Euro 2008 qualifiers

Two from two here from Tom, as Bulgaria drew and Norway won 2-0 – nice work fella.

Often it pays to concentrate on the games with a lesser profile to find the value, Greece and Albania landed the cash on Saturday, and once again I’m sticking with the smaller nations.

While Albania have very little to play for, they have in the past six months or so, become very dificult to beat. A 0-0 draw in Slovenia was a good result on Saturday and they have forged an extremely strong defensive unit.

Just seven goals conceded in nine qualifying matches highlights the point and although their opponents on Saturday – Bulgaria – still have the finals next summer in their sights, there is no way they are a 1.80 shot.

Hardly prolific, the away side only edged home on their travels in Luxembourg and Belarus and are bound to be feeling the pressure. They must win to stay in touch with Holland and Romania at the summit and I am not sure they will.

While I want to be against the Bulgarians, I am happy to be backing Norway at 2.40 to grab the win they need in Bosnia.

Just one point behind Turkey in Group C, Norway have proved more than capable of getting a result on their recent travels and will have been boosted by the Turks failure to beat Moldova on the weekend.

They play Greece on Wednesday, the group leaders, and win for Age Hareide’s men could well see them end the night in a qualifying place. Norway score plenty and I think John Carew and co can give the Bosnian’s a tough time. Weak at the back, they are always prone to concede.