13 – 123 appearances, eight goals
Arsenal 2013-16 – 93 appearances, five goals
Crystal Palace 2016-17 – 13 appearances, no goals
Getafe 2018-19 – 21 appearances, no goals
France 2007-08 – Three caps, no goals
Honours
FA Cup – 2004-05, 2013-14, 2014-15
Community Shield – 2014
Serie A – 2010-11
Arsenal Player of the Season – 2007-08
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
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.
The quality really ramps up this weekend with some great horse racing at both Wetherby and Ascot.
The obvious place to start is the Charlie Hall Chase (3.35) and it’s brilliant that both Bravemansgame and Ahoy Senor have stood their ground.
I’m in the Ahoy Senor camp as I was very impressed with him at Aintree and I thought he did very well to get as close as he did to L’Homme Presse at Cheltenham considering the way he jumped that day.
My slight concern is that he was beaten when he unseated first time out last season and was also beaten first time the previous season, so he might just be a horse that benefits from the outing.
We all know that Bravemansgame will be well tuned by Paul Nicholls and that might end up being crucial, along with any potential improvement from his wind op.
Wetherby is a very fair track and I enjoyed riding there, though I didn’t always have the best luck!
It’s a pretty flat track but it’s a big circuit and it probably offers a bit more of a stamina test than somewhere like Kempton, so I don’t see why the track won’t suit both horses equally.
It will be a great watch and what a fantastic way to kick off the new season.
Elsewhere on the card, I’m prepared to give Sporting John another chance in the West Yorkshire Hurdle (3.00).
He’s quite a frustrating horse as he has plenty of ability but just doesn’t always show it on the racecourse and last season’s exploits were evidence of exactly that as he won two races at Cheltenham and Warwick really nicely, but was disappointing behind Kansas City Chief at Cheltenham.
He’s always promised a lot and you have to bear in mind he’s just a seven-year-old, so time is still very much on his side and with a good record fresh, I fancy him to get the job done.
The other one I’ll have my eye on is Martello Sky in the mares’ hurdle (2.25).
This is a pretty tightly matched bunch on ratings, but I just thought Martello Sky might be open to a little bit more improvement being only a six-year-old.
Over at Ascot there’s some good racing too and all eyes will be on Goshen as he makes his chase debut (1.30).
I like many think he’ll take to the bigger obstacles really well and the key to him seems to be going right-handed.
For a jockey it’s very hard if a horse jumps the other way because the more you try to correct them, the more they will try to resist it and therefore it gets progressively worse as the race develops.
It’s not a character flaw or anything like that, it’s just one of those things that some horses do and as a jockey you just have to try your best to keep them straight.
Goshen was very plucky and brave at his hurdles, so I don’t see any reason why he won’t take to fences. He could be a very exciting novice chaser this season and this looks a good starting point to get his campaign underway.
The big handicap at Ascot is the London Gold Cup (3.15) and I wasn’t surprised to see Major Dundee and Our Power at the head of the betting.
Both horses have very similar profiles being seven-year-olds, with good place form in big handicaps and who look to have plenty of scope to improve this season.
Like many big Saturday handicaps, it’s wide open but I just thought those two might end up being a bit better than their current marks.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
With 43 winners at the Cheltenham Festival, Barry Geraghty is the second most successful jockey in the meeting’s illustrious history.
Career highlights include five Queen Mother Champion Chase victories, two Cheltenham Gold Cup triumphs and victory aboard Monty’s Pass in the 2003 Grand National.
Barry has partnered with 888sport for the 2021/22 jumps season, providing his expert insight and horse racing analysis on the biggest races of the week.
Come back every Friday to find out the latest instalment of Barry Geraghty tips for upcoming fixtures across the United Kingdom & Ireland.
Where: Fryth Way, off Pound Lane, Nailsea, North Somerset BS48 2AS
Competition: Western League Division One
Attendance: 149
It was such a huge personal honour when I was unexpectedly asked by Nailsea & Tickenham to perform the official floodlight opening ceremony before this match.
So I set off on a 310 mile round trip to Nailsea which is a Somerset town containing 15,600 inhabitants.
N&T FC are newly promoted to the Western League Division One this season at Step 6 of the national Non-League Pyramid as champions of the Somerset County League.
Therefore the installation of floodlights was essential to meet stringent ground grading requirements for this standard of football.
Half an hour before the 7.30pm kick-off, I stood in front of the growing crowd with a microphone in my hand to announce a countdown from ten down to one before the lights were dramatically switched on and Fryth Way became illuminated for the very first time.
I've had some amazing experiences in my 50 years as a Non-League football enthusiast but this was something completely different for me to undertake. A moment that will always be mentioned in the club’s history annals for years to come.
Ground Description
It is a work in progress. The foundations have been created to erect a new seated grandstand and some seats are on site ready for installation.
In the meantime, N&T currently have a charming homemade covered enclosure that houses some individual chairs for spectators who can enjoy a slightly elevated view on top of grass banking.
Programme Details
A very nice souvenir programme sold at £1. The editorial content put this historic occasion into context by including details about the new lights plus an update on N&T’s future plans.
The Match
The first half was scoreless and quite sterile. In fact, the match had 0-0 written all over it which is always bitterly disappointing for a visiting groundhopper like me.
However, N&T stepped things up completely after the break and rattled home five goals from Jack Thorne, Callum Dunn 2, Joe Berry and an own goal at the very end to seal a resounding victory.
N&T are already pushing for promotion to the Western League Premier Division at Step 5.
The club have certainly come a long way since their formation as recently as 2015 from the merger of two well-established local teams - Nailsea Town FC and Tickenham United FC. In fact, they haven’t looked back since then.
The People
I received a very warm welcome from all the hard working matchday volunteers...
At half-time, I took the microphone again to introduce the spectators to N&T chairman Rob Gregory, club treasurer John Murray MBE (who worked very closely alongside the Football Foundation to secure extensive funding for the floodlights) and former Bristol City captain Geoff Merrick.
All three exuded resounding enthusiasm about the continuing aspirations of N&T on and off the field of play as well as the vital importance that Non-League clubs hold within their adjacent communities.
Like many other people of my age, I fondly remember Merrick as one of eight noble and altruistic footballers (the famous ‘Ashton Gate Eight’) who saved Bristol City from financial ruin in 1982 by ripping up their contracts.
He is 71 now and I found him to be a humble man with a deep love of football at all levels having finished his career in the Non-League ranks. As for N&T, I quickly realised that the club’s prospects look very bright indeed.
Their ambition is to provide the best standard of football and facilities for the surrounding catchment area.
They are attracting increasing support and sponsorship from nearby businesses whilst providing a great platform for young local players to perform on.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to @TonyIncenzo*
England and Australia have each recorded emphatic wins over Afghanistan and Sri Lanka respectively, but their clash on Friday is huge.
England saw the rain truncate their run chase and lead to a DLS loss to Ireland on Wednesday, while Australia are under pressure after their loss to the New Zealanders.
This is a fiercely competitive group, and these two tournament favourites are a long way from guaranteed a place in the last four.
Cricket betting markets narrowly favour the Australians at 4/5 to win the match.
Of course, England dominated the old rivals in the lead up to this tournament, and the hosts have some significant selection dilemmas to answer around the balance of their side. The form of Aaron Finch is a major concern.
This match is taking place at the MCG, where rain hit on Wednesday.
This ground produced a classic between India and Pakistan earlier this week, and its massive square boundaries can play in the favour of bowlers who hit the pitch like Josh Hazlewood and Mark Wood.
The pair are the favourites to be their respective teams leading wicket takes at 13/5 and 29/10.
England’s batting struggled early on against Ireland, with lateral movement causing problems for the top order.
If the ball jags around in the powerplay again, there could be value backing Harry Brook to top score for Jos Buttler’s team at 19/4.
The performances from England in the warm-up matches surely make them the best bet to win this one at Evens. Conditions will be slightly different to when they faced Ireland, with the match taking place later in the day.
Should the ball continue to move, Australia’s batsman could equally find it challenging if England pitch up.
There aren’t many bigger betting on cricket events than the T20 World Cup. Postponements have made these tournaments come along like London buses, with the 2022 edition arriving almost exactly a year after Australia were crowned champions.
