International Tips: Dutch to thrive without Man United boss

Guus Hiddink is back as Netherlands boss after 16 years away

Sweden, Croatia and Italy will encounter varying fortunes in their final pre-Euro 2016 qualifying friendlies...

Sweden v Estonia
Thursday, 18:45
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Match Odds: Sweden 1.282/7, Estonia 14.5n/a, The Draw 6.411/2

Sweden sat out the last two World Cups yet have participated in every European Championship this century, were drawn in a relatively gentle Euro 2016 qualifying group and boast Zlatan Ibrahimovic, so there is cause to be positive on the dawn of their latest preliminary campaign.

Admittedly, recent form has been poor - they lost each of their past three games, against Turkey, Denmark and Belgium - but Estonia should prove the perfect opponents to get them back on track. The visitors haven't scored in any of their four 2014 fixtures, following on from firing six blanks in ten World Cup qualifiers.

Recommended Bet: Back Sweden to keep a clean sheet @ 1.910/11

Croatia v Cyprus
Thursday, 19:15
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Match Odds: Croatia 1.271/4, Cyprus 15.014/1, The Draw 6.611/2

Croatia didn't achieve much at the World Cup, a 4-0 victory over Cameroon's ten men delivering their only points but, as the odds suggest, they should be far too good for Cyprus, who finished bottom of their World Cup qualifying group and share a FIFA ranking of 140 with Chad.

Cyprus' previous eight matches all delivered under 2.5 goals though and three of those were against World Cup-attending nations, while another was against a side who reached the play-offs. Unders appeals again because Croatia have netted more than twice in just one of their last 12 outings.

Recommended Bet: Back under 2.5 goals @ 2.3811/8

Italy v Netherlands (Thursday, 19:45)

Match Odds: Italy 2.747/4, Netherlands 3.02/1, The Draw 3.259/4

This is a fresh start for both of these esteemed international heavyweights, with their World Cup coaches Cesare Prandelli and Louis van Gaal replaced by Antonio Conte and Guus Hiddink. While Hiddink barely altered van Gaal's squad, Conte dropped Mario Balotelli in favour of four forwards he rarely utilised at Juventus: Fabio Quagliarella, Sebastian Giovinco, Ciro Immobile and Simone Zaza.

Given Italy's terrible friendly record - no wins in seven - and the fact that Netherlands are on a ten-game unbeaten run, the World Cup bronze medallists have to be fancied in the draw no bet market.

Recommended Bet: Back Netherlands to win (draw no bet) @ 2.111/10