The Spoiler

Five stats about tonight’s Euro Under-21 Championship Final


Germany/England, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 1, Betfair £25 Free Bet

Stuart Pearce is the 4/1 favourite with Sky Bet to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager and tonight he can prove his credentials by guiding the Young Lions to their first trophy since 1984. To do so Psycho will have to conquer Germany, who broke his heart twice as a player. Here are five stats about the game courtesy of our friends at chickendinner:

1. There have been three occasions under the current format where two teams from the same group have met in the final and on two of those, the side who came second - in this case Germany - triumphed.

2. Germany have never previously won the competition but have - either as East or West - lost in the final four times, including a 1974 defeat to Hungary when it was still an Under-23 competition.

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Posted: June 29th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn

Five stats about this year’s Confederations Cup Final


USA/Brazil, Sunday 7.30pm, BBC Three, Betfair £25 Free Bet

The reaction of the American media to their national side ending Spain’s 35-game unbeaten streak may have been unbearable but it would have been just as bad - if not worse - over here if England had done it. The USA have made this pretty meaningless tournament worth watching and they will fancy their chances of winning it after seeing Brazil stumble past South Africa last night in the other semi-final. The bookies don’t though and some of the trends identified by our friends at chickendinner make it easy to see why:

1. Brazil have won 14 of their 15 matches against USA (one after extra-time). The USA’s one win over the holders came in the 1998 Gold Cup Final, with former Everton winger Predrag “Preki” Radosavljevic scoring the winner.

2. USA haven’t scored against Brazil in three previous Confederations Cup meetings, with Dunga’s side beating them 1-0 in 1999 and 2003 and winning 3-0 against them last Thursday.

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Posted: June 26th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn

Spurs finally start the season at home but must face Liverpool


A chance to get excited months before anything actually happens

Robbie Keane will again face his former teammates on the opening day

Tottenham have finally been granted their wish to kick-off a Premier League campaign at home but Liverpool will be the visitors for their first opener at White Hart Lane since 2004.

Spurs fans can take some comfort though from the fact Arsenal have been given a challenging away game on the opening weekend against Everton.

Wolves are the only promoted side who start at home - against West Ham - and the last five to have done so have avoided defeat. Every new arrival who has opened their campaign on the road over the last three seasons has lost and Birmingham and Burnley face tough trips to Man United and Stoke.

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Posted: June 17th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn