International Tips: No leaks for Switzerland and Spain

Vicente del Bosque's greatest feat is preventing complacency

Michael Lintorn presents a case for Switzerland and Spain keeping clean sheets in their Friday night friendlies...

Switzerland v Jamaica
Friday, 19:30
Live on Betfair Live Video

Match Odds: Switzerland 1.330/100, Jamaica 15.014/1, The Draw 5.85/1

Switzerland, the World Cup dark horses receiving nowhere near Belgium or Colombia's hype despite possessing a similarly strong squad and greater recent World Cup experience, have torn a page from England's 2006 playbook and set up a morale-boosting home pre-tournament friendly with Jamaica.

The Reggae Boyz gave a dire account of themselves on that occasion, losing 0-6, and suffered a half-time/full-time reverse to another European nation, Serbia, earlier this week. Switzerland have kept six clean sheets in ten matches since the start of 2013, so that appears the smartest mode of attack.

Recommended Bet: Back Switzerland to keep a clean sheet @ 1.75/7

Spain v Bolivia
Friday, 21:00
Live on Premier Sports

Match Odds: Spain 1.162/13, Bolivia 28.027/1, The Draw 9.28/1

Spain have found maintaining their exceptional domination increasingly challenging as their six-year major silverware stranglehold has evolved, and while they still turn it on with admirable consistency at European Championship and World Cups, they are now prone to occasional friendly lapses.

South Africa profited recently, but Spain showed signs that they are regaining tournament form in their last friendly outing, a 1-0 victory over Italy. It was their fourth win to nil in seven outings this season, and Bolivia's proneness to thrashings against top teams - they fell 0-5 to Colombia and 0-4 to Brazil in 2013 - suggests that another should be achieved in Sevilla.

Best Bet: Back Spain to win to nil @ 1.75/7

Uruguay v Northern Ireland
Saturday, 00:30
Live on BBC Red Button

Match Odds: Uruguay 1.232/9, Northern Ireland 18.5n/a, The Draw 7.06/1

As observers who saw them beaten away by Luxembourg towards the end of World Cup qualifying will verify, Northern Ireland aren't in the rudest health, but as some of their more proven players are defenders - including Roy Carroll and Aaron Hughes in this squad - they are rarely carved open.

Eleven of their last 13 internationals have churned out two goals or fewer, including each of the latest four. Uruguay, who you might have heard are without Luis Suarez at present, have scored two goals or less in five of their last seven games, the most recent two producing just two in total.

Recommended Bet: Back under 2.5 goals @ 2.3611/8