Today sees a week of the World Cup pass and hasn’t it gone quickly. All the teams have played and we returned a decent profit yesterday to steer through the first week with some fair numbers, not pulling huge trees up but you would take it every week. I am still bombarded by emails from people who have the “World Cup loophole” or have 87 bets per game and only count the winners. I never get massively involved in international football and happy to plod along at my own FTS pace. If you have made a few quid I am pleased and will try and find you some more, all buck shee of course.
Belgium took a while to get going and when Vertonghen reverted back to his Spurs type defending to give Algeria a penalty and the lead I had a fear all bets were sunk. Belgium did turn it around, played better last half hour but could not grab a third for there big payday. Belgium will only get better.
I throughly enjoyed the Brazil v Mexico game. No referee calamities it was for me as good a 0-0 as I have seen. Backing the draw at a nice price and Mexico on the Asian proved good planning, it was just a shame they did not nick a goal for the icing on the cake. Not sure what to make of it in the overall picture I think Mexico are a to better team than most make out and may prove so further in the tournament. The 3 centre backs were awesome and the keeper had a good game. Yes some of the saves may have been unconventional but there are no rules saying he must stop it with his hands. The save from the header just inside the post was exceptional and for the other saves he was always in a good position.
Russia v Korea we had the draw and the 1-1, I did not see the game so can pass no comment, I have recorded and will watch it back home sometime when I get the chance but nice to see the night topped off profitably.
Today now sees the return of some teams under pressure and we can get ready for some exciting football over the next few days.
First up is Australia v Holland. The Dutch must be brimful with confidence after mauling Spain and sitting back to see only Germany turn in a great performance this last week. at 1/4 nobody will be getting rich soon. Holland could of had 7 or 8 against Spain and Australia could be on the end of something similar if performance levels are the same. Australia looked resilient at times against Chile but there was a gulf in class, they huff and puff a bit but have nothing for the Dutch to really fear tonight. The Dutch will see this as a great chance to put the group to bed and look to secure top spot and a “so called” easier passage in the next round. (With the way group A is playing out it may not go to plan)
The Dutch don’t boast the greatest defence so Australia may get a few chances to nick one.
Just a few small score bets for interest in this one that may also provide trading chances
HT Score 1-2 at 23
Correct Scores of 1-3 and 1-4 at 12.5 and 24
A titanic battle ensues at 8 PM and the first real under pressure team takes centre stage. Spain v Chile sees the World Cup holders life on the line. They must believe Holland will have 6 points come kick off time and with Chile having 3 points in the bag already. Simply Spain must win to have a chance to progress, a loss and they will be out and a draw makes things look very difficult. Spain pst their opening fixture in 2010 before going on to win it, but the manner of the defeat to Holland was far different and the question mark purely is how will they bounce back? Can they bounce back? They play a decent Chile side who will be aware this is a huge chance for themselves.
Vidal is once again a doubt for Chile and it would appear they are risking him despite injury, he may start but not see out the whole game. Chile can certainly score and Spain will have to be much more on the ball defensively. Spains usual method of patience and probing will be testes to the full, particularly if minutes tick down on the clock and it remains goalless.
Betting wise I cannot take Spain at shortish odds on, both to score is odds on, Over 2.5 is short odds on and it would seem goals may be on the cards. I can’t rule Spain out on one result but I don’t see myself that it will be a goal fest, so much is at stake.
I will take the Unders at 2.3 for small interest. Chile +1 on the Asian at 2.08 again for a small bet.
Correct scores I will take a chance on 1-0, 1-1, 2-1 at 9.4, 9.8 and 9.4 and see if I can trade a profit.
Cameroon v Croatia is the final game. Cameroon were poor in the first game and offered up absolutely nothing as an attacking force. Croatia on the other hand, could be considered slightly unlucky against Brazil.
Cameroon have only won one of their last 14 matches at a World Cup and I can see no reason why that run will improve tonight. It also looks like Eto’o will miss out through injury.
Croatia have Mandzukic back in the side, Modric pulling the strings (learned his trade at the Lane of course). The keeper had nightmare against Brazil and hopefully this game gives him a chance to get some confidence back.
All in 1.76 does not look a bad price for Croatia and I will have a piece of that. Nothing in the score or goalscorer markets offers any appeal so that will be my only bet in the game.
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One Response
Having seen all the teams play in the competition the initial thoughts are that Holland and Germany are the teams to watch, Italy look efficient and will cause problems for anyone. There were less than average performances from Brazil Argentina and Spain in the opening games. South Korea looked a useful side and might cause a few upsets in their group.
England has a lot riding on the Uruguay game especially as Costa Rica look to be a better team than everyone expected making the Uruguay game a must win match as a draw would give Costa Rica a great chance of qualifying as assuming that Italy will top the group with 9 points Costa Rica will only need to hold England to a draw, however I can’t see any of the better nations being worried about facing either England or Uruguay.
I thought Argentina were overrated before the tournament began and nothing in the Bosnia game has caused me to shift that opinion, However they are worth backing just now with the intention of trading later as they progress through the knockout stages.
I think there is no way Spain can be written off after one game, everyone has a bad day and although Holland did outplay them I think the score line flattered them a little as two of the goal were scored after half the Spanish team had given up and up until 2-1 Spain were playing well. There will be some changes made for tonight’s game and they should be more than a match for Chile I expect Spain to finish 2nd in the group and I think they are playing a little bit better than Brazil just now.
Holland should do enough to qualify for the next round with a comfortable win over Australia and expect to see them progress deep into the tournament. Again probably worth backing just now with the intention of laying later in the tournament.