Frank Lorenzo
Spain (-2000) vs. Belarus (+2200) (Draw +900)
This Saturday, November 15, Spain will host Belarus at Nuevo Colombino Stadium in Huelva in the fourth fixture of Euro 2016 qualification. The kickoff will be at 2:45 p.m. Eastern.
No longer is Spain the invincible squad of year’s past. After three Euro 2016 qualifying matches, La Roja sit second in Group C with six points (2W, 0D, 1L). However, on Saturday, they will be facing a Belarus squad that puts Spain’s struggles in a softer light. Belarus is tied for last in the group with just one point through three matches. (Belarus managed a 1-1 draw away at fellow basement-dwellers Luxembourg in the first fixture.)
In the moneyline, Spain is a heavy favorite to win, listed at -2000. The draw is +900, while a Belarus win will pay at +2200.
Spain and Belarus have met twice before and the Spaniards took both, including a 2-1 win in October 2013.
The landscape is quite different for Spain heading into this match, though. Last year, Spain was on the top of the football world. But they flamed out in the most recent World Cup and also lost a Euro qualifier to Slovakia thanks, in part, to an awful performance from keeper Iker Casillas.
If Spain are going to take the full three points from Saturday’s game, they will have to do it without stars Diego Costa and Cesc Fábregas, who are both injured. Making matters worse, Spanish reporters are arguing that some players are not committed enough to the national team and others are creating problems in the dressing room.
Center back Sergio Ramos echoed the concerns about commitment. “I’d like to see the same commitment to the national team as there is to clubs,” said Ramos.
On the other side, Belarus has nothing to lose against Spain. With the whole world expecting a Spanish victory, Belarus will be playing without a hint of pressure. The interim coach, Andriy Zygmantovich, knows the odds are not in his favor and said a draw would be a decent result.
“Only victory is a success for me as a coach, but avoiding a loss can also be a success if you face a team from the top 20,” said Zygmantovich.
With a win and a Slovakian loss, Spain could move into a tie for top spot in Group C. Even if Belarus pulls off a miracle, it will still be at least two points shy of the qualification zone.
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