Anderson's Patriotic Punt

Viv Anderson is the next of our World Cup punters. As the first black player to represent England, he won thirty caps, scored twice and was included in two World Cup squads and another two for the European Championships.

A distinguished club career included over 600 appearances. Viv won the League, two European Cups and a pair of League Cups for Nottingham Forest, a further League Cup with Arsenal and later became Sir Alex Ferguson’s first Manchester United signing where he helped the Red Devils lift the 1990 FA Cup.

Viv was awarded the MBE in the Millennium honours list and is an ambassador for the 2018 World Cup bid as well as Kick It Out. Viv is also launching a unique real-time sports gaming product called Passoker during the summer. It’s like an in-play, online version of the pass-the-pint pub game that can be played for virtually every sport – see www.passoker.com. He’s kept his punting patriotic

“I firmly believe it will be England’s year. The qualification campaign was very impressive and the right manager is in place – there’s been no repeat of the WAG debacle and Fabio Capello has a group of top players in their prime to choose from with the likes of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney. The semis are the minimum for me and I’m pretty sure no one will want to face England in the knock-out rounds so I can see them going all the way.”

Viv Anderson’s charity choice is the Arthur Wharton Foundation
The Arthur Wharton Foundation www.arthurwharton.com is named after the world’s first black professional footballer. It is looking to generate support to have a statue erected at Darlington Football Club in his honour.

Mr Betdaq
OK, so England didn’t get off to a flying start against USA but it’s worth keeping in mind drawn openers at the 1966 and 1990 tournaments as well as at Euro ‘96. Spain’s defeat to Switzerland and France’s likely elimination also help keep things in perspective.

Tonight’s game against Algeria is going to be crucial and I’m sure the Three Lions will have too much for the Desert Foxes. Don Fabio’s men are available to back at a very short price of 1/4 so taking the England/England half-time/full-time double result at 4/5 is better value. I wouldn't put anyone off the 5/6 on Betdaq about England with a -1.5 Asian Handicap either.

Those looking to follow Viv’s tip for England to lift the famous trophy on Sunday 11th July would be advised to get behind the boys now. If they are to pull it off then they will need a couple of decent performances in the remaining group games and if they are to do that, their price will be shorter than the 8/1 currently available. Argentina had already been backed from around 12/1 into 7/1 before the action began in South Africa, but a pair of victories and a dominant win over South Korea later and they are now the new outright World Cup favourites at 5/1. Few of the other big guns have got going, but my money remains with Kevin Kilbane’s on Brazil.

Latest odds on Betdaq:
World Cup Outright (top-10 only):
Argentina 5/1
Spain 11/2
Brazil 11/2
Germany 7/1
England 8/1
Holland 9/1
Italy 16/1
Portugal 33/1
Uruguay 40/1
Mexico 40/1

England v Algeria:
Win Market
England 1/4
Draw 5/1
Algeria 14/1