The Aussies are the hosts this time, and are favourites to defend their crown before the live betting action kicks off on 16th October.
Familiar conditions play into the hands of the Australians, but it’s worth noting that hasn’t always been a decisive factor in T20 World Cups.
India won in South Africa, Pakistan won in England, West Indies won in Sri Lanka and India, and the Aussies themselves lifted the trophy in UAE.
With T20 tournaments around the world, the vast majority of players are used to adapting their games to different surfaces.
Favourites For T20 World Cup
India are narrowly behind the host nation in the betting markets, while England come in at 7/2.
A new white-ball era has been ushered in for England under Jos Buttler’s leadership, and there are some significant questions to be answered in the lead up to the tournament with Ben Stokes set to return and Jonny Bairstow ruled out through a golf injury.
Jofra Archer’s pace is sorely missed, but England are delighted to have Mark Wood back in the fray.
Run prevention is the problem for the 2010 winners, though, and Harry Brook’s form has created something of a selection dilemma in the middle order. How do they balance the team?
Australia have the mix of power at the top of the order and some of the greatest Australian cricketers with the ball – an attack led by Adam Zampa, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood is going to slow down a lot of line ups.
They might be down in sixth in the team rankings, but the Australians will like their chances in Group 1 with Afghanistan, England and New Zealand plus a couple of qualifiers.
Teams With A Chance
It is part of tournament tradition to tab the Kiwis as dark horses, but their chances appear slim even after reaching the final last year. The batting is not as explosive as other top teams.
If England and Australia are in the box seat to progress from Group 1, things are a bit more interesting in Group 2.
Bangladesh are underdogs, of course, but South Africa and Pakistan both pose a threat to India. The South Africans impressed in their matches with England, and Pakistan are doing the same.
Both teams possess exceptional fast-bowling units. Pakistan are at their best facing pace-bowling – playing in Australia should benefit them.
South Africa perhaps don’t have the batting depth of others, but they have raw power to take the game away from opponents if they hit their stride. The form of Babar Azam and Quinton De Kock will be pivotal.
Usually a contender in T20 World Cups, the West Indies have to go through the first round and are in a period of transition. They don’t have the same upside as previous editions of this tournament.
Men’s T20 World Cup Prediction
When it comes to making a prediction for the Men’s 2022 T20 World Cup, it’s clear that Australia and India deserve to be considered favourites.
England’s bowling is their Achilles heel, and that is what probably stops them going on a deep run.
From a betting perspective, Pakistan and South Africa represent the best value to win the tournament.
There is downside with both teams, but they deserve to be taken seriously as contenders given the importance of elite quick bowling in Australia.
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 Manchester United defender David May believes the Reds can one day be the equal of their arch-rivals City now that Erik Ten Hag is in charge.
"I certainly think United are going the right way but what’s going on across the other side of Manchester is sensational, it really is. They are an absolute machine.
"But Pep had time and was given money so why can’t United do the same? Are they close to Manchester City right now? No, nowhere near.
"But another window, another season, we can eventually get there and I do think Ten Hag is the perfect manager to do that, I really do."
Having twice won the league at Old Trafford during the club’s Nineties heyday, May went on to front their television channel and podcast in retirement, all of which makes him an authority worth listening to when it comes to United’s fortunes.
So, what exactly has he seen during the Dutchman’s opening months at the helm to suspect that the good times may be returning after several seasons of disappointment
"Running, sprinting and work-rate have all improved. Under Rangnick that was a no-no; that never happened. I also think there is a discipline he’s brought to the team.
"Everybody knows how we want to play and how we want to press and if you don’t do that, you don’t play. He’s brought that mentality to the team that has been missing for four or five years.
"I would like to see more goals and more opportunities made and we can get more out of Jadon Sancho. Keeping clean sheets is imperative too because at the other end United will score.
"But United fans have seen progress. Over the last two or three seasons it’s not been the best football to watch at times, but Ten Hag has come in and steadied the ship and got people playing, and we’re now seeing the best of those players."
