Punters can benefit from backing narrow England win over Sweden

A 1-1 draw with France provided a solid base for England to build on at Euro 2012, and they now look a good bet to go one better by beating Sweden 1-0 on Friday, at 5/1.

Organisation and defensive prowess have defined England of late, with Roy Hodgson’s brief tenure reaping two wins and a draw, with three goals scored and only one conceded during his reign.

Both of the aforementioned wins came via a 1-0 scoreline, and those successes were the latest in a sequence that has seen the Three Lions win by this score in five of their last eight outings.

Also considering that one of those 1-0 triumphs came against Sweden, the 5/1 odds about a repeat of that scoreline look tremendously appealing in Friday’s game.

It may be worth noting too, that England have kept clean sheets in seven of their last 12 games, and now look better equipped to protect a lead should they gain one, than they have in recent times.

England went on to win each of those seven matches in which they failed to concede, and so also look an appealing prospect to win to nil again at 9/4 on Friday.

Although in possession of a dismal recent record against Sweden, England did end their hoodoo against them in the last clash of the sides, and with the organisation of the side improved even since that meeting in late 2011, they look good for another success here.

It should also be considered that England have won at least one group game by a single goal to nil in three of their last four appearances at a major tournament, and all aforementioned factors seem to make a 1-0 England win an appealing prospect on Friday.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.