WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 22 - 24 March

March 2024

ENTICING INTERNATIONAL CLASHES ON THE WEEKEND MENU

International clashes dominate the football stage this weekend and there are several enticing clashes in what is the last international window for European countries to prepare for the EURO 2024 championship, which kicks off in Germany on 14 June. TAB has spiced up its weekend pools with cash add-ins to four bets, including a R200,000 boost to tonight’s Soccer 10.

FRANCE A BIG TEST FOR BELEAGURED GERMANS

Germany will host EURO 2024 and are hardly in the best shape for that role. They failed to make it past the group stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and have managed only three wins in 11 matches since, all of which resulted in national team manager Hansi Flick getting the boot last September.

Julian Nagelsmann was appointed as the emergency replacement, ironically not long after being sacked by Bayern Munich, and given the thankless task of getting Germany back on track for EURO 2024. They promptly lost to Austria and Turkey in their last friendlies in November and head to Lyon tomorrow to take on France before hosting the Dutch on Tuesday.

Both are critical matches for Germany, who will be hoping the return of Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos to international football after a two-year absence has a miraculous impact. İlkay Gündoğan is expected to retain the captain's armband.

France likely will start with their best team before rotating some new faces in late in the game. They have a full-strength squad, barring Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, and only world champions Argentina are above them in the latest FIFA rankings.

Once again England have high hopes of triumphing at the European championships after finishing runners-up four years ago and test their mettle against Brazil at Wembley tomorrow.

Harry Kane remains a considerable doubt to lead England into the blockbuster clash with the five-time world champions after sustaining an ankle injury during the closing stages of Bayern Munich's 5-2 victory over Darmstadt last Saturday.

Brazil will be missing stars like Neymar and Casemiro, but this presents an opportunity for newcomers in the team with the likes of Vinicius Jr and Richarlison expected to lead the attack. Brazil have their own problems and will be playing under new coach Dorival Junior for the first time after three defeats in a row.
Good news for TAB soccer customers who are not fans of international soccer is that there are all-MLS Soccer 6 and 10 bets tomorrow.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEKEND

Injury issues for Holland, Spain raring to go, two new facies in England squad and no Messi for Inter Miami.

* Ajax Amsterdam striker Brian Brobbey has pulled out of the Netherlands squad after sustaining a hamstring injury, while Joshua Zirkzee (muscle), Frenkie de Jong (ankle), Micky van de Ven (hamstring) and Sven Botman (ligament) may also miss tonight’s clash at home to Scotland.

* Spain are expected to name a strong starting XI for tonight’s friendly against Colombia in London with captain Alvaro Morata, who has 34 goals for the national team, set to lead the line again. Nico Williams and Dani Olmo are likely to join Morata in the front three, while injury absences for Pedri and Gavi will open a midfield spot that could be taken by Mikel Merino.

* Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite and Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon have been included in the senior England squad for the first time, thanks to stellar seasons in the Premier League.

* Despite the international window, Major League Soccer action continues in the USA but Inter Miami must do without Lionel Messi. Not because he is playing for Argentina this week, but rather that he is recovering from a hamstring strain. He sat out last weekend’s game against D.C. United and is not expected to play tomorrow when Inter are at New York Red Bulls.

* The Norway national team doctor has eased injury fears over Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who limped out of training on Tuesday ahead of tonight’s friendly against the Czech Republic. He said there is "no problem" with the striker.

R200,000 ADDED SOCCER 10 MATCH BY MATCH

Friday 22 March S10 V2

With a likely bumper pool of some R2 million, this is a must-play!

SOCCER 10 V2 SUGGESTED BET:

M1: Norway vs Czech Republic	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Norway have managed just one win in eight games against the Czechs, who have won four of the games with three draws of this friendly in Oslo.
M2: Chad vs Mauritius	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in neutral Yaoundé. Chad have lost their last five games in a row and are winless in 13. Mauritius held Angola 0-0 last time out.
M3: Tunisia vs Croatia	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Tunisia had a poor Africa Cup of Nations campaign and failed to win a game. Now they face Croatia, who beat Armenia and Latvia last November. Match now on Saturday, which will delay resulting of this pool.
M4: Sao Tome e Principe vs South Sudan	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
An Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in neutral Morocco. Sao Tome have lost their last five games, while South Sudan beat Kenya last September. This is a first meeting between the sides.
M5: Albania vs Chile	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Albania are a vastly improved side and are unbeaten in their last eight (W5 D3), having qualified for Euro 2024. Chile lost to Ecuador and drew with Paraguay in November.
M6: Hungary vs Turkey	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Turkey have three wins in their last four games, while Hungary are unbeaten in 12 (W7 D5). Hungary won both games between the sides in the 2020 Nations League.
M7: Netherlands vs Scotland	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Netherlands have won five of their last six games while Scotland are winless in their last five after qualifying for Euro 2024. The teams drew 2-2 in a friendly in Portugal in 2021.
M8: Romania vs Northern Ireland	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Romania are unbeaten in 11 games (W7 D4) dating back to 2022, while Northern Ireland have only two wins in their last nine and lost the other seven.
M9: Spain vs Colombia	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Spain are on a six-game winning streak in which they have scored 22 goals and conceded three. Colombia have not lost in 19 games (W14 D5) over the last two years. This match is in London.
M10: Niger vs Togo	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
A friendly in neutral Morocco with Togo unbeaten in their last six (W3 D3). Six previous meetings have yielded two wins each and two draws.

Suggested R64 perm: 1,2 x 1 x 3 x 3 x 1,2 x 1,2 x 1 x 1 x 1,2 x 2,3.

Soccer 10 V2 pool closes 19:00 on Friday 22 March.

R100,000 ADDED SOCCER 6 MATCH BY MATCH

Saturday 23 March S6 V2 P2

SOCCER 6 V2 SUGGESTED BET:

M1: Slovakia vs Austria	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Both teams have four wins and a single defeat in their last five games. The last two meetings between the sides finished 0-0.
M2: New England Revolution vs Chicago Fire	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
MLS clash in the USA. The last five meetings between these sides have all been draws, but in 90 previous clashes Chicago lead the win tally 35-34 with 21 draws.
M3: New York RB vs Inter Miami	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Both have two wins, a draw and a defeat in their last four games. Inter won 2-0 away when they last met in MLS action in August. There has not been a draw between these sides in eight games.
M4: Denmark vs Switzerland	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Three of their six previous meetings have ended in draws with Denmark leading the win count 2-1. Both sides lost their last game in November.
M5: England vs Brazil	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
Brazil have lost their last three games in a row, but have since appointed a new coach in Dorival Junior. England have not lost since their World Cup quarter-final with France (W8 D2).
M6: France vs Germany	TEAM A WINS	DRAW	TEAM B WINS
The visitors have lost their last two games but beat France 2-1 at home in a friendly last September. France beat Gibraltar 14-0 in November but were later held 2-2 by Greece.

Suggested R72 perm: 2,3 x 1,2,3 x 3 x 1,2 x 1 x 1.

Soccer 6 V2 pool closes 19:00 on Saturday 23 March.

WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 6 - 8 Sep

INTERNATIONAL CLASHES TAKE CENTRE STAGE THIS WEEKEND

WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 30 Aug - 1 Sep

MEGA SOCCER 13 POOL SET TO GENERATE BUMPER PAYOUT

WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 23 - 25 August

WHAT A SATURDAY TO BET SOCCER WITH TAB!