NJ's Value Wednesday

By Nishant Joshi

Wimbledon Mens'...Michael Llodra and Andy Roddick should face off in a serve-fest, take Bet365's 1.4 on there to be a tie-break...an in-form Benjamin Becker could cause Tomas Berdych some trouble and so back over 36.5 games...what am I missing out on with Florian Mayer? Facing a perennially crocked Mardy Fish short on practice, and having dispatched of Marin Cilic in the first round, the bookies are still offering us 3.55 on our money? Mayer's 'slice and dice' play will cause Fish plenty of problems and I can't see why he is such an underdog here.

Wimbledon Ladies'...Yaroslava Shvedova should make light work of Kulikova...Ekaterina Makarova goes into her match with Venus Williams on an exceptional unbeaten run without dropping a set on grass, but Venus is here to win the tournament and can end the Russian's plucky run here.

World Cup

Serbia go into their match against Australia needing a win, and they should be able to get there with relative ease. Australia are still glaringly lacking in quality and depth, and a determined Serbian side should be able to see them off.

USA will go into their match against Algeria high in confidence after coming back from two goals down against Slovenia - a match where we were denied a six point turnaround thanks to a ludicrous disallowed goal. Algeria will be in high spirits too, although I suppose that just being around this England team for 90 minutes would have sapped away most of their giddiness...

...Which brings me onto the sorry state of affairs that is English football. You've got a deposed captain who slept with his best friend's WAG, and a coach who wears a mankini to the beach, both just for teething problems. Their real problems run deep, and it's conceivable that Joe Cole may go the whole World Cup without starting a game. England just aren't clicking right now, and they face Slovenia today, who have been the most impressive side in the group so far. England have been nothing short of atrocious and you'd expect that they couldn't possibly play as poorly as they did against Algeria, but Slovenia will be a much tougher assignment so who's to say that 1.5 on England isn't woefully short? Shades of Croatia pre-Euro 2008 are definitely here already, with a much-vaunted English side expected to run over a modest Eastern European team.

In the wake of all the discontent within the camp, I'm finally realising that I was only ever a loyal England fan thanks to Baddiel and Skinner's "Three Lions on the shirt" hit from almost 15 years ago. I also realise that I can only support a team worthy of support. I remember seeing Paul Gascoigne cheerily signing autographs for kids as if there was nowhere else he'd rather be. I don't get the same feeling with the current team of 'posh thugs', who tend to put old-age hookers, general philandering and living a 'balla' lifestyle ahead of football.

There are notable exceptions, with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry resembling somewhat intelligent human beings who always try their best. However, the stinking 'I'm the best, bow down to me' attitude of the likes of Ashley Cole and John Terry definitely stain the team. Wayne Rooney's errant comment about booing fans after the Algeria draw really put things into perspective - they just don't seem to care about anything but themselves. From a betting point of view, it's hard to get excited. Reality seems to have set in with the market and England aren't a ridiculously short price at 1.5, although I certainly couldn't put any argument for backing that price.

I'll be mildly sad if England are eliminated against Slovenia, but only in the way that I've been looking forward to this tournament for four years now, and England should be semi-final contenders with the squad at their disposal - anything less would be a total waste. It was fair to be upset in 1996, 1998 and 2004 when, backed by their country, the whole side put in a colossal effort and the nation was sad to see a team trying its best lose in dramatic fashion.

Slovenia knocking England out of the tournament is a definite reality, one which would hopefully dent the pride of these overpaid prima donna's...but don't count on it, they'll just extend their 7* hotel stays in Dubai over the summer.

NJ's Bets:

Llodra/Roddick tie-break in match 'yes' - 3.25pts @ 1.4 (Bet365)

Becker/Berdych over 36.5 games - 3pts @ 1.83 (Bet365)

Mayer to beat Fish - 4pts @ 3.55 (Betfair)

Shvedova to beat Kulikova - 1.5pts @ 1.85 (Betfair)

Venus Williams to beat Makarova 2-0 (set betting) - 3.75pts @ 1.50 (Boylesports)

Serbia to beat Australia -1.0 Asian Handicap - 4pts @ 2.76 (Betfair)

USA to beat Algeria - 1.5pts @ 1.97 (Betfair)

Nishant Joshi