From the players in question, naturally May focuses first on the centre-backs, it being the position where he made 64 Premier League appearances for the Reds with distinction.
It’s an impressive tally given that often he was back-up to one of the club’s greatest ever defensive partnerships in Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister and May is reminded of the pair presently when watching Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.
"I know that Varane got injured at the weekend, but the partnership between him and Martinez is outstanding. It really is. You can see they have an understanding.
"Martinez reminds me of Brucey, who would run through a brick wall, but he loves to get on the ball as well. He’s not afraid of passing the ball. There are similarities too with Vidic and Rio, with Martinez like Vidic, and Varane the Rolls-Royce.
"It’s a perfect partnership and I just love the way Martinez plays. He seems to look after everybody. If someone gets kicked, he’s in there, and he’s not afraid to put his foot in. You can see that. He’s aggressive and that’s infectious. He’s been fantastic."
Further forward, midfield has too regularly been a problem area for United, that was until Christian Eriksen and Casemiro were signed last summer.
What have their contrasting styles brought to the Old Trafford centre-circle that was previously so sorely lacking?
"Composure, vision and experience. Eriksen can receive the ball anywhere, it doesn’t matter to him. Whereas Casemiro has all the experience of winning things.
"We haven’t had that for some time, two players that can dictate play. Eriksen in particular has been fantastic, especially after what he’s been through as well – god bless him, to come back from something like that is special - and to think that we got him on a free."
Another new recruit has also hit the ground running, in the form of Brazilian winger Antony. Mention of his confidence prompts a laugh from May, who views that to be a big part of the 22-year-old’s make-up.
"Antony is arrogant. You can see by the way he plays and struts around. The way he brings the full-back onto him and says, ‘come on then, let’s have a go’.
"If there is one fault about him it’s that he needs to work on his right foot. Because he gets into so many brilliant positions where it would be easier to actually use his right foot.
"He’s still a young kid but the money United paid for him, and how much Ten Hag wanted him, just goes to show what a player he is, and what a great player he’s going to be. He gets fans on the edge of their seats and we’ve not had that for a long time."
Of course, it’s not all wine and roses just now, with the ongoing Cristiano Ronaldo soap opera proving to be a distraction the Reds could well do without.
May concedes that his ex-team-mate is inevitably heading for the exit door and furthermore will need to be replaced sooner, rather than later.
"We need a centre-forward because Ronaldo will almost certainly leave. But who? With a World Cup coming up, you just don’t know what’s out there. There could be a surprise package."
Before we dig down into possible names however, the imminent tournament in Qatar prompts another concern.
"The World Cup is coming at the worst possible time for United. They’re just getting some momentum going forward.
"Other teams will be looking forward to the World Cup and a chance to reset but it’s a bad time for us as we’re just starting to see Ten Hag’s philosophy coming through."
Still, these are details that can be navigated and made small. For May, the big picture at the club that he loves is getting brighter all the time.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
Shamrock Rovers are the most successful club in the history of Irish football. The League of Ireland Premier Division side have a rich history in the game that stretches back well over a century.
Backed by a passionate fanbase, Shamrock Rovers are thriving behind the scenes and on the pitch, having become a familiar name in recent UEFA competitions.
The club’s current standing is stronger than ever, built on their wonderful, silverware-laden history. As principal shirt sponsors, 888 are delighted to lend support to Rovers, their fans and their great community.
888 Supports The Hoops
A leader in football betting odds, 888 became the official sponsor of Shamrock Rovers in 2021. As the Principal Sponsor of the club, the famous 888 logo can be seen on team shirts and in advertising around the Tallaght Stadium in Dublin.
888 is one of the world’s foremost online betting companies with fantastic live betting services. For spread betting in Ireland, football fans will find exciting wagering opportunities.
The support of Shamrock Rovers by 888 is a big commitment to the local Dublin market and the local community.
Kieran Spellman, VP – Head of 888sport stated at the time of the deal: “we are very much looking forward to playing our part in supporting our local team.”
The History Of Shamrock Rovers
The actual origin date of Shamrock Rovers has gone back and forth between 1899 and 1901.
For a long time, the date 1899 was emblazoned on the gates at the club’s former home Glenmalure Park. But many believed that it should be 1901 and the latter date stuck in some circles.
