Rob Cross looks to avoid the fate of Mighty Mike and the Flying Scotsman, France and Spain’s youngsters aim for a European Championship final, and Sussex begin their T20 Blast campaign against Hampshire.

1. France U19 vs Spain U19 – France U19 Win to Nil, 12.5-20
The only nation to come out of the group stages unbeaten, France head to their U19 European Championship semi-final against Spain – at 6pm on BBCi – with the best record of the 4 sides left. Admittedly Group B, with Ireland, Norway and the Czech Republic, wasn’t quite as competitive as Spain’s Group A, which saw them joined by defending champions Portugal and 2018 runners-up Italy.

However, you can’t dispute their 3 clean sheets, meaning a France U19 Win to Nil binary spread of 12.5-20 is interesting.


2. Sussex Sharks vs Hampshire – Laurie Evans Player Performance, 34-38
Hoping to actually play this Wednesday – their first scheduled match, the reverse of this fixture, was abandoned without a ball bowled last Friday – the Sussex Sharks host Hampshire at 7pm on Sky Sports Cricket.

Laurie Evans will be looking to replicate the form that saw him become the 2018 T20 Blast top runs scorer. He sits at a Player Performance spread of 34-38, where its 1 point per run, 10 per catch, 20 per wicket and 25 per stumping.


3. Rob Cross vs Krzysztof Ratajski – Rob Cross Outright Index, 23-26
With 1st seed Michael van Gerwen and defending champion Gary Anderson both exiting in the 2nd round, Rob Cross is now the best-ranked player left in the 2019 World Matchplay.

In theory he should beat Wednesday’s opponent – the Englishman is at a Cross/Ratajski 10-3 Supremacy spread of 9-12, though similar prices didn’t help Mighty Mike and the Flying Scotsman – and could now go all the way. Spreadex are offering a Cross Outright Index spread of 23-26.


4. Fiorentina vs Benfica – Fiorentina to win match, 16.6-23.1
They may have beaten Val Di Fassa 21-0(!) and Guadalajara 2-1, but when Fiorentina came up against some real pre-season competition they crumbled, losing to Arsenal 3-0. Benfica, meanwhile, lost to Anderlect 2-1, before overcoming Academica 8-0 and Guadalajara 3-0.

Though their records aren’t too dissimilar, the Italians aren’t much fancied, at a binary Fiorentina to win match spread of 16.6-23.1.


5. Manchester United vs Tottenham – Total Goal Minutes, 145-155
In one of the more significant pre-season clashes, Tottenham and Man United meet at 12.30pm on Thursday. Both sides have been leaving it late to score during the International Champions Cup, setting up a Total Goal Minutes spread of 145-155.

Disclaimer: prices quoted are subject to change