International Tips: Clean sheet to again elude Russia

Russia concede far more goals than Fabio Capello would like

Just when you thought you could turn a TV on without finding football for a few weeks, along come Australia, Russia and Belgium...

With the World Cup two-and-a-half weeks away, an avalanche of international friendlies is now upon us. Three of those taking place on bank holiday Monday feature Brazil-bound nations, so let's forecast how the latest stage of their preparation will unfold...

Australia v South Africa
Monday, 10:30
Live on BT Sport 1

Match Odds: Australia 1.574/7, South Africa 7.87/1, The Draw 4.03/1

After familiar names like Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill and Brett Holman recently vacated the scene, Australia's World Cup squad is fairly young and green, but what this Socceroos ensemble lack in international experience, they compensate for in entertainment value. Five of their last seven games featured five or more goals, with that run including the shameful 0-6 losses to Brazil and France that saw Holger Osieck sacked and 3-4 defeats to China and Ecuador, the latter of which they led 3-0 at half time. South Africa are pretty calamity-prone too, giving up eight goals in their last two matches against Nigeria and Brazil. Three of their four fixtures in 2014 have cleared the over 3.5 goal barrier.

Recommended Bet: Back over 3.5 goals @ 4.47/2

Russia v Slovakia
Monday, 15:00
Live on Premier Sports

Match Odds: Russia 1.538/15, Slovakia 8.07/1, The Draw 4.216/5

Russia will be eagerly tracked this summer by English observers keen to see how Fabio Capello, who was accused of underperforming for them at World Cup 2010, fares. Two traits that his former and current international employers share are that they were impressive in qualifying, yet don't keep as many clean sheets as you would expect of a side drilled by a decorated coach of such organisational savvy. Russia have kept just two clean sheets in ten outings, against Luxembourg and Armenia. Their defensive defects will be open to exploitation by Slovakia, who have scored seven goals in their last three games - away to the reasonable trio of Latvia, Poland and Israel - and have the likes of Marek Hamsik and World Cup 2010 star Robert Vittek in their squad.

Recommended Bet: Back Russia not to keep a clean sheet @ 1.824/5

Belgium v Luxembourg
Monday, 19:45
Premier Sports

Match Odds: Belgium 1.071/14, Luxembourg 40.039/1, The Draw 14.013/1

Belgium are 22.021/1 World Cup fifth favourites, but haven't played like a team with potential to win the tournament since confirming participation. Their last four matches - all held in Brussels - have seen them held by Wales, beaten by Colombia and Japan and forced to settle for a draw with Ivory Coast. As those results are sure to have shaken confidence both within the camp and among long-term backers who first got on board at odds as big as 200.0, Luxembourg appear ideal morale-raising opponents. They lost all six of their World Cup qualifiers against their group's top three - Russia, Portugal and Israel - scoring only twice, and have netted once across their last four encounters.

Recommended Bet: Back Belgium to win to nil @ 1.684/6