But new evidence led the club to go back to 1899 and to name a suite at the new Tallaght Stadium after that year.
The club started in the southside suburb of Ringsend, and that initial location lends itself to the club’s name. The old Rovers HQ was situated on Shamrock Avenue.
Part owners of Shamrock Rovers FC are the Shamrock Rovers Members Club, which boasts more than 400 members.
Membership is available to anyone, and it is the modern incarnation of the 400 Club consortium, which back in 2005 helped secure the future of the club.
After fluttering around the lower league scene in Ireland, sometimes withdrawing from action and even disbanding, Shamrock Rovers kept bouncing back.
In 1921, at the time a Leinster Senior League team, Rovers reached the final of the first-ever FAI Cup, losing there to St James’s Gate.
From there it was a move up to the League of Ireland for the Dublin club.
The Big Breakthrough
There was a remarkable introduction for Shamrock Rovers in the League of Ireland.
They made their debut in the 1922/23 season as part of an expansion of the top flight. Six new clubs were invited to join the existing six that formed the League of Ireland.
Stunningly, newcomers Shamrock Rovers won the league title at the very first attempt. They claimed the title by a five-point margin over Shelbourne, another club who were making their debut that season.
Shamrock Rovers lost only one of their 22-matches in the campaign, averaging more than three goals per fixture.
Of their 77 goals tallied for the season, 27 of them were scored by one of their great influential characters from history, Bob Fullam. The former Leeds player enjoyed tremendous success during his time with Rovers, which spanned four years.
That early success laid the foundations for Shamrock Rovers, as they would go on to break records.
Ten Titles Up For Rovers
When Shamrock Rovers claimed the 1963-64 League of Ireland title, it quickly brought up their tenth success in the top flight. Back-to-back titles in 2020 and 2021 saw them edge closer to doubling their tally of domestic league titles.
But along the way, there was also tremendous success for Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup. Throughout the 1960s they won a remarkable six cups on the spin.
Because of all the silverware that has flooded the Dublin club’s trophy cabinets, Shamrock Rovers have firmly established themselves as the most successful club in the country.
Notable Shamrock Rovers Players
Paddy Coad
Paddy Ambrose
Bob Fullam
Derek Treacy
Gary Twigg
Reaching Tallaght Stadium
There have been periods of history in which Shamrock Rovers were without a permanent home.
After the sale of Glenmalure Park, which fans had protested the sale of, Rovers bounced around at venues including Tolka Park to the RDS in Ballsbridge and the Morton Stadium.
In 2000 the ground was broken on a new site in Dublin, promising to usher in an exciting new era for the club.
But it took a long time before Shamrock Rovers would be able to call the new Tallaght Stadium home. By 2005 progress had not been made. It looked as if the realisation of their new home wouldn’t happen at all.
A long period of legal wrangling rattled on. Exhausting judicial battles were fought out before a ruling came about in 2008 that the continuation of the Tallaght Stadium build could happen.
In March 2009 and after more than two decades without a home of their own, Shamrock Rovers kicked off at the Tallaght Stadium. It was a huge sense of relief.
The following season after moving in, Shamrock Rovers would win their 17th league title. It was their first such success since 1994. Things were now settled behind the scenes and the Hoops could kick back into gear.
The main stand at the Tallaght Stadium was the first structure to be built and houses the home support.
On the opposite side of the pitch there’s a place for the visiting fans and in 2019 further development of the Stadium pushed the capacity up to 8000.
Tallaght Stadium is already the biggest ground in Irish football. A scheduled North Stand to complete the four sides of the arena is set to push the capacity up to 10,000.
The Glenmalure Suite at the stadium is a nod towards their history and the years that they spent at their former venue.
It was their home between 1926 and 1987 and one that Shamrock Rovers fans at the time desperately didn’t want to see go. But now their fans can cheer Rovers on in their wonderful new modern home.
European Adventures
There have been many great European adventures that Shamrock Rovers have had down the years. Their first foray into UEFA competition came in 1957 when the Irish champions made their way into the European Cup for the first time.
