Thursday 22nd September 2022

In Across the Leagues today:

• UEFA Nations League games tonight…
• Welsh TV…
• Star strikers – and an intriguing betting angle…

Why Antoine Griezmann is a great Last Scorer bet…

Good afternoon. It’s easy to put the boot in to the UEFA Nations League. I’ve certainly been no big fan since it came along a few years ago. This weekend, after all the postponed matches following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, I’d really rather be tuning-in to watch some Premier League action.

That said, during the gloomy lockdown days of 2020, I remember promising my future self that I will always appreciate having any live football to enjoy – especially with the fans back in the stadiums. Those ‘ghost games’ were weird.

So, perhaps I shouldn’t be too cynical about this week’s International fixtures. Scotland were certainly up for it at a raucous Hampden Park last night, posting a 3-0 win over Ukraine, with our old mate Lyndon Dykes bagging the last two goals. (And yes, they were both headers. Dykes is 6’2” – but looks taller if you ask me).

Welsh TV…

This evening’s Nations League schedule includes Belgium v Wales, which has some nice recent-ish history behind it, after Wales’ famous 3-1 win at Euro 2016.

Premier Sports are showing that one. But you might do better getting it for free via the BBC iPlayer, with access to the Wales S4C channel. S4C is also available on your TV planner, depending who you’re with (Sky, Virgin, Freeview, etc).

Star strikers – and an intriguing betting angle…

Poland v Netherlands is one to look-out for the star strikers…

Robert Lewandowski is the main man for Poland. He’s scored in six of his last seven games for his new club Barcelona. The one game where he drew a blank being… the one where I backed him to score. Would you believe it?

In an orange shirt, Memphis Depay is the leading light for the Dutch. He’s scored in six of his last eight International starts.

If you’re taken, Bet365 have Lewandowski and Depay at 7/5 (2.4) each in the Anytime Scorer betting. Or it’s take-your-pick at 9/2 (5.5) apiece for First Scorer. Both men scored for Barcelona last weekend.

For bigger prices, 2/1+ Anytime and 6/1+ First, Steven Bergwijn is also one to watch for the Netherlands. Since leaving Tottenham for Ajax this summer, Bergwijn has found the net in four out of nine games. However, playing for his country tonight, he might start on the bench.

And talking of subs…

Last Scorer, off the bench…

Antoine Griezmann is getting a few column inches for being used as a regular substitute for Atletico Madrid this season.

Depending on which internet source you trust, Griezmann is either the fifth or sixth most expensive player in history. Either way, the World Cup winner is a lot of real estate to be left on the bench. But Atletico are seemingly using the on-loan forward sparingly, in order to avoid paying more cash back to Barcelona. There’s a good article on the whole affair on the BBC website, here.

With that money-related backdrop, these substitute times make a lot more sense. With Griezmann entering the pitch as a sub on seven out of eight occasions this season, always just after the hour mark:

62, 62, 64, 63, 61, 63, 62 mins.

From a betting point of view, this angle got me thinking about the Last Scorer market. The findings are encouraging…

• All 3 of Griezmann’s goals for Atletico this season have come as a sub, and all 3 have paid out on him as the Last Scorer in the game

Along with an injury-time winner v Porto in the Champions League, the 31-year-old is right up there in our current 2022/23 Spanish La Liga chart for Last Scorer payouts. And now you know why.

View all our bet-specific stats for 17 leagues at:

www.acrosstheleagues.co.uk

Contracts and transfer fees don’t come into International football though, and for France tonight, Griezmann is widely reported to be in the line-up v Austria.

In a French shirt, Antoine is very much used to being involved from kick-off – 22 of his last 24 caps have seen him in the starting XI.

Skybet have Griezmann as a 13/8 (2.63) shot to score this evening. It’s a market that’s dominated by French players, with men in blue occupying the top seven spots in the Anytime Scorer betting.

Here’s the top of the list at Oddschecker ­­– with the first seven names all representing France. At those less-than-inspiring odds I’d say… they can’t all score!

No bets from me today. I’ll be sharpening the pencil ready for the weekend’s English League One and League Two games. Look out for your Weekend Preview and picks tomorrow afternoon.

In the meantime, enjoy the Nations League football…

Best wishes,

Oliver Upstone

Across the Leagues