England v Russia Betting: Defensive frailties set to be exploited

England will get their Euro 2016 campaign up and running on Saturday when they take on Russia at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome.

The only team to qualify for the tournament boasting a 100 per cent record, Roy Hodgson’s men are 10/11 (1.91) favourites with Paddy Power to get off to a winning start when the real action commences. New Paddy Power customers have the chance to back 6/1 (7.0) on the Three Lions for this clash when opening a new account. Simply use the link below to sign up, back England at the usual price and if they win, the returns will be topped up at the final whistle.

Having lost three of their last five matches coming into the tournament, the Sbornaya are available at 7/2 (4.50) to get back to winning ways when it matters here.

England have not drawn any of their last 12 fixtures, but you can get odds of 23/10 (3.30) on them playing out a stalemate in this one.

While much of the debate heading in to this opening clash has surrounded who Hodgson selects to start up front, question marks also remain over his side’s defensive options.

Prior to a 1-0 victory over a Portugal side reduced to 10 men after just 35 minutes, Hodgson’s side had kept just one clean sheet in their previous six matches.

Although whichever combination of Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane or Jamie Vardy should cause problems for an opposition defence that has conceded 10 in the last five, Russia will feel equally feel confident of testing England at the other end having scored in each of their last 10 matches.

Spearheaded by the in-form Artem Dzyuba - whose eight goals in qualifying was only bettered by Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski - Leonid Slutsky’s charges averaged over two goals a game en route to France.

With both teams looking strong in attack but vulnerable at the back, odds of 11/10 (2.10) seem like strong value on goals being scored at either end in an entertaining opener.

This bet would have paid out in four of Russia’s last five matches, as well as four of the previous five for England.

With a free-scoring game looking likely, Paddy Power's offer to reward every £20 stake on either team with a free £5 bet for every goal that they score looks too good to pass up in this one.