It was a historic, trailblazing season by Shamrock Rovers in that regard. It was the first time in the competition that teams from the Republic of Ireland had been given entry by UEFA.
The Hoops made their debut in the Preliminary Round of the European Cup and received an amazing tie against Manchester United.
The first leg was hosted at Dalymount Park in Dublin and the visiting Red Devils proved too strong for Shamrock Rovers, running out 6-0 winners.
The second leg back at Old Trafford was a much closer affair. After falling 2-0 behind in the match, Shamrock Rovers admirably clawed their way back into the game, ending up losing 3-2.
After five more seasons in Europe split between the European Cup, Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup, Shamrock Rovers would get their first taste of success in European action.
In the First Round of the 1966-67 European Cup Winners’ Cup, they hammered Spora Luxembourg 8-2 on aggregate.
The reward for Shamrock Rovers was a Second Round tie against German powerhouses Bayern Munich.
The tie was a lot tighter than it looked like it was going to be on paper. Bayern Munich narrowly won the tie 4-3 on aggregate, after being held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Dublin.
Snapshot of Shamrock Rovers
Ireland’s most successful club
Shamrock Rovers were the first Irish team to play in Europe
In 2011 Rovers became the first Irish team to make the Europa League Group Stages
More Republic of Ireland players have come from Shamrock Rovers than any other club
The Hoops are the all-time leading record holder for League of Ireland titles
Shamrock Rovers hold the record for the most FAI Cup victories
The Hoops Go Toe To Toe With Europe’s Biggest
There have been some wonderful European ties that Shamrock Rovers have played.
They have gone up against some of the biggest teams on the continent, like the aforementioned Manchester United and Bayern Munich. It’s been a wonderful experience for their dedicated fans.
Shamrock Rovers have been in duels with the likes of Valencia, Schalke, Celtic, Juventus, Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan.
The 2011/12 season was particularly special for the Hoops. Long-standing head coach Stephen Bradley led them into new territory in modern European football.
Following a qualification Play-Off victory over Partizan Belgrade, Shamrock Rovers landed in the Group Stage of the UEFA Europa League.
It was the deepest that they had ever been in a UEFA Competition. It gave the fans a taste of something new, something special.
Furthermore, it was also a massive boost to the ambition of the club, despite them going as underdogs in football betting to make qualification to the knockout stages.
The Hoops would lose all six matches in the group stage against Rubin Kazan, Tottenham Hotspur and PAOK, but it was a valuable experience nonetheless. It gave a glimpse of what more was needed to kick on.
Consistent European Bids
Given their high status in Ireland, Shamrock Rovers have been a familiar face in the qualification rounds of the Europa League, Champions League and the newer UEFA Europa Conference League.
That consistency, which in turn comes from their strong, successful domestic form, will only create further chances for the club down the line. It’s a great bedrock for further progress on the European front.
Shamrock Rovers have done brilliantly to bring top European football to their fans, packing out the Tallaght Stadium with extra fixtures on top of their domestic league and cup campaigns.
The Fantastic Fan Base Of Shamrock Rovers
Fans play a part in the growth of any club. The backing of passionate supporters willing to flood through the turnstiles is crucial to the existence of all clubs.
Shamrock Rovers have a tremendous fan base, largely from the southside of Dublin because of the origins of the club.
But naturally, given the big appeal of the club, members come from further afield from that.
Many make the journey from locations across the country to attend matches. Some supporter clubs are even dedicated to following Shamrock Rovers when they play away from home.
Shamrock Rovers are proudly Irish, from the name of the club, the club’s green colours and the shamrock on their club crest.
Fans not only at the Tallaght Stadium but following the club on away days, proudly fly flags and banners that show their proud Irish identity.
As for rivalries, the biggest that Shamrock Rovers have is against St Patrick’s Athletic with it being a local derby. The other long-standing derby duel that Shamrock Rovers have is against their old rivals Shelbourne.
Shamrock Rovers Youth
The future of Shamrock Rovers doesn’t just rest in the hands of the men’s first team and transfer business there.
There is a thriving youth scene at the club as well. It is a massive set-up boasting far-reaching arms, pulling together some of the brightest young talents around.
