Our David John has an anytime goalscorer pick as Italy look to get back to winning ways against Israel on Tuesday night.
"We’re human and they’re a bit less so," was Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura’s marvellous reaction to Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Spain in Madrid.
The Azzurri were given the runaround for long spells in the Spanish capital and the upshot is that Spain have taken command of World Cup qualifying Group G and, bar some hideous meltdown from them, Italy are now heading for the play-offs.
There will be a bit of soul-searching done by the Italians as they reflect on a re-run of the performance and once the dust has settled they will perhaps not feel quite so dejected.
They had chances at 2-0 down to get back in the fixture with Ciro Immobile going close before the best opportunity came off the head of striker Andrea Belotti, who had a bit of a shocker all night, and went harmlessly over the bar.
The fact that centre-back Sergio Ramos somehow managed to turn provider deep on the right flank for Alvaro Morata to make it 3-0 just about sums up how things went.
It is back on home soil next for Italy in Reggio Emilia to host Israel and anything other than a victory for Ventura’s side at 1/7 would be an utter shambles.
The visitors are clinging on to any hopes of World Cup qualification by their fingertips after being mugged by Macedonia 1-0 in Haifa on Saturday night and only three points for them now will suffice.
They had a hatful of chances but were culpable of some extremely tame form in front of goal before veteran Goran Pandev nipped in for the winner after 73 minutes.
Israel's frustrations boiled over too as disgruntled Eran Zahavi reacted to being booed by the crowd by throwing away his captain's armband – then promptly resigned from international football afterwards before officials had the chance to give him the boot.
Italy’s apparent disarray all of a sudden seems rather less significant and they should punish this team once again after a 3-1 away success a year ago.
Torino’s Belotti is odds-on to score at some stage and make a little bit of amends but I wonder if his manager may now look somewhere else for his starter up front after Manolo Gabbiadini delivered a lively late cameo at the Bernabeu.
It is the tricky Immobile though who represents the best option in terms of a bet and an odds-against quote in the anytime scorer market (Winner go 5/4, other firms slightly shorter) is well worth an investment.
Spain have a penalty kick without a goalkeeper on the road in Liechtenstein while closer to home, Wales and the Republic of Ireland are still right in the mix in Group D.
The Welsh have a trip to Moldova up next on the back of an uplifting 1-0 success over Austria which saw Liverpool teenager Ben Woodburn fire home a high-class winner.
Chris Coleman's battlers are heavy favourites for three more points and have the potential to overhaul Ireland in second place with Martin O’Neill’s side facing a pivotal clash as well in Dublin against group leaders Serbia.
Hal Robson-Kanu was on my radar to score for the Welsh in Moldova after thrusting himself into a couple of good late positions in Cardiff on Saturday night but the price puts me off a little and I will happily stick with a sole investment on Lazio's Immobile.
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Posted at 1425 BST on 04/09/17