There are more than 200 youth players at Shamrock Rovers including an Under 17 women’s team. It is such a great community resource, giving opportunities to youngsters. It is the first professional youth academy in the country.
The range of youth teams at Shamrock Rovers goes from the Under-8 right through to the Shamrock Rovers II side, their reserves. With scholarships available to help with education, the club gives so much back to the local community.
888, who have offices not too far from Tallaght Stadium, are now part of that local investment through the backing of Shamrock Rovers. It’s a great club to be on board with.
There’s the mouth-watering prospect of more domestic titles to extend their records in the League of Ireland Premier Division and FAI Cup, plus plenty more big European nights to come. Good times lie ahead in Dublin.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
How will France fare at the 2022 World Cup? Join @SteTudor123 as he looks at Les Bleus in his everything you need to know guide ahead of this winter's competition...
France History at the World Cup
From playing their first international fixture in 1904 to the present day, France have been a major player on the global stage, and this is epitomised by a proud and long heritage at the World Cup.
One of just four European teams to participate in the inaugural tournament, Les Bleus evolved as a footballing nation, eventually developing a ‘golden generation’ in the Fifties, complete with Raymond Kopa and the scarily-prolific Just Fontaine, who reached the semi-finals in 1958.
There followed a period of strife, with just the one qualification across the subsequent two decades but in the Eighties, France returned with bags of panache and inspired by a midfield four that became known as the ‘carre magique’ (magic square).
With three-time Ballon d’Or winner Michel Platini bossing proceedings, a magnifique and memorable side entertained their way to a further two semis, all the while captivating a watching world.
In the Nineties, France went one better, winning the competition on home soil by beating Brazil 3-0 in a final that saw the incomparable Zinedine Zidane take centre stage, scoring with a header.
Eight years later, Zizou was again in a World Cup final, and again used his head, but this time for all the wrong reasons.
At the most recent World Cup in Russia 2018, Les Bleus lifted the famous trophy anew, meaning they are one of only six nations to claim the tournament twice or more, but with France it’s as much about the players as their achievements.
From Fontaine, to Platini, to Zidane, what incredible talent they have bestowed on us, and that generosity continues to the present-day with Kylian Mbappe, who is set to run amok in Qatar.
With his blistering pace and trickery, Mbappe is the scourge of the live betting markets, capable as he is of changing the course of a game in a heartbeat.
France Nickname
Some international nicknames require an explanation. ‘The Blues’ possibly does not.
What may be of interest, however, is why the colour is so historically associated with France, to the point of the shading being commonly known as ‘French Blue’.
It’s because from the 12th century on, the heraldry of their royalty family has had the hue prominent in the background, representing the sky and a bright tomorrow.
World Cup 2022 Group
Even though Group D has a strong favourite in France it’s still arguably the most intriguing of all the quartets, featuring a very decent Denmark side and two others who are more than capable of springing a surprise.
Tunisia are a difficult outfit to break down while Australia ran France close and held Denmark in an almost identical grouping during Russia 2018.
The home shirt may not be one of the stand-out kits at Qatar but the gold trim on navy blue is always a fetching combination. It’s conventional but classy.
For their away number, Nike have been inspired by the country’s traditional Toile de Jouy fabric. Think Versailles. Think decadence. It’s rather lovely.
Who Is The France Manager?
Didier Deschamp remains a divisive figure, with critics insisting the former Juventus ‘water-carrier’ tethers the extravagant talent he has at his disposal.
This is despite the 54-year-old guiding his team to World Cup and Nations League success in recent years. There’s just no pleasing some people.
Best France Player
The French squad may not be as packed with world class talent as it used to be, but it remains a stellar cast, and head and shoulders above his team-mates is the generational Kylian Mbappe.
Twenty-eight goals in 59 appearances for his country is a ratio the great Fontaine would have been satisfied with and at 23 years of age the PSG megastar is only going to be get better.
Stephen Tudor is a freelance football writer and sports enthusiast who only knows slightly less about the beautiful game than you do.
A contributor to FourFourTwo and Forbes, he is a Manchester City fan who was taken to Maine Road as a child because his grandad predicted they would one day